Post by nycrusader2010 on Oct 16, 2021 22:31:55 GMT -5
Nice statement win for Dartmouth. UNH was a little overrated IMO coming into this one but Dartmouth showed their a Top 25 team. I thought that perhaps the Big Green were a little overrated as well but they proved me wrong with today's performance.
Ivy should be an interesting battle between Harvard, Dartmouth and Princeton. Wouldn't surprise me to see 2, or even all 3, earn a share of the Ivy League title this season.
Fordham nearly 700 yards of offense, split evenly between passing and rushing.
Lafayette -24 yards rushing against the Crimson.
Fordham QB Tim DeMorat passed for 6 touchdowns…in the first half.
They rested him (and his arm) on the bench the second half. Fordham then went conservative and still scored on TD runs of 39, 60, and 45 yards. The game was not nearly as close as the 66-21 final score indicates.
Cross, Mortified my wife when introduced to the ref I said, "OK, ref, just call the game fair!" The ref smiled but the other official to the back gave a big laugh.
Fordham nearly 700 yards of offense, split evenly between passing and rushing.
Lafayette -24 yards rushing against the Crimson.
Fordham QB Tim DeMorat passed for 6 touchdowns…in the first half.
They rested him (and his arm) on the bench the second half. Fordham then went conservative and still scored on TD runs of 39, 60, and 45 yards. The game was not nearly as close as the 66-21 final score indicates.
I watched a bit of the game on ESPN+. The rug looks to be in terrible condition. The glare off the rug was so bad I thought I was watching a broadcast from the '90's. Better bring the right footwear.
Post by timholycross on Oct 17, 2021 6:58:06 GMT -5
From what I can see, Coffey Field was resurfaced in 2014. Your description would indicate it's poorly maintained or wore out somewhat prematurely (typically these things last 10-12 years).
Glare's a problem even with some of the newer ones.
Last Edit: Oct 17, 2021 6:59:29 GMT -5 by timholycross
Recognize it is way too early. Looking ahead can be dangerous. However this is merely a comment board with no impact on anything. FU is loaded. Strong tough lines. A high flying offense led by the best player in the PL. Their strength in the passing game matches up well for them against HC. Unless HC is able to mount an effective pass rush, it could be a long, disappointing day at Coffey for the Crusaders.
A high flying offense led by the best player in the PL.
No question DeMorat is the real deal but as for best player in the PL, it may just be my purple-tinted shades but I kind of lean toward Jacob Dobbs though QBs because of their higher visibility tend to get the nod over any defensive player.
Fortunately, football is one the ultimate team sports so even though Fordham has a QB better than either of our guys (who, let's not forget, are just sophomores), I believe we have the overall better team.
That said, we need to play well on all phases of the game to win in the Bronx.
My theory on Merrimack was that we happened to catch a solid but not great team when they had a great game - especially their QB, who IMO was the best QB we've seen on any team this year - and we have a very, very good team who had an off day. Can't have that against either Fordham or Lafayette.
'It was kind of neat to see the aggression they played with,' Holy Cross routs Georgetown to open Patriot League slate
Defense stifles Hoyas, and offense connects in victory at Fitton Field
Jennifer Toland
Telegram & Gazette
WORCESTER — Holy Cross finished its out-of-conference schedule a very respectable 3-2, but when the Crusaders left Fitton Field two weeks ago following a tough loss to Harvard, they were, admittedly, ready for the bye week that lay ahead.
The two-time defending Patriot League champion Crusaders came back from their break refreshed and recharged, and took it to Georgetown in their PL opener Saturday.
HC’s defense, with a myriad of standouts, held the Hoyas to a season-low 242 yards, and sophomore quarterback Matthew Sluka threw a pair of touchdown passes and rushed for two to lead the Crusaders to their first home win of 2021, a 48-14 dismantling of the Hoyas.
Holy Cross quarterback Matthew Sluka threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in Saturday's win over Georgetown.
“We were about taking things today,” HC coach Bob Chesney said, “and it was kind of neat to see the aggression they played with.”
It was HC’s sixth consecutive win over Georgetown (1-4, 0-2).
In the teams’ last meeting, the Crusaders blanked the Hoyas, 24-0, in the 2019 regular-season finale here to clinch their first PL title under coach Bob Chesney.
