Holy Cross rips Burlington Twp. in big comeback

Senior Mark Zagunis, a receiver turned quarterback, started the season as a secret weapon for Holy Cross.

But after leading the Lancers to two consecutive, lopsided victories, the Virginia Tech baseball recruit and Inquirer first-team all-South Jersey catcher is a mystery no more.

Zagunis used his arm, legs, running backs and receivers to lead Holy Cross to a come-from-behind, 40-20 win in a West Jersey Football League Patriot Division game Friday night at Burlington Township.

Ranked No. 8 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, Holy Cross is 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the division after handing Township (2-1, 1-1) its first loss of the season.

Zagunis, who had run for three touchdowns and passed for another in his first two outings, completed 13 of 20 passes for 278 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

"I think so," Holy Cross coach Frank Holmes said when asked if Zagunis has come of age as a passer. "He and Dai'Shon [Munger] want to get better each game.

Munger, whose goal is to rush for 1,000 yards this season, added 120 yards rushing and three touchdowns to the 372 yards and six TDs he already had in the bank for another productive evening assisted by the offensive line.

Holy Cross coach Frank Holmes described Zagunis' progress as a quarterback as outstanding.

"When it comes time to throw the ball, he can do it with the best of them," Holmes said of Zagunis. "He's not the most outspoken kid, but he leads by example."

The Lancers snapped a 20-20 tie by scoring three touchdowns in the second half.

Zagunis completed a screen pass that went for a 96-yard touchdown to Kevin Miller for a 27-20 lead. Munger followed with a 44-yard TD run with 4:07 left in the third period. And Munger scored on a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.

Holy Cross, which trailed by 14-0 with 10 minutes, 37 seconds remaining in the second quarter, roared back on the arm and legs of Zagunis and Munger.

Miller caught a 40-yard bomb from Zagunis, followed by Barry Griffies' extra point, to tie the score, 20-20, with 4 seconds left in the first half.

Holy Cross 0 20 14 6 - 40

Burlington Township 7 13 0 0 - 20

BT: Verbitski 1 run (Stevenson kick)

BT: Roche 1 run (Stevenson kick)

HC: Munger 29 run (Griffies kick)

HC: Zagunis 10 run (kick blocked)

BT: Roche 9 run (run failed)

HC: Miller 40 pass from Zagunis (Griffies kick)

HC: Miller 96 pass from Zagunis (Griffies kick)

HC: Munger 44 run (Griffies kick)

HC: Munger 12 run (kick failed)