Twenty members of the Holy Cross football team have earned All-Patriot League honors for the 2021 season, the conference announced on Tuesday, Nov. 23.
In addition to the 20 All-Patriot League selections, junior linebacker Jacob Dobbs was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, and head coach Bob Chesney was named the Dick Biddle Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons.
Five Crusaders were named to the first team on offense: senior running back Peter Oliver, senior offensive lineman John Brekke, sophomore offensive lineman Luke Newman, senior offensive lineman Nick Olsofka and senior placekicker Derek Ng.
Seven of the League's 14 first team defense honorees were from Holy Cross: Dobbs, senior defensive lineman Dan Kuznetsov, senior defensive lineman Jason Modak, senior defensive lineman Benton Whitley, senior linebacker Liam Anderson, senior defensive back John Smith and senior Terrell Prince, who made the team as a special teams non-specialist.
On the second team, sophomore quarterback Matthew Sluka, junior wide receiver Ayir Asante, sophomore wide receiver Jalen Coker, junior tight end Sean Morris, junior offensive lineman Pat McMurtrie, freshman return specialist Justin Shorter, junior defensive back Devin Haskins and junior punter Patrick Haughney were all selected.
The 20 All-Patriot League honorees are the most selections in a single season in program history.
Dobbs, who was also named a finalist for the 2021 Buck Buchanan Award — presented to the top defensive player in FCS — paced one of the top defenses in all of FCS this season, ranking in the top 10 in FCS with 10.2 total tackles per game. This year, he has recorded 112 total tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss and eight sacks, along with six quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. A two-time captain for the Crusaders, Dobbs is now a three-time All-Patriot League selection, having earned second team honors in 2019 and first team honors in Spring 2021.
Chesney led the Crusaders to their third consecutive Patriot League title and FCS playoff berth during the 2021 season, including earning the opportunity for Holy Cross to host their first home playoff game in 38 years. Holy Cross finished the regular season with a 9-2 record and an undefeated 6-0 record in conference play, finishing a full conference slate undefeated for the first time since the 1991 season; the six conference wins are the most in program history. The Crusaders have won 11 straight games in conference play. In non-league play, Holy Cross posted a win over an FBS opponent in the University of Connecticut, along with victories at Yale and Monmouth. Chesney was also named a finalist for the 2021 Eddie Robinson Award, presented to the national coach of the year at the FCS level.
Oliver led the Patriot League this season with an average of 72.6 rushing yards per game, averaging 5.4 yards per carry and totaling 726 yards and four touchdowns. He is now a two-time All-Patriot League selection, having earned second team honors in Spring 2021.
Brekke, Newman and Olsfoka anchored an offensive line that allowed the Crusaders to lead the Patriot League with an average of 35.5 points per game. Holy Cross averaged 421.6 yards per game, including a league-best 216.1 rushing yards per game. Brekke and Newman are first-time honorees, while Olsofka was a second-team selection in Spring 2021.
Ng becomes a first team selection for the second straight year. He kicked the longest field goal in the Patriot League this season, a 50-yarder at Lehigh on Oct. 30; he also connected on a 49-yarder at Monmouth on Sept. 25. He made 51 of his 52 PAT attempts this year.
Kuznetsov earns All-Patriot League honors for the second straight year, as he was a second team honoree in Spring 2021. This year, he totaled 25 tackles, along with 7.0 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.
This year, Modak recorded 21 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception with a 29-yard touchdown return. This marks the first time he has been an All-Patriot League selection.
Whitley is now a three-time All-Patriot League first time selection. In 2021, he finished with 43 total tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble.
Anderson earns All-Patriot League honors for the first time in his career. In 2021, Anderson totaled 67 tackles, along with 13.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, three interceptions, two pass breakups, four quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Smith, now a two-time All-Patriot League first team selection, led the Patriot League with five interceptions on the season; he additionally totaled six pass breakups, 30 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry.
Prince previously earned All-Patriot League honors during the 2019 season on special teams. In 2021, he finished with 37 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
Sluka, the Spring 2021 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, helped pace the Crusader offense all season long. He totaled 1,172 passing yards and 672 rushing yards, passing for 10 touchdowns and rushing for 13 more. He was a three-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week selection.
Asante is now a three-time All-Patriot League honoree. This year, he tallied 467 receiving yards and caught four touchdowns, while rushing for an additional touchdown against Harvard on Oct. 2. He caught three touchdowns in the Crusaders' victory over Lafayette on Nov. 6.
Coker led the Crusaders with 518 receiving yards on 40 receptions, catching three touchdowns on the season. This marks his first time earning All-Patriot League honors.