HC has won five of its last six Patriot League openers.
Merrimack and Harvard combined to outscore HC, 73-34, in the Crusaders’ first two home games of the year.
“It feels great to get a home win,” said senior linebacker Liam Anderson, who led a dominant defensive effort with five tackles, a sack and a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown. “We’re hoping we can build on this. We understand that every week from here on in is a must-win situation.”
Sluka finished 7 of 10 for 136 yards and touchdown throws to seniors Jack Jewell and Tenio Ayeni. He was HC’s leading rusher with 10 carries for 92 yards and his fifth and sixth rushing TDs of the season.
The Crusaders established season highs for points, rushing yards (250) and total yards (516).
“A big part of our game plan going into the week was, ‘How do we execute the run and allow that to open up the pass?’ ” Sluka said. “We had great answers. Our linemen did a great job. Our running backs did a great job. It worked out really well.”
Sophomore wide receiver Jalen Coker had five catches for a career-high 110 yards, and freshman receiver Justin Shorter had four receptions for 63 yards and a HC season-best 49-yard kickoff return.
“It was great to see Jalen come through,” Chesney said. “Those were catches two weeks ago against Harvard, or back to Merrimack, we just didn’t make any great catches. I think today you saw three or four great catches.”
The Hoyas converted their first three first downs during the game’s opening drive and marched into HC territory, but the Crusaders' defense decided that was enough.
Senior defensive back Terrell Prince stopped Georgetown receiver Joshua Tomas short on third down, and Anderson, on fourth and 1, dropped Tomas for a 7-yard loss.
The plays set the tone for the Crusaders, who held the Hoyas to 76 total yards (zero on the ground) and six first downs in the first half. HC combined for four sacks and converted second-quarter interceptions by senior safety Cristos Argys and Anderson into 14 points.
“We finally settled in,” Anderson said, “and after that, we kind of hit a rhythm, and we were ripping off blitzes and a lot of different stunts and coverages that were giving them fits, so it was a lot of fun today.”
HC led, 35-0, before Georgetown scored with 6:51 left in the third.
“I looked up at the scoreboard in the first half, and Georgetown had negative-2 (rushing yards),” Sluka said. “When your defense holds them to zero points the majority of the game and the defense is scoring touchdowns, that gives a great boost to the offense and allows us to play free and play aggressive because we know they have our backs.”
Georgetown backup quarterback Pierce Holley hit two long completions to set up the third-quarter TD and a fourth-quarter score.
The Crusaders limited Georgetown to 6 net rushing yards and 12 first downs.
“They played really hard,” Chesney said. “(Defensive coordinator) Scott James and the staff did a great job. There’s a lot Georgetown does and presents you with a lot of issues, and (the defensive coaches) boiled it down, getting it into language our guys could understand and they could play fast with. The speed of our defensive line and linebackers was impressive.”
Holy Cross back Peter Oliver, shown here in action from the spring season, keyed Saturday's first scoring drive with his running.
The Hoyas scored more than 20 points in three of their first four games. Harvard held Georgetown to nine points in a 35-point victory last month.
After the Hoyas turned the ball over on downs midway through the first quarter, senior running back Peter Oliver, with three runs for 49 yards, keyed HC's first scoring drive. Sluka connected with Jewell for a 13-yard touchdown pass.
Less than a minute after Oliver scored from 8 yards to give HC a 14-0 lead early in the second, junior linebacker Jacob Dobbs plowed into the backfield, wrapped up Georgetown starting quarterback Joseph Brunell, and as Dobbs was taking him down, Brunell let off an ill-advised pass. Argys picked off the throw and set up the Crusaders in Georgetown territory.
Sophomore Marco Siderman, in at QB, completed a pair of passes to Coker, and Sluka returned to score from 1 yard.
Late in the second half, Anderson came up with HC’s second interception of the day, picking off Holley and returning it 39 yards for a touchdown and giving Holy Cross a 28-0 halftime lead.
“I was able to drop back and see the quarterback’s eyes and saw he was getting ready to throw it,” Anderson said. “I just kind of jumped up, and he threw it right to me. It was one of those plays that went our way.”
—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @jentandg.
If we overlook Lafayette it would be at our peril! That has happened in the past. Both the Pards and Fordham will take spring performances, especially by our defense, but the offense will need to score early and often. IMHO, a slow start could mean a loss for HC in either game.
