spectrumnews1.com/ma/worcester/news/2023/08/28/life-is-a-competition-for-holy-cross-football#College football notes: Competition kicks in for Holy Cross football's specialists
Jennifer Toland
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
WORCESTER — At the end of last season, kicker Derek Ng concluded his Holy Cross career as the program’s all-time leader in points scored (323) and field goals made (46).
“Those are big shoes to fill,” said HC sophomore Luis Palenzuela, who is trying to do just that. “He was a great kicker, one of the best in Holy Cross history.”
Throughout training camp and heading into Saturday’s 2023 opener against Merrimack, Palenzuela, freshman Daniel Porto and junior Jack Norris have vied to take over Ng’s placekicking and kickoff duties.
Holy Cross junior Jack Norris delivers a punt in practice on Tuesday.
“It’s a challenge because you have to come out every day and you can’t have a bad day,” Norris said. “It makes us better because we all want to come out and win the job and do our best. It’s been great for all of us, and we’ve all done well this camp.”
On the season’s first two-deep, Palenzuela is the No. 1 placekicker and Porto No. 2. Porto is tops for kickoffs, with Palenzuela backing him up. Norris is the No. 2 punter behind veteran Patrick Haughney.
“The kicking competition is still a competition,” Holy Cross coach Bob Chesney said earlier this week. “We have three guys back there that are very capable. We’re still working through that at this moment, getting to the point where it’s becoming a little bit clearer, but we have to continue to test things in fire as much as possible.”
Norris had action in one game last season, and had a 47-yard kickoff and a PAT in HC’s win over Bucknell at Polar Park.
“You have to focus on this year and the ball you’re hitting now,” Norris said, “but definitely having the game experience helps, knowing you can do it in a real game.”
Holy Cross placekicker Luis Palenzuela steps into a ball Tuesday at practice.
Palenzuela didn’t play as a freshman, but he connected on a 55-yard field goal in this year’s spring game.
“I’m kicking well and staying focused,” Palenzuela said. “I can’t do it without the holder and the offensive line, so we’re excited for this year to come.”
Palenzuela and Norris both benefited from their time playing with Ng.
“I asked him a lot throughout last year,” Palenzuela said. “I learned how to stay composed, just really stay focused and not get distracted.”
Ng kicked the three longest field goals in HC history (52 yards, 51, 50).
Chesney said the consistency among the group has been really good.
“They all bring certain strengths to it,” Chesney said. “They all have certain things that they’re good at, so we’re not afraid to use guys in what they’re good at, especially if they’re a little bit young or a little bit lacking in experience. If we can put them on the field to do things that they’re good at, I think that can help them build confidence until they slowly start running away with it. It’s a great group, very talented, and the possibilities are really endless here.”
Holy Cross placekicker Daniel Porto practices on Tuesday.
Freshmen assuming roles
Since day one of training camp, Chesney said this year’s newcomers — there are 33 of them — will play a part in HC’s 2023 success.
Eight freshmen are on the team’s first two-deep of the season.
“They just proved themselves over and over and over again,” Chesney said. “I think we get in game and we’ll see the rest of it, but some of these guys had a chance to rise up a little bit more than others and that’s continually going to be a work in progress.
“These guys come from great programs, and they have great skill sets, they are fierce competitors, and they are capable,” Chesney said, “but there are a lot of guys on the roster that are the same. These (freshmen) are just the start of it, guys that we feel have an advantage coming out of camp, and we will just continue to evaluate that as the year progresses.”
At the top of the depth chart at their positions are freshman strong safety Stu Smith and Porto, a kickoff specialist.
“I think our desire to be on the field (is what sets this freshman class apart),” Porto said.
Three freshmen, 6-foot-3, 300-pound Jovan George, 6-2, 298-pound Brice Stevenson and 6-5, 250-pound William Robinson, begin the year as backup defensive lineman.
“I’ve never seen a freshman class this physically ready to play football,” fifth-year senior linebacker Jacob Dobbs said. “There are so many guys who have God-given talents and have done a lot of hard work to manifest those talents and put themselves in a good spot to be contributors on specials teams, offense and defense. With their maturity level, their ability to pick it up mentally has been a huge thing for our team.”
Former Holy Cross linebacker Liam Anderson stands on the sideline during Colts training camp earlier this month.
Colts practice squad for Anderson
Former Holy Cross star linebacker Liam Anderson, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent this offseason, had a team-high 10 tackles in Indy’s preseason finale last weekend.
On Tuesday, when NFL teams had to set their initial 53-man rosters, the Colts waived Anderson, but the team signed him to their practice squad the next day.
“Liam is a great, great football player,” Chesney said. “He will make it in the NFL. I don’t know if it’s this round or when it all works out, but he will make it. He’s just too good of a football player. He’s just too committed to it. He will make it.”
Former HC defensive end Benton Whitley, who originally signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings last season, rejoined the Vikings practice squad Wednesday after the team waived him Tuesday.
As Chesney looks around the NFL, he takes great pride in seeing those he coached, worked with or formed relationships with getting opportunities at the highest level.
Kalif Raymond, who was a star receiver and return specialist at HC, recently signed a two-year extension with the Detroit Lions. Raymond played for coach Tom Gilmore at HC, but has become very close with Chesney.
Chris Smith, a former star Holy Cross offensive lineman and the Crusaders’ offensive coordinator last year, is in his first season as a New York Giants assistant offensive line coach.
Deonte (Harris) Harty, who starred as a receiver and return specialist for Chesney at Assumption, is in his first season with the Buffalo Bills after four years in New Orleans. Harty’s former Assumption teammate, Ashton Grant, is in his fourth season on the Cleveland Browns staff and now serving as offensive assistant/quarterbacks.
Zach Triner, who was a defensive lineman at Assumption, enters his fifth season as Tampa Bay’s long snapper.
“It’s something we’re very appreciative of and something they’re very deserving of,” Chesney said. “I think it’s something locally we all should have a sense of pride in, and as we continue to build this program, we’re hoping there is a whole lot more of them in the years to come.”
Greyhounds open defense of NE-10 title
Holy Cross is not the only local team defending its league title this season.