2021 Holy Cross Crusaders football team

The 2021 Holy Cross Crusaders football team represented the College of the Holy Cross as a member of the Patriot League during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Bob Chesney, Holy Cross compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 6–0 in conference play, winning the Patriot League title. The Crusaders advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where they beat Sacred Heart in the first round before losing to Villanova in the second round. They played their home games at Fitton Field in Worcester, Massachusetts.

2021 Holy Cross Crusaders football
Patriot League champion
ConferencePatriot League
Ranking
STATSNo. 19
FCS CoachesNo. 22
Record10–3 (6–0 Patriot)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJustin Roper (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorScott James (4th season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumFitton Field
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Patriot League football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 19 Holy Cross $^   6 0     10 3  
Colgate   5 1     5 6  
Fordham   4 2     6 5  
Lehigh   3 3     3 8  
Lafayette   2 4     3 8  
Georgetown   1 5     2 8  
Bucknell   0 6     1 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

Schedule

edit
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 4 12:00 p.m. at UConn* CBSSN W 38–28 18,782
September 11 2:00 p.m. Merrimack* No. 24 ESPN+ L 21–35 8,211
September 18 12:00 p.m. at Yale* ESPN+ W 20–17 3,987
September 25 1:00 p.m. at No. 20 Monmouth* ESPN+ W 45–15 4,235
October 2 1:30 p.m. Harvard*
  • Fitton Field
  • Worcester, MA
Spectrum News 1 L 13–38 10,023
October 16 1:30 p.m. Georgetown
  • Fitton Field
  • Worcester, MA
ESPN+ W 48–14 4,518
October 23 5:00 p.m. Colgate
Spectrum News 1W 42–10 9,508
October 30 12:00 p.m. at Lehigh ESPN+ W 31–12 3,211
November 6 12:30 p.m. Lafayette
  • Fitton Field
  • Worcester, MA
ESPN+ W 35–10 6,514
November 13 1:00 p.m. at Fordham ESPN+ W 52–24 3,265
November 20 1:00 p.m. at Bucknell W 45–6 864
November 27 12:00 p.m. Sacred Heart* No. 24
ESPN+ W 13–10 4,163
December 3 7:00 p.m. at No. 6 Villanova* No. 24 ESPN+ L 16–21 5,109

[1]

Rankings

edit
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre123456789101112Final
STATSRV24RVRVRVRVRV2419
FCS CoachesRVRVRV24тRVRVRVRVRVRVRV2422

Game summaries

edit

At UConn

edit
Holy Cross Crusaders at UConn Huskies  – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Crusaders 7 17 7738
Huskies 14 7 7028

at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Connecticut

Game information
First quarter
  • HC – Matthew Sluka 6-yard run (Derek Ng kick), 10:36. Crusaders 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 77 yards, 4:21.
  • CONN – Keelan Marion 50-yard pass from Jack Zergiotis (Joe McFadden kick), 4:23. Tied 7–7. Drive: 2 plays, 61 yards, 0:29.
  • CONN – Jack Zergiotis 1-yard run (Joe McFadden kick), 2:22. Huskies 14–7. Drive: 3 plays, 2 yards, 1:13.

Second quarter

  • HC – Jason Modak 29-yard interception return (Derek Ng kick), 14:44. Tied 14–14.
  • HC – Ayir Asante 24-yard pass from Matthew Sluka (Derek Ng kick), 6:54. Crusaders 21–14. Drive: 5 plays, 47 yards, 1:47.
  • CONN – Keelan Marion 3-yard pass from Jack Zergiotis (Joe McFadden kick), 2:57. Tied 21–21. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 3:57.
  • HC – Derek Ng 30-yard field goal, 0:03. Crusaders 24–21. Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 2:54.

Third quarter

  • HC – Tyler Purdy 3-yard pass from Matthew Sluka (Derek Ng kick), 6:43. Crusaders 31–21. Drive: 6 plays, 47 yards, 2:39.
  • CONN – Jayce Medlock 8-yard pass from Jack Zergiotis (Joe McFadden kick), 3:18. Crusaders 31–28. Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 3:25.

Fourth quarter

  • HC – Tyler Purdy 14-yard run (Derek Ng kick), 8:19. Crusaders 38–28. Drive: 4 plays, 98 yards, 2:06.
Statistics HC CONN
First downs 19 18
Total yards 363 262
Rushing yards 226 88
Passing yards 137 174
Turnovers 1 4
Time of possession 33:13 26:47
Team Category Player Statistics
Holy Cross Passing Matthew Sluka 9/16, 140 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Matthew Sluka 14 rushes, 112 yards, TD
Receiving Jalen Coker 4 receptions, 75 yards
UConn Passing Jack Zergiotis 17/41, 174 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT
Rushing Kevin Mensah 21 rushes, 66 yards
Receiving Keelan Marion 3 receptions, 60 yards, 2 TD

This was the Crusaders' first win over an FBS opponent since 2002.

References

edit
  1. ^ "2021 Holy Cross Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved March 15, 2021.