Even though Holy Cross has been accustomed to winning impressively over the last several years, the program is still accomplishing several firsts, while hoping to earn some others this year.
Fifth-year coach Bob Chesney has turned this into a certified FCS contender.
The Crusaders have won three straight Patriot League titles, earning three consecutive FCS playoff appearances.
Last year’s 10-3 season was the first double-digit win total since 1991. Holy Cross also won its first-ever playoff game, a 13-10 victory over Sacred Heart. The Crusaders were even impressive in defeat, falling 21-16 at powerful Villanova in the second round.
The firsts have continued this year for Holy Cross, which is 6-0 and gets to take a breather during its bye week.
This year the Crusaders have earned wins against Yale and Harvard, the first time in school history they have beaten both Ivy League teams in the same season.
Holy Cross is coming off a 57-0 win over Bucknell, the largest shutout victory since a 60-0 win vs. Fort Totten in 1942. While we’re guessing Fort Totten wasn’t a Top 10 contender and Bucknell is far from one as well, Holy Cross also has some impressive wins this year.
Tops on the list is a 37-31 victory at FBS Buffalo, which is merely leading the Mid-American Conference East Division with a 3-0 mark.
The offense may not be as flashy as fellow Patriot League contender Fordham, but it sure knows how to dial up points. While Fordham leads the FCS in scoring offense, averaging 49.8 points per game, Holy Cross is a not-too-shabby 11th (38.0).
Junior quarterback Matthew Sluka (6-3, 215) is extremely efficient. This is not a bombs-away offense. Sluka, a second-team all-Patriot selection last year, is averaging only 22 passing attempts per game. Still, Sluka is fifth nationally in passing efficiency. He has thrown 14 touchdown passes and just one interception.
He is also the team’s leading rusher, having run for 424 yards (4.9 avg.) and six touchdowns.
Sounds pretty efficient.
Junior wide receiver Jalen Coker is a big-play performer, with 29 receptions for 605 yards (20.86 avg.) and seven touchdowns.
Senior wideout Ayir Asante has made the most of his 13 receptions, averaging a healthy 17.69 yards while scoring four touchdowns.
The Crusaders are also 10th in scoring defense, allowing 15.50 points. Even more impressive is that leading tackler, senior linebacker Jacob Dobbs has been sidelined since suffering an arm injury in the first half of the fourth game of the year, a 35-10 win over Colgate. A preseason HERO Sports First-Team All-American Dobbs (6-0, 237) still leads the team with 38 tackles.
To be ranked at or near the top 10 in both offense and defense shows a well-balanced team.
And then there are the special teams.
In the win over Bucknell, senior cornerback Devin Haskins blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown. It’s the third straight week Haskins has blocked a punt. That put Haskins in the record books as he tied a Patriot League mark for most blocked punts in a season.
Senior placekicker Derek Ng merely holds the all-time Holy Cross record with 279 points.
Of course, winning the Patriot League is no given, especially with the presence of high-flying Fordham. Still, there are high expectations for Holy Cross.
HERO Sports FCS analyst Sam Herder has Holy Cross ranked No. 8 in this week’s ballot for the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 media poll. Fordham is ranked No. 22. The two teams meet on Oct. 29 at Holy Cross.
After this week’s bye, there is an Oct. 22 game at Lafayette (2-4, 1-0). Don’t expect that to be a trap game.
Holy Cross has succeeded under Chesney by not overlooking anybody. With all that it has accomplished, Holy Cross is capable of earning even more firsts this season, especially come playoff time.
Two or more FCS playoff wins this year for the first time ever?
Nothing seems out of reach for this well-balanced unit.