If we overlook Lafayette it would be at our peril! That has happened in the past. Both the Pards and Fordham will take spring performances, especially by our defense, but the offense will need to score early and often. IMHO, a slow start could mean a loss for HC in either game.
Colgate is 2-0 in the PL and have scored more points in each of their five OOC games than the one before. With HC coming off a cake walk in their only PL game and the hype surrounding the first ever FB game at a sold out Polar Park growing during the week, it reminds me a little of when Merrimack followed the giddiness of upsetting FBS UConn.
Last Edit: Oct 17, 2021 10:15:16 GMT -5 by longsuffering
'It was kind of neat to see the aggression they played with,' Holy Cross routs Georgetown to open Patriot League slate
Defense stifles Hoyas, and offense connects in victory at Fitton Field
Jennifer Toland
Telegram & Gazette
WORCESTER — Holy Cross finished its out-of-conference schedule a very respectable 3-2, but when the Crusaders left Fitton Field two weeks ago following a tough loss to Harvard, they were, admittedly, ready for the bye week that lay ahead.
The two-time defending Patriot League champion Crusaders came back from their break refreshed and recharged, and took it to Georgetown in their PL opener Saturday.
HC’s defense, with a myriad of standouts, held the Hoyas to a season-low 242 yards, and sophomore quarterback Matthew Sluka threw a pair of touchdown passes and rushed for two to lead the Crusaders to their first home win of 2021, a 48-14 dismantling of the Hoyas.
Holy Cross quarterback Matthew Sluka threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in Saturday's win over Georgetown.
“We were about taking things today,” HC coach Bob Chesney said, “and it was kind of neat to see the aggression they played with.”
It was HC’s sixth consecutive win over Georgetown (1-4, 0-2).
In the teams’ last meeting, the Crusaders blanked the Hoyas, 24-0, in the 2019 regular-season finale here to clinch their first PL title under coach Bob Chesney.
HC has won five of its last six Patriot League openers.
Merrimack and Harvard combined to outscore HC, 73-34, in the Crusaders’ first two home games of the year.
“It feels great to get a home win,” said senior linebacker Liam Anderson, who led a dominant defensive effort with five tackles, a sack and a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown. “We’re hoping we can build on this. We understand that every week from here on in is a must-win situation.”
Sluka finished 7 of 10 for 136 yards and touchdown throws to seniors Jack Jewell and Tenio Ayeni. He was HC’s leading rusher with 10 carries for 92 yards and his fifth and sixth rushing TDs of the season.
The Crusaders established season highs for points, rushing yards (250) and total yards (516).
“A big part of our game plan going into the week was, ‘How do we execute the run and allow that to open up the pass?’ ” Sluka said. “We had great answers. Our linemen did a great job. Our running backs did a great job. It worked out really well.”
Sophomore wide receiver Jalen Coker had five catches for a career-high 110 yards, and freshman receiver Justin Shorter had four receptions for 63 yards and a HC season-best 49-yard kickoff return.
“It was great to see Jalen come through,” Chesney said. “Those were catches two weeks ago against Harvard, or back to Merrimack, we just didn’t make any great catches. I think today you saw three or four great catches.”
The Hoyas converted their first three first downs during the game’s opening drive and marched into HC territory, but the Crusaders' defense decided that was enough.
Senior defensive back Terrell Prince stopped Georgetown receiver Joshua Tomas short on third down, and Anderson, on fourth and 1, dropped Tomas for a 7-yard loss.
The plays set the tone for the Crusaders, who held the Hoyas to 76 total yards (zero on the ground) and six first downs in the first half. HC combined for four sacks and converted second-quarter interceptions by senior safety Cristos Argys and Anderson into 14 points.
“We finally settled in,” Anderson said, “and after that, we kind of hit a rhythm, and we were ripping off blitzes and a lot of different stunts and coverages that were giving them fits, so it was a lot of fun today.”
HC led, 35-0, before Georgetown scored with 6:51 left in the third.
“I looked up at the scoreboard in the first half, and Georgetown had negative-2 (rushing yards),” Sluka said. “When your defense holds them to zero points the majority of the game and the defense is scoring touchdowns, that gives a great boost to the offense and allows us to play free and play aggressive because we know they have our backs.”
