Liza Kaufman, Photography Editor

For the seventh consecutive season, the Yale football team will open its season by hosting the Holy Cross Crusaders on Saturday. 

Dating back to 2018, not including the canceled 2020 season, the Bulldogs and Crusaders have had a longstanding home-and-home agreement for a series of games in which they trade hosting privileges. 

In the previous six matchups, Yale has gone 2–4, including a thrilling victory last year when running back Nate Denney ’25 scored a last minute touchdown to propel the Bulldogs to a 38–31 win. 

This season, the Crusaders have already played three games. However, they are 0–3 after losing against Northern Illinois, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. 

The Holy Cross passing attack is led by Cal Swanson, who, in three games, has passed for 407 yards with a mediocre 53.4 percent completion rate. He has thrown for one touchdown with two interceptions. On the ground, Swanson also leads the team in yards with 111 yards and no scores. 

Running back Jayden Clerveaux is right behind Swanson in rushing yards, with 108 of his own and two touchdowns. Last season, Clerveaux was named an All-Conference rusher with nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards and averaged about 4.5 yards per carry. This season, however, his yards per carry is down to 3.3, which is on par for the rest of the team’s inadequate offensive output. 

Yale defensive back Abu Kamara ’27 is optimistic about the defense’s potential to succeed this season. 

“This year, the defense looks really good. We have really good weapons on all three levels,” Kamara said. “I think that’s the fun piece, to see who we become as a unit and to put that on display for everyone.” 

Looking at the Crusader offense on paper, the new Yale defense should feel optimistic, as a few new players prepare to take the field for the first time. Following the departure of several key defensive stars last season, the struggling Holy Cross offense may give the Bulldogs a chance to acquaint themselves on the defensive side of the ball. 

The Crusaders’ defense has put up a slightly better effort this season than its offense. In three games, no teams have surpassed 20 points while playing against the Crusaders. However, Holy Cross has struggled to create pressure with the pass rush and has only generated two sacks throughout its first three games, which is a promising sign for Yale’s quarterback. 

Despite the recent shakeup to its offense, Yale is looking to be the first to burst through that 20-point barrier. The Bulldogs should look to dominate early in the trenches, with several key linemen returning, such as Michael Bennett ’26, Jackson St. Aubyn ’27, and Quinton Lewis ’27. With only two sacks by the Crusaders so far this year, the Yale offensive line shouldn’t have too much of a problem both protecting new transfer quarterback Dante Reno ’28 and creating holes for star running back Josh Pitsenberger ’26. 

“It’s really nice to know that our line comes in with a lot of experience,” Reno wrote to the News. “Taking care of business in the trenches allows our offense to consistently move the ball down the field and make big plays.” 

The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and WYBCx radio. Kickoff is at 12 p.m. at the Yale Bowl.