PatriotFB Notebook – Week Nine (.PDF)
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN TO PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL GAMES THIS WEEK
Six of the Patriot League’s seven teams will be in action during Week Nine, including three League contests on ESPN+. No. 19/21 Lafayette travels to Georgetown with coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. Holy Cross looks to bounce back at Fordham in a 1 p.m. game with audio coverage available on WFUVSports.org. Colgate puts their three-game win streak on the line against Bucknell in a 1 p.m. start.
LAFAYETTE RANKED NO. 19 AND 21 IN POLLS, HOLY CROSS NO. 22 IN COACHES POLL, FORDHAM RECEIVING VOTES
Lafayette climbed to No. 19 in the FCS Coaches Poll and entered the Stats Perform Top 25 Poll at No. 21. The Leopards snapped Holy Cross’s 18-game League winning streak with a 38-35 win at Fitton Field. Prior to this season, the last time the Leopards were ranked in either poll was Dec. 21, 2009. The Crusaders slipped to No. 22 in the FCS Coaches Poll and are receiving votes in the Stats Perform Top 25. Fordham is receiving votes in both polls coming out of their bye week.
LAFAYETTE AND MATTHEW SLUKA EARN STATS PERFORM NATIONAL FCS WEEKLY HONORS
Lafayette was named the FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week after its 38-35 victory over then-No. 11/15 Holy Cross. Holy Cross Sr. QB Matthew Sluka earned national Offensive Player of the Week after breaking a Patriot League and FCS single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback, totaling 330 yards on the ground and accounting for four touchdowns against the Leopards.
JACOB DOBBS NAMED A FINALIST FOR WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY
Holy Cross fifth-year linebacker Jacob Dobbs was selected as one of the 16 finalists for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award, annually recognizing the best in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. Dobbs, a four-year captain and three-time All-Patriot League selection, is 16 tackles shy of breaking the League’s career tackles record. The 2022 Academic All-League selection has a 3.76 cumulative GPA, majoring in economics and religious studies. Holy Cross’s Peter Oliver and Fordham’s Ryan Greenhagen were finalists for the 2022 Campbell Trophy.
2023 Patriot League Football Standings (as of Oct. 26)
| School | PL | PL Pct. | Overall | Overall Pct. |
| Lafayette | 2-0 | 1.000 | 6-1 | .857 |
| Holy Cross | 2-1 | .667 | 4-3 | .571 |
| Georgetown | 2-1 | .667 | 4-4 | .500 |
| Fordham | 1-1 | .500 | 5-2 | .714 |
| Colgate | 1-1 | .500 | 3-4 | .429 |
| Lehigh | 1-2 | .333 | 2-6 | .250 |
| Bucknell | 0-3 | .000 | 2-5 | .286 |
ONLINE SCHEDULE | ONLINE STATS
DOBBS CLOSING IN ON PATRIOT LEAGUE TACKLES RECORD
Holy Cross 5th LB Jacob Dobbs is 16 tackles shy of breaking the Patriot League career total tackles record of 425, held by Lee Picariello (Lehigh) and David Streeter (Holy Cross). Dobbs leads the FCS with 14.4 tackles per game. The League’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year is fifth in League history with 410 tackles and second among the FCS active leaders. Lafayette Sr. LB Marco Olivas averages 7.3 tackles per game, up to 361 for his career, while currently ranking third among the FCS active leaders. Conway eclipsed 300 tackles on Sept. 30 and currently ranks second in the League, averaging 10.3 tackles per game through seven games. He is fourth among the active FCS leaders with 330.
PATRIOT LEAGUE CAREER TOTAL TACKLES LEADERS
1. Lee Picariello, Lehigh (1988-91), 425
1. David Streeter, Holy Cross (1993-96), 425
3. Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham (2018-22), 424
FCS ACTIVE CAREER TOTAL TACKLES LEADERS
2. Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross (2019-pres.), 410
3. Marco Olivas, Lafayette (2019-pres.), 361
4. James Conway, Fordham (2021-pres.), 330
LEAGUE PLAYERS GARNERING NATIONAL ATTENTION
Five Patriot League student-athletes have received national FCS weekly recognition from Stats Perform this season. Holy Cross Sr. QB Matthew Sluka earned FedEx Ground National Offensive Player of the Week On. Oct. 23 after his record-breaking 330-rushing yard performance vs. Lafayette. Fordham Sr. PK Brandon Peskin claimed National Special Teams Player of the Week after connecting on a career-long 45-yard field goal with time expiring in a 38-35 win over Lehigh on Oct. 7. and Lafayette So. QB Dean DeNobile claimed National Freshman of the Week on Oct. 2 after throwing four touchdown passes in a 56-22 win over Bucknell. (Per Patriot League policy, DeNobile, listed as a redshirt freshman by Stats Perform, is ineligible for League rookie honors as a sophomore academically.) Holy Cross Jr. RB Jordan Fuller earned offensive player honors after scoring five TDs against Merrimack. Fordham So. QB C.J. Montes earned the same honor on Sept. 11 after throwing for more than 300 yards and five TDs in a 40-37 victory over FBS opponent Buffalo in Week Two.
FOUR PLAYERS AMONG FCS TOP-15 RUSHING LEADERS
Four Patriot League players are among the top 15 FCS rushing leaders headed into the season’s ninth week. Lafayette So. RB Jamar Curtis is second in the FCS, averaging 132.4 yards per game, after rushing for a career-high 229 yards in a win vs. Holy Cross. The Leopards are 15th in the FCS in rushing offense (205.4). Holy Cross Sr. QB Matthew Sluka (128.6) and Jr. RB Jordan Fuller (103.3) are fourth and ninth, respectively, to help the Crusaders rank third in rushing offense (275.9 ypg). Georgetown ranks 30th in the FCS in rushing offense, averaging 173.0 yards per game, with Gr. RB Joshua Stakely ranked 47th in the nation, averaging 70.4 yards per game.
PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYERS AMONG FCS RUSHING LEADERS
No. Name, School, Rushing YPG
2. Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, 132.4
4. Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, 128.6
9. Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, 103.3
13. Julius Loughridge, Fordham, 97.4
MONTES AND SLUKA AMONG PASSING TD LEADERS
Fordham So. QB C.J. Montes and Holy Cross Sr. QB Matthew Sluka are tied for third in the FCS in touchdown passes heading into Week Nine. Montes led the FCS with 17 TD passes before the Rams’ Week Eight bye and has not thrown an interception through seven games. Sluka threw one TD pass against Lafayette last week to give him 17 this season. He also has seven rushing TDs.
PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
3. C.J. Montes, Fordham, 17
3. Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, 17
COKER LEADS TRIO OF WRS AMONG FCS LEADERS
Holy Cross Sr. WR Jalen Coker became the Crusaders’ career receiving leader, reaching 2,371 yards against Lafayette in Week Eight, and is fourth in the FCS with 99.4 receiving yards per game. He also leads the FCS with 10 receiving touchdowns. Colgate So. WR Treyvhon Saunders (75.9) is 24th in the FCS in receiving yards per game, while Georgetown So. WR Nicholas Dunneman (71.6) climbed to 25th in the FCS after his 205-receiving-yard performance vs. Colgate in Week Eight.
RECEIVING YARDS PER GAME
3. Jalen Coker, Holy Cross , 107.8
24. Treyvhon Saunders, Colgate, 75.9
25. Nicholas Dunneman, Georgetown, 71.6
LAFAYETTE’S JOSEPH NAMED TO JERRY RICE AWARD WATCH LIST
Lafayette Fr. DL Jaylon Joseph was among the 22 football student-athletes named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List, presented annually to the national FCS freshman of the year. Joseph is among the Patriot League leaders with 4.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks.
SLUKA CONTINUES AS ONE OF FCS’S TOP DUAL-THREAT QBS
Holy Cross Sr. QB Matthew Sluka nearly willed the Crusaders to a victory vs. Lafayette, with a record-breaking 330 rushing yards against Lafayette, accounting for four TDs. The Walter Payton Award Watch List selection again leads all FCS QBs in rushing (900 yards) after accomplishing the same feat last season (1,234 yards). He has led the League in rushing for the last three seasons and is currently second in the PL and fourth in the FCS in rushing (128.6 ypg). In addition to his rushing prowess, Sluka is sixth among FCS quarterbacks in passing efficiency (166.0) this season. He has completed 99-of-160 passes for 1,449 yards and 17 touchdown passes this season. He is responsible for 92 touchdowns (56 passing, 36 rushing) through his career, two behind Colgate’s Ryan Vena (94) for fourth in League history.
PATRIOT LEAGUE TOUCHDOWNS RESPONSIBLE FOR (CAREER)
1. Tim DeMorat, Fordham (2018-22) 140
2. Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross (2006-09) 133
3. Peter Pujals, Holy Cross (2013-17) 104
ACTIVE CAREER TOUCHDOWNS RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADERS
Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross (2020-pres.) 92
LAFAYETTE’s SHAEFFER AMONG FCS LEADERS IN TFLS AND SACKS
Lafayette Sr. LB Billy Shaeffer is fourth in the FCS with 1.8 TFLs per game, sixth in sacks with 1.00 per game and 21st in forced fumbles per game with 0.29. Shaeffer has recorded 10.5 TFLs and 7.0 sacks in Lafayette’s last three games, garnering Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week twice during that stretch (Oct. 2, Oct. 9).
NO. 19/21 LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (6-1, 2-0 PL) AT GEORGETOWN HOYAS (4-4, 2-1 PL)
Cooper Field/Washington, D.C. 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Jeremy Huber; Analyst – Lynnell Willingham
SERIES HISTORY: Georgetown and Lafayette will meet for the 26th time in series history, with the Leopards holding a 15-10 advantage. The two programs met for the first time in 1902 in a 23-0 Lafayette win.
LAST MEETING (Oct. 29, 2022): Georgetown 30, at Lafayette 20
NO. 22/rv HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (4-3, 2-1 PL) AT rv/rv FORDHAM RAMS (5-2, 1-1 PL)
Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field/Bronx, N.Y. 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Connell McShane; Analyst – Grant DelVecchio
RADIO BROADCAST (WFUVSports.org): PxP – Lou Orlando; Analyst – Brian Rabacs
SERIES HISTORY: Holy Cross and Fordham meet for the 61st time in series history and the 38th time since the Ram-Crusader Cup has been awarded to honor Major Frank Cavanaugh, who served as head coach of both programs. The Crusaders have won six straight meetings dating back to 2017 and maintain a 33-25-2 record against the Rams. Holy Cross is 22-15 in Ram-Crusader Cup games.
LAST MEETING (Oct. 29, 2022): At Holy Cross 53, Fordham 52 OT
BUCKNELL BISON (2-5, 0-3 PL) AT COLGATE RAIDERS (3-4, 1-1 PL)
Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium/Hamilton, N.Y. 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Eric Malanoski; Analyst – Jeff Bishop
RADIO BROADCAST (100.9 FM WVLY – The Valley): PxP – Doug Birdsong; Analyst – Kevin Herr
SERIES HISTORY: Bucknell and Colgate meet for the 71st time in series history, with the Raiders claiming a 52-18 advantage. The two programs met for the first time in 1894.
LAST MEETING (Oct. 29, 2022) Colgate 13, at Bucknell 7
Bye Week – Lehigh
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.