Morris started 10 games at tight end this season, and had a 20-yard reception at Yale. This is the first time he has earned All-Patriot League honors in his career.
McMurtrie, a key member of that strong offensive line that allowed the Crusaders to lead the Patriot League with an average of 35.5 points per game and a league-best 216.1 rushing yards per game, becomes a first-time All-Patriot League selection.
Shorter had a standout rookie campaign for the Crusaders, earning second team honors as a return specialist. He totaled 213 return yards on nine attempts, averaging 23.67 yards per return.
Haskins is a first-time All-Patriot League selection, and totaled two interceptions and four pass breakups on the year. He additionally recorded 33 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.
Haughney earns All-Patriot League second team honors for the second straight season. This season, he punted 47 times for a total of 1,918 yards, averaging 40.8 yards per punt. Seventeen of his punts fell inside the 20-yard line, and four were 50 yards or longer.
Holy Cross will host Sacred Heart in the first round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 27. Kickoff is set for noon at Fitton Field.
2021 Patriot League Football Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, Sr., QB
Defensive Player of the Year: Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, Jr., LB
Rookie of the Year: Michael Brescia, Colgate, Fr., QB
Dick Biddle Coach of the Year: Bob Chesney, Holy Cross
2021 All-Patriot League Football First Team
First-Team Offense (15)
QB: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, Sr.
RB: Peter Oliver, Holy Cross, Sr.
RB: Trey Wilson III, Fordham, Jr.
FB/H-Back: Mason Gilbert, Lafayette, So.
WR: Dequece Carter, Fordham, Jr.
WR: Fotis Kokosioulis, Fordham, Sr.
WR: Joshua Tomas, Georgetown, Sr.
TE: Steven Stilianos, Lafayette, Sr.
OL: Phil Saleh, Fordham, Sr.
OL: Nick Zakelj, Fordham, Sr.
OL: John Brekke, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL: Luke Newman, Holy Cross, So.
OL: Nick Olsofka, Holy Cross, Sr.
PK: Derek Ng, Holy Cross, Sr.
RS: Will Gruber, Colgate, Sr.
First-Team Defense (14)
DL: Dan Kuznetsov, Holy Cross, Sr.
DL: Jason Modak, Holy Cross, Sr.
DL: Benton Whitley, Holy Cross, Sr.
DL: Malik Hamm, Lafayette, Sr.
LB: Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, Jr.
LB: Liam Anderson, Holy Cross, Sr.
LB: Marco Olivas, Lafayette, Jr.
LB: Milton Braasch II, Colgate, Sr.
DB: Will Gruber, Colgate, Sr.
DB: Ahmad Wilson, Georgetown, Gr.
DB: John Smith, Holy Cross, Sr.
DB: TyGee Leach, Lehigh, Jr.
P: Conor Hunt, Georgetown, So.
Special Teams Non-Specialist (STNS): Terrell Prince, Holy Cross, Sr.
Second-Team Offense (16)*
QB: Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, So.
RB: Selwyn Simpson, Lafayette, Sr.
RB: Jaden Sutton, Lafayette, Jr.
FB/H-Back: Zach Jewell, Georgetown, 5th
WR: MJ Wright, Fordham, Jr.
WR: Ayir Asante, Holy Cross, Jr.
WR: Jalen Coker, Holy Cross, So.
WR: Julius Young, Lafayette, Jr.
TE: Sean Morris, Holy Cross, Jr.
OL: Sam Diehl, Colgate, Sr.
OL: Jayvion Queen, Colgate, Sr.
OL: Talati Polamalu, Georgetown, Jr.
OL: Pat McMurtrie, Holy Cross, Jr.
OL: Gavin Barclay, Lafayette, Sr.
PK: Micah Pettit, Lafayette, Fr.
RS: Justin Shorter, Holy Cross, Fr.
Second-Team Defense (14)
DL: K2 Dickens, Colgate, So.
DL: Ibrahim Kamara, Georgetown, Sr.
DL: Ian Grayson, Lafayette, Sr.
DL: Mikhari Sibblis, Lehigh, Jr.
LB: James Conway, Fordham, Fr.
LB: Owen Kessler, Georgetown, 5th
LB: Major Jordan, Lafayette, Sr.
LB: Pete Haffner, Lehigh, 5th.
DB: Jesse Bramble, Fordham, 5th
DB: Devin Haskins, Holy Cross, Jr.
DB: DaRon Gilbert, Lafayette, Jr.
DB: LaTreil Wimberly, Lehigh, So.
P: Patrick Haughney, Holy Cross, Jr.
(STNS): J.C. Gaughan, Colgate, Sr.
*Additional player selected due to ties in the voting
