Five Things To Watch: Holy Cross Football

CHAMPIONSHIP VISIONS

The preseason No. 16 Holy Cross football team is the only team in the entire nation at the FCS level that can win a fourth consecutive conference title this fall. 

With back-to-back-to-back titles in 2019, a COVID-shortened Spring 2021 and a full Fall 2021 season, the Crusaders have won 11 consecutive contests against Patriot League opponents. Since head coach Bob Chesney took the reins on The Hill, Holy Cross has gone 17-3 in conference contests. 

The 2021 season ended with a 10-3 overall record, a perfect 6-0 record in league play and an FCS playoff berth, with Holy Cross winning its first FCS playoff game in program history — after a historic touchdown reception from now-junior wide receiver Jalen Coker secured a 13-10 victory over Sacred Heart with 14 seconds left. The Crusaders also defeated a football bowl subdivision opponent for the first time since 2002 with a season-opening victory over Connecticut on Sept. 4. 

The season concluded with a 21-16 second-round loss to fifth-seeded Villanova, with Holy Cross rallying from a 14-0 deficit to cut within four points midway through the third quarter. However, sitting within a score on their final drive, Holy Cross could not orchestrate another comeback triumph — with the Crusaders eventually turning the ball over on downs at the Villanova 39-yard line. Still, with 16 players in their fifth year at Holy Cross and 17 returning All-Conference players, the experienced Crusaders are primed for continued success this fall.

NATION’S BEST

The Crusader defense dazzled all season long in 2021 — leading all FCS programs by allowing just 254.5 yards per contest. Holy Cross’ defense also ranked in the top 10 in a number of additional categories, including interceptions (fourth, 18), sacks (fifth, 3.38), passing yards allowed (seventh, 166.1), and rushing defense (seventh, 88.4).

Leading the way for the Holy Cross defense is now-senior linebacker and three-time captain Jacob Dobbs — a returning All-American and the 2021 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. Last year, he had 137 tackles, including 75 solo tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss, ranking in the top 10 in FCS last season in solo and total tackles. He additionally recorded 9.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries and three pass breakups.

In total, of the Patriot League’s 14 All-Patriot League first team selections on defense in 2021, seven were Crusaders — and five of those players return this fall. 

Senior linebacker Liam Anderson complements Dobbs to make up one of the best linebacker duos in all of FCS; Anderson was an All-Patriot League and All-ECAC honoree last season after he totaled 81 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, three interceptions and five quarterback hurries. 

Senior cornerback John Smith is a two-time All-Patriot League first team honoree, and has recorded 12 career interceptions. Last season, he had five interceptions and seven pass breakups to lead the Crusaders’ secondary.

Though the Crusaders lose key players on the defensive line in three-time All-Patriot League first team honoree Benton Whitley and 2021 All-Patriot League selection Jason Modak, two-time captain and All-Patriot League first teamer Dan Kuznetsov returns for Holy Cross having started 30 consecutive games at defensive end.

Other key returners on defense include senior cornerback Devin Haskins, an All-Patriot League second team honoree in 2021; senior free safety Walter Reynolds, who had 46 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions last season; senior defensive lineman Jake Reichwein, who had five sacks and 36 tackles a year ago; and senior strong safety Terrell Prince, who earned All-Patriot League honors for his special teams play and recorded 43 tackles last year.

Defensive coordinator Scott James returns for his fifth season, with a number of new faces joining him on the defensive staff, including corners coach Kyle Barnes, safeties coach and alum Anthony DiMichele, and former defensive quality control assistant Nick Della Jacono, who was promoted to defensive line coach in the offseason. Brian Vaganek returns for his sixth season on staff as linebackers coach.

OFFENSE

Though the Holy Cross defense captured national headlines in 2021, the offense was impressive in its own right — in 2021, the Crusaders averaged 32.2 points per game, 405.6 yards per game and a league-best 203.8 rushing yards per game.

Junior quarterback Matthew Sluka returns after guiding the Crusader offense a year ago. The Spring 2021 Patriot League Rookie of the Year had the opposite of a sophomore slump, earning All-Patriot League honors and lifting Holy Cross in a league championship-clinching game against Fordham on Nov. 13. Overall on the year, he rushed 166 times for 868 yards and 14 touchdowns, while completing 117 of 208 passes for 1,512 passing yards and 11 more touchdowns in the air. 

Senior running back Peter Oliver, an All-Patriot League first team honoree and the conference’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2021, returns for a fifth year after averaging a Patriot League-leading 5.3 yards per rush with 797 yards on 150 carries.

The Crusaders return a strong offensive line, centered by fifth-year senior captain Nick Olsofka. Junior Luke Newman (All-Patriot League first team) started all 13 games in 2021 at left tackle, earning HERO Sports Sophomore All-America honors; senior right tackle Pat McMurtrie (All-Patriot League second team, 12 starts) and senior right guard C.J. Hanson (13 starts) also return as key members of the offensive line. 

Coker’s touchdown catch vs. Sacred Heart was not the only highlight of his stellar 2021 campaign; he led the Crusaders with 51 receptions for 691 yards and four touchdowns en route to all-conference and Sophomore All-America honors. Senior receiver Ayir Asante, a three-time All-Patriot League selection, also returns. Senior tight end Sean Morris additionally earned All-Conference honors for Holy Cross. 

Chris Smith, a 2009 graduate of Holy Cross and a four-year starting center for the Crusaders, was promoted to the team's offensive coordinator after five seasons as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. Joining him on the offensive staff are quarterbacks coach Dean Kennedy, receivers coach and pass game coordinator Rich Gunnell and newly promoted running backs coach Mike Cordova, who worked in special teams quality control with the Crusaders over the last two seasons. Drew Canan returns for his fifth season as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.

EXTRA SPECIAL

The Crusaders’ specialists are poised for another strong season, led by the cohesive veteran trio of senior kicker Derek Ng, senior punter Patrick Haughney and senior long snapper Jack McCauley. 

Ng is a two-time All-Patriot League first team honoree, and has kicked the three longest field goals in program history, including a 50-yard kick in 2021 against Lehigh, ranking second all-time in the Holy Cross record books. In 2021, he made 53 of his 54 extra-point attempts while earning Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week honors three times. 

Haughney earned a spot on the All-Patriot League second team for the second consecutive year in 2021, after averaging 39.4 yards per punt with 21 punts falling inside the 20-yard line.

As a rookie, Justin Shorter was an All-Patriot League selection as a return specialist, with nine kick returns for a total of 174 yards on the season.

2022 SLATE 

Holy Cross’ 2022 campaign kicks off with a rematch against Merrimack on Friday, Sept. 2, with the Crusaders looking to bounce back from a Week 2 loss to the Warriors in 2021. The following week, the Crusaders head to Buffalo for an FBS matchup against the Bulls on Sept. 10. 

The Crusaders' home opener and Homecoming matchup is set for Sept. 17 against Yale. Patriot League play begins on the road on Sept. 24 against Colgate. 

Holy Cross will host Bucknell on Oct. 8 at Polar Park for the second annual EBW Classic; the next game at Fitton Field will be a Patriot League showdown between Fordham and the Crusaders on Oct. 29. 

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 

Be sure to follow the Holy Cross football team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!

Twitter - @HCrossFB | @goholycross

Instagram - @hcrossfb | @goholycross

Facebook - Holy Cross Football | Holy Cross Athletics

YouTube - GoHolyCross