Georgetown backup quarterback Pierce Holley hit two long completions to set up the third-quarter TD and a fourth-quarter score.
The Crusaders limited Georgetown to 6 net rushing yards and 12 first downs.
“They played really hard,” Chesney said. “(Defensive coordinator) Scott James and the staff did a great job. There’s a lot Georgetown does and presents you with a lot of issues, and (the defensive coaches) boiled it down, getting it into language our guys could understand and they could play fast with. The speed of our defensive line and linebackers was impressive.”
Holy Cross back Peter Oliver, shown here in action from the spring season, keyed Saturday's first scoring drive with his running.
The Hoyas scored more than 20 points in three of their first four games. Harvard held Georgetown to nine points in a 35-point victory last month.
After the Hoyas turned the ball over on downs midway through the first quarter, senior running back Peter Oliver, with three runs for 49 yards, keyed HC's first scoring drive. Sluka connected with Jewell for a 13-yard touchdown pass.
Less than a minute after Oliver scored from 8 yards to give HC a 14-0 lead early in the second, junior linebacker Jacob Dobbs plowed into the backfield, wrapped up Georgetown starting quarterback Joseph Brunell, and as Dobbs was taking him down, Brunell let off an ill-advised pass. Argys picked off the throw and set up the Crusaders in Georgetown territory.
Sophomore Marco Siderman, in at QB, completed a pair of passes to Coker, and Sluka returned to score from 1 yard.
Late in the second half, Anderson came up with HC’s second interception of the day, picking off Holley and returning it 39 yards for a touchdown and giving Holy Cross a 28-0 halftime lead.
“I was able to drop back and see the quarterback’s eyes and saw he was getting ready to throw it,” Anderson said. “I just kind of jumped up, and he threw it right to me. It was one of those plays that went our way.”
—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @jentandg.
I love this stuff. It makes me want to leave Riverdale in NYC and move to sunny Worcester. But...
Recognize it is way too early. Looking ahead can be dangerous. However this is merely a comment board with no impact on anything. FU is loaded. Strong tough lines. A high flying offense led by the best player in the PL. Their strength in the passing game matches up well for them against HC. Unless HC is able to mount an effective pass rush, it could be a long, disappointing day at Coffey for the Crusaders.
Gotta agree. I saw the FU QB pick apart SBU in person a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed. (Yes, SBU is down this year but they are pretty quick on D and did beat Delaware yesterday).
Last Edit: Oct 17, 2021 12:54:20 GMT -5 by hcpride
Recognize it is way too early. Looking ahead can be dangerous. However this is merely a comment board with no impact on anything. FU is loaded. Strong tough lines. A high flying offense led by the best player in the PL. Their strength in the passing game matches up well for them against HC. Unless HC is able to mount an effective pass rush, it could be a long, disappointing day at Coffey for the Crusaders.
Gotta agree. I saw the FU QB pick apart SBU in person a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed. (Yes, SBU is down this year but they are pretty quick on D and did beat Delaware yesterday).
We were preseason favorite... are we now?... too early to speculate?
Early wins against UConn & Yale were great. Losses to Merrimack & Harvard were worrisome as they exposed flaws. A blowout against a weak (Div.11?) Georgetown is meaningless. I get it. A win is a win. But HC should be satisfied with nothing less than a championship. There are no roses for a second place finish. No pat on the back, nice game, tough loss BS will suffice. IMHO HC has to up its game for the team to beat the 'Pards & Rams and win the championship. No excuses. Complaining about the refs is losers' talk. We play against the team on the field not the refs. Win or go home. Man up! Period! Nothing else matters. ( Obviously, putting academic integrity & all that kind of stuff asid.) Kick butt. You play to win the game. Win, darn it or go home. GoCrossGo!
OK, had no effect on the game yesterday but caused us to use a timeout.
Play clock is running and an official was putzing around. We've got the ball and ready to hike the ball but can't do it because the official is standing between the center and our QB (think it was Sluka at the time) all the while the play clock running down and official finally gets out of the way with no more than 2-3 seconds left and Chesney has to call a timeout.
I probably just don't pay as much attention as I should but it seems that the officials are doing this more and more this year - not just to us on offense - but all teams, where the official literally stands between the center and QB preventing the ball from being snapped. That's fine if the play clock not running but that's not the case.
