Post by KY Crusader 75 on Aug 8, 2023 15:06:01 GMT -5
Holy Cross goes for its fifth consecutive Patriot League Championship in 2023. The Crusaders will certainly not take that championship for granted, and won't look past any team . heeding Coach Chesney's mantra of going undefeated in the next game. Still, there are hopes of taking a trip to Frisco, Texas to play for the national championship. How do you see the regular season unfolding? Can we "run the table" even with 2 FBS teams on the schedule? Please provide your prediction in the poll and your thoughts in your posts. You are picking straight-up--I've included point spreads below simply for discussion purposes.
9/2 vs Merrimack Last year HC dominated the field with 502 total yards to 280 for Merrimack en route to a 31-17 win. We’ll make Holy Cross a 21 point favorite at Fitton Field in the season opener
9/9 at boston college—bc won as it pleased when the teams last played but this is a different team of Crusaders and perhaps a different bc squad. Still, playing at Alumni Stadium, bc is a 10 point favorite.
9/16 vs Yale—after decades of futility it has been especially rewarding to beat Yale recently. Last season HC outgained Yale 571 to 306 total yards which generated a 38-14 Holy Cross win. With this being Yale’s opener and HC playing its third game, we’ll make the Crusaders 7 point favorites
9/23 vs Colgate—Holy Cross crushed Colgate last year in Hamilton 35-10 despite having only 271 total yards to Colgate’s 250. HC was helped by two interceptions. HC looks like a 20 point favorite.
9/30 vs Harvard at Polar Park—HC won last year’s tilt 30-21due in part to Derek Ng’s 3 field goals in 4 attempts and with Jalen Coker conducting a wide receiver clinic with 10 receptions for 162 yards and 1 TD, Harvard lost two fumbles and was penalized 10 times for 90 yards. HC should be a 13 point favorite at Polar Park this year.
10/7 at Bucknell—Holy Cross crushed the overmatched Bison 57-0 last year, moving the ball easily for 48 first downs and 521 total yards to 17 and 169 for Bucknell. We’ll make HC a 28 point favorite.
10/21 vs Lafayette—Last year’s game was a real anomaly with Lafayette leading in the fourth quarter until Justin Shorter caught a 16 yard TD pass from Matt Sluka with 4:00 to go in the game. Holy Cross was held to just 7 first downs to 21 for Lafayette and Laf led the total yardage stat 329 to 181 yards. I see a completely different scenario this year with HC a 21 point favorite.
10/28 at Fordham. HC won last year’s shootout 53-52 in over time. HC hampered itself with 11 penalties for 118 yards versus 7 for 54 for the Rams. The stat battle between the two celebrated quarterbacks was one-sided. DeMorat completed 19 passes in 38 attempts for 256 yards but he did throw for 5 TD’s. Matt Sluka, in contrast completed 15 of 23 passes for 291 yards and 4 TD’s. So, DeMorat completed 4 more passes in 15 more attempts for 35 fewer yards but 1 more TD. Sluka rushed 21 times for 174 yards and 1 TD, DeMorat ran for 1 TD with 6 attempts for 13 net yards. Jalen Coker caught 6 passes for 3 TD’s and 131 yards. Okay, DeMorat and favorite receivers Kokosioulis and Carter are gone while Sluka and Coker return; I like the Crusaders by 10.
11/4 at Lehigh HC won at Fitton last year by a 42-14 score based on a great rushing attack. We’ll make HC a 24 point favorite in PA this year,
11/11 at Army. How great it is to have this storied program on the schedule again after too long an absence. This will be a very tough game with Army a 13 point favorite.
11/18 vs Georgetown. HC won last year’s game 47-10 in DC with a 568 to 304 advantage in total yardage. HC was penalized 11 times for 115 yards. We’ll make HC a 31 point favorite at Fitton
9/2 vs Merrimack Last year HC dominated the field with 502 total yards to 280 for Merrimack en route to a 31-17 win. We’ll make Holy Cross a 21 point favorite at Fitton Field in the season opener
9/9 at boston college—bc won as it pleased when the teams last played but this is a different team of Crusaders and perhaps a different bc squad. Still, playing at Alumni Stadium, bc is a 10 point favorite.
9/16 vs Yale—after decades of futility it has been especially rewarding to beat Yale recently. Last season HC outgained Yale 571 to 306 total yards which generated a 38-14 Holy Cross win. With this being Yale’s opener and HC playing its third game, we’ll make the Crusaders 7 point favorites
9/23 vs Colgate—Holy Cross crushed Colgate last year in Hamilton 35-10 despite having only 271 total yards to Colgate’s 250. HC was helped by two interceptions. HC looks like a 20 point favorite.
9/30 vs Harvard at Polar Park—HC won last year’s tilt 30-21due in part to Derek Ng’s 3 field goals in 4 attempts and with Jalen Coker conducting a wide receiver clinic with 10 receptions for 162 yards and 1 TD, Harvard lost two fumbles and was penalized 10 times for 90 yards. HC should be a 13 point favorite at Polar Park this year.
10/7 at Bucknell—Holy Cross crushed the overmatched Bison 57-0 last year, moving the ball easily for 48 first downs and 521 total yards to 17 and 169 for Bucknell. We’ll make HC a 28 point favorite.
10/21 vs Lafayette—Last year’s game was a real anomaly with Lafayette leading in the fourth quarter until Justin Shorter caught a 16 yard TD pass from Matt Sluka with 4:00 to go in the game. Holy Cross was held to just 7 first downs to 21 for Lafayette and Laf led the total yardage stat 329 to 181 yards. I see a completely different scenario this year with HC a 21 point favorite.
10/28 at Fordham. HC won last year’s shootout 53-52 in over time. HC hampered itself with 11 penalties for 118 yards versus 7 for 54 for the Rams. The stat battle between the two celebrated quarterbacks was one-sided. DeMorat completed 19 passes in 38 attempts for 256 yards but he did throw for 5 TD’s. Matt Sluka, in contrast completed 15 of 23 passes for 291 yards and 4 TD’s. So, DeMorat completed 4 more passes in 15 more attempts for 35 fewer yards but 1 more TD. Sluka rushed 21 times for 174 yards and 1 TD, DeMorat ran for 1 TD with 6 attempts for 13 net yards. Jalen Coker caught 6 passes for 3 TD’s and 131 yards. Okay, DeMorat and favorite receivers Kokosioulis and Carter are gone while Sluka and Coker return; I like the Crusaders by 10.
11/4 at Lehigh HC won at Fitton last year by a 42-14 score based on a great rushing attack. We’ll make HC a 24 point favorite in PA this year,
11/11 at Army. How great it is to have this storied program on the schedule again after too long an absence. This will be a very tough game with Army a 13 point favorite.
11/18 vs Georgetown. HC won last year’s game 47-10 in DC with a 568 to 304 advantage in total yardage. HC was penalized 11 times for 115 yards. We’ll make HC a 31 point favorite at Fitton