The Patriot League title and a three-peat is on the line for Holy Cross on Saturday, but there’s much more to it.
Not only can the Crusaders all but guarantee themselves a third straight league title with a win over Fordham, but the program can also cement itself as the best FCS school in the area with a win. Now, that may not seem like the greatest title to have considering many people don’t take college football in this area seriously, but from a recruiting stand point it’s a massive opportunity.
If the Crusaders take down the Rams on the road (6-3, 4-0) with one game against 1-8 Bucknell remaining, then a home playoff game is very much on the table and head coach Bob Chesney will also cement himself as one of, if not the best FCS coach not only in New England, but one of the best in the country.
After putting up 35 points against Lafayette in their last regular season home game at Fitton Field last weekend while holding the Leopards to under 200 yards of total offense, the Crusaders might be playing their best football of the season. Winners of four in a row since the ugly home loss to Harvard on October 2nd, Holy Cross has outscored its opponents (Georgetown, Colgate, Lehigh and Lafayette by a combined total of 156-46. In those wins, the Crusaders scored 48, 42, 31 and the 35 points. Whether it’s Matt Sluka or Marco Siderman under center, whether it’s Peter Oliver running the rock or Asante and the other receivers doing damage, there’s reason to believe this HC offense can play with anybody.
Defensively, the Crusaders will face a tough task with Fordham QB Tim DeMorat who ranks 10th in all of FCS with 2,641 yards passing. Meanwhile, the Rams’ offense is 12th overall in scoring. Holy Cross has the 24th-ranked scoring defense and the Rams’ rank 12th in red zone scoring defense, which means if and when the Crusaders are able to get in the red zone, touchdowns and not field goals will be imperative because Fordham doesn’t give up much, if anything.
The biggest benefactor in all this if Holy Cross can get a win will be Chesney. It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t have glowing things to say about him, and a third straight Patriot League title for a program that had hit the skids prior to his arrival is quite an accolade to have on a rapidly growing list of them. The time will eventually come where he is getting pulled in 15 different directions by FBS schools looking for that well-known program builder and a win on Saturday will only add to his already fantastic body of work. That being said, don’t worry Crusaders fans, I don’t think he’s going anywhere.
If you’re an alumni or just a supporter of the squad in purple and white, it’s hard to beat the run this team has had the last three seasons. If Holy Cross locks up another league title on Saturday and ultimately get a home game in the FCS playoffs, the argument can easily be made that the school in Worcester is now the best place in all of New England for athletes looking to continue playing winning football in college.