1966 Holy Cross Crusaders football team

1966 Holy Cross Crusaders football
Conference	Independent
Record	6–3–1
Head coach	Mel Massucco (2nd season)
Captain	R. Peter Kimener
Home stadium	Fitton Field
Seasons ←  1965 1967  →

1966 NCAA University Division independents football records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Notre Dame		–		–				9	–	0	–	1
Colgate		–		–				8	–	1	–	1
No. 8 Georgia Tech		–		–				9	–	2	–	0
Army		–		–				8	–	2	–	0
Dayton		–		–				8	–	2	–	0
Houston		–		–				8	–	2	–	0
Memphis State		–		–				7	–	2	–	0
No. 9 Miami (FL)		–		–				8	–	2	–	1
Virginia Tech		–		–				8	–	2	–	1
Syracuse		–		–				8	–	3	–	0
Colorado State		–		–				7	–	3	–	0
New Mexico State		–		–				7	–	3	–	0
West Texas State		–		–				7	–	3	–	0
Villanova		–		–				6	–	3	–	0
Holy Cross		–		–				6	–	3	–	1
Southern Miss		–		–				6	–	4	–	0
Texas Western		–		–				6	–	4	–	0
Tulane		–		–				5	–	4	–	1
Florida State		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Buffalo		–		–				5	–	5	–	0
Penn State		–		–				5	–	5	–	0
Air Force		–		–				4	–	6	–	0
Boston College		–		–				4	–	6	–	0
Navy		–		–				4	–	6	–	0
Utah State		–		–				4	–	6	–	0
Xavier		–		–				4	–	6	–	0
Pacific (CA)		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
San Jose State		–		–				3	–	7	–	0
Pittsburgh		–		–				1	–	9	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1966 Holy Cross Crusaders football team was an American football team that represented the College of the Holy Cross as an independent during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. Mel Massucco returned for his second year as head coach. The team compiled a record of 6–3–1. ^[1]

All home games were played at Fitton Field on the Holy Cross campus in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 24	at Army	Michie Stadium West Point, NY	L 0–14	28,000	[2]
October 1	Dartmouth	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 7–6	12,000	[3]
October 8	at Colgate	Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY	T 14–14	8,000	[4]
October 15	at Boston University	Nickerson Field Boston, MA	W 17–14	15,000	[5]
October 22	Syracuse	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	L 6–28	19,000	[6]
October 29	at Buffalo	Rotary Field Buffalo, NY	L 3–35	10,303	[7]
November 5	No. 7 UMass^	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 16–14	15,000	[8]
November 12	Rutgers	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 24–12	6,000	[9]
November 19	Connecticut	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	W 16–0	5,000	[10]
November 26	at Boston College	Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA (rivalry)	W 32–26	26,000	[11]
Homecoming ^ Family Weekend Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[12]

Statistical leaders

Statistical leaders for the 1966 Crusaders included: ^[13]

• Rushing: Jack Lentz, 685 yards and 7 touchdowns on 177 attempts
• Passing: Jack Lentz, 845 yards, 74 completions and 5 touchdowns on 153 attempts
• Receiving: Pete Kimener, 409 yards and 2 touchdowns on 33 receptions
• Scoring: Jack Lentz, 42 points from 7 touchdowns
• Total offense: Jack Lentz, 1,530 yards (845 passing, 685 rushing)
• All-purpose yards: Jack Lentz, 704 yards (685 rushing, 19 receiving)

References

1. "2019 Holy Cross Football Fact Book" (PDF). Worcester, Mass.: College of the Holy Cross. p. 122. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
2. Strauss, Michael (September 25, 1966). "Army 14-0 Victor Over Holy Cross". The New York Times . New York, N.Y. p. S1.
3. Litsky, Frank (October 2, 1966). "Indians Upset, 7-6; Victory Streak Ends at 11 as Holy Cross Wins on Kick". The New York Times . New York, N.Y. p. S1.
4. "Blocked Kick Lets H.C. Tie Colgate". The Boston Sunday Globe . Boston, Mass. Associated Press. October 9, 1966. p. 62 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Holy Cross Trips Boston U., 17-14". The New York Times . New York, N.Y. Associated Press. October 16, 1966. p. S7.
6. Strauss, Michael (October 23, 1966). "Syracuse Gains 28-6 Victory Over Holy Cross After Scoreless First Half". The New York Times . New York, N.Y. p. S7.
7. "Jones Powers Buffalo to 35-3 Victory over Crusaders". The Boston Sunday Globe . Boston, Mass. Associated Press. October 30, 1966. p. 57 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Keane, Clif (November 6, 1966). "H.C. Tips UMass, 16-14". The Boston Sunday Globe . Boston, Mass. p. 61 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Lentz, Giardi Lift H.C. over Rutgers, 24-12". The Boston Sunday Globe . Boston, Mass. United Press International. November 13, 1966. p. 65 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Nidetz, Steve (November 20, 1966). "Holy Cross Grounds Up Connecticut, 16-0". The Hartford Courant . Hartford, Conn. p. 2C – via Newspapers.com.
11. Strauss, Michael (November 27, 1966). "Holy Cross Tops Boston College, 32-26, on Pass Play in Final 70 Seconds". The New York Times . New York, N.Y. p. S3.
12. "Schedule/Results (1966 Holy Cross)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved November 2, 2025.
13. "2019 Holy Cross Football Fact Book" (PDF). Worcester, Mass.: College of the Holy Cross. pp. 68–71. Retrieved June 15, 2020.