WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross football team has announced its team awards for the 2023 season.
Senior quarterback
Matthew Sluka led the award recipients, earning team Most Valuable Player honors. Sluka, an All-American, was also a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, finishing fourth in the voting. The Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, Sluka also earned a spot on the All-Patriot League squad for the third straight year. In 2023, he completed 122 of his 197 passes (62%) for 1,728 yards and 20 touchdowns. On the ground, he rushed for 1,247 yards – third most in single-season program history, and most by a Division I quarterback this year – and nine touchdowns. He set a Division I single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback, tallying 330 yards on the ground against Lafayette on Oct. 21.
A complete list of award recipients follows.
Davitt Awards
Presented annually to the top back and lineman on both offense and defense. They were instituted by Jim Davitt (Class of 1913) of Holyoke, Mass., in memory of his brother, Rev. William Davitt (Class of 1907), who played football and ran track while at Holy Cross, and was the last United States officer to lose his life in World War I.
Offensive Back: Jordan Fuller
Offensive Lineman: Luke Newman
Defensive Back: Terrence Spence
Defensive Lineman: Dillon Springer
Crown Award
Presented to the player who has contributed to team success through dedication and courageous special teams play.
Drew Spinogatti
Hammer Award
Presented to the player with the largest number of "big hits" for the year or the biggest hit overall.
Frankie Monte
Shield Award
Outstanding Defensive Demonstration Team Player that has persevered with great emotion and total selflessness in pursuit of team excellence.
Cam Santee
Strike Award
Outstanding Offensive Demonstration Team Player that has persevered with great emotion and total selflessness in pursuit of team excellence.
Luke Petitta
The Coaches Award
Presented annually to the player who has shown outstanding effort for the good of the team in weekly preparations throughout the season.
Jacob Dobbs
The Unsung Hero Award
Presented annually to the player who has supported the squad spiritually, emotionally and physically for the good of the team.
Dante Bolden
The Connor Award
Presented annually to the Holy Cross senior who, by a vote of the varsity squad, is named to the person the players are most proud of as a teammate. It is given by the Holy Cross club of the Pioneer Valley.
C.J. Hanson
The Rick Carter Memorial Award
Presented to the senior whose sportsmanship and dedication to the game of football represent the highest ideals of athletics and who, through uncommon leadership, has positively influenced his teammates and brought great credit to his family, his team and the college.
Jalen Coker
2023 Crusader Most Valuable Player
Presented to the person who his teammates feel was the most significant contributor to the team.
Matthew Sluka
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