WORCESTER – With an unforgettable 2022 in the rearview mirror the last few weeks during spring ball, Holy Cross had been solely focused on what’s ahead.

But, there was still one more special moment to cap the historic campaign a year ago, which fittingly took place just before the unofficial kickoff to 2023 and the spring game at Fitton Field on Saturday.

In the morning, the Crusaders got their fourth straight Patriot League championship rings in a bit of a surprise ceremony. The gigantic rings were a final symbol of a historic year before guys back on the team this season strapped on the pads to kickoff the long pursuit of a fifth ring, and maybe even a bigger one that doesn’t just say league champions.

Once Holy Cross took the field Saturday – the defense in purple led by Jacob Dobbs and the offense in white led by Matt Sluka – it was like watching a re-run of last season. Sluka threw touchdowns and ran the ball, Jalen Coker impressed in 1-on-1’s, the defense was relentless at times. It was also a phenomenal atmosphere as fans and family got involved. Two lucky winners and Coker’s brother Jaxon all got to re-create the Hail Mary he caught against Buffalo. Team Impact teammate Jack Savage capped the special day with a long touchdown and about 500 fans enjoyed the beautiful weather and entertaining “game” for two hours. You had to be there to truly feel and see it, but you’d be hard pressed to find another team in all of college football – FBS and FCS – that’s as close-knit and family-first as this one.

“What about today, huh? What about today,” head coach Bob Chesney said. “Seeing all those people in the stands, having all of our incoming freshman here and then having all of the families here. We had the banquet early in the morning. I mean, look at this. A phenomenal, phenomenal afternoon.”

With the baseball team playing just steps away, food trucks set up and beers flowing, the Crusaders took the field for regular game day warmups and then right around 3 P.M. began with a 15-minute running time first quarter. Coker, Justin Shorter and Byron Shipman were on the field with Sluka just like old times, the only difference was Peter Oliver was no longer there. Instead, Jordan Fuller – another HC vet – was in the backfield. After an early sack for former Lawrence Academy standout Colin Reynolds, Sluka eventually found Shorter for a touchdown late in the frame.

Before the game, Sluka sneakily put his cell phone inside the padding of the goal post. As soon as Shorter crossed the goal line, Sluka ran to the back of the end zone, dug out his phone and grabbed a selfie with Shorter and a bunch of teammates. The most entertaining team in New England was at it again. Near the end of the first, Joe Pesansky was under center while Sam Slade handled some rushing duties.

One-on-one’s between receivers and DB’s followed for a few minutes and it was Coker making the highlight reel play of the period, grabbing a ball in the corner with a defender draped all over him. More team stuff followed for 10 minutes with Coker catching a TD from Pesansky and Jack Norris adding the PAT. Norris and Luis Palenzuela split PAT and kicking duties as the Crusaders try to see who’s going to replace Derek Ng. Jared Dyer had a sack during the “second quarter” before Pesansky hit Quinton Gregory for a deep TD. Sluka was back in late and was picked off by Curtis Harris-Lopez, who then ran and punted the football for his celebration.

During a “halftime” kids played some flag football and had a punt, pass and kick contest. Former standout receiver Ayir Asante served as the hype man on the mic for it, as he did much of the day. As the third quarter began so did another team period. This time, both the men’s and women’s basketball coaches along with Jen Toland from the Telegram were tasked with calling plays. Sophomore Mark Forcucci got some action and J.P. Raiger – who has worked his way back from an ACL tear – grabbed an interception on a tipped ball.

For the next five minutes, the offensive and defensive linemen went at it in 1-on-1’s, Two fans were then chosen to re-create Coker’s Hail Mary snag last year as a few players held up “dummy bodies” to try and mimic the difficulty. Sluka lofted high passes in the air and both fans hauled them in before being mobbed by the team. A “fourth quarter” followed and Forcucci hit Shipman for a long TD. The offense locked up a “victory” on a walk-off five-yard slant hookup between Forcucci and Slade after Chesney had yelled – as he often does – “this is for the Super Bowl!”

“We lost a lot of guys from last year and obviously, we want to go five in a row, so, we’re just a family out here,” said Slade. “This spring was huge for us because we’ve really got a lot of new guys stepping up. Especially in my position, we’re slim. We lost Pete Oliver who obviously added a lot to our offense. Lots of leadership. He led by example. He never messed up. So, I feel like, especially me, just trusting in one another that was a big part of this spring, for sure.”

After Jaxon Coker got a chance to throw on the pads and have his own re-creation of the Hail Mary his big brother caught and get his own celebration as members of the team lifted him up, it was time for Savage to end the day. Savage was pushed down field by Pesansky, juking defenders as they tried to make tackles but were unsuccessful. Savage cross the goal line as the team gathered around him chanting ‘Jack! Jack! Jack! before breaking it down one final time. Chesney huddled the players together one more time for a quick chat and an official closing of the spring season before families and kids took the field for autographs and pictures.

In the grand scheme of things, no one will look back at a Saturday in April when the season ends – whether it’s with a national championship or not – and say that this particular day was behind all of it. Still, it’s days like this one that build good character and good habits and those are what ultimately lead to championships.

If you don’t believe it, just take a look at the rings the team got Saturday morning.