BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Holy Cross captured two of the four Patriot League GEICO weekly football awards when the League office announced the first honors of the season on Monday. Bucknell and Fordham received one weekly honor.
Holy Cross sophomore quarterback Matthew Sluka was named the Patriot League Football GEICO Offensive Player of the Week after throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for a third in the Crusaders’ 38-28 upset victory over FBS opponent UConn. The League’s 2020-21 rookie of the year threw for a career-high 123 yards and rushed for 112 in the victory.
Crusaders’ senior placekicker Derek Ng received GEICO special teams player of the week honors after connecting on all five of his extra-point attempts and making a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter to give Holy Cross a 24-21 lead.
Fordham senior linebacker Ryan Greenhagen was named the Patriot League Football GEICO Defensive Player of the Week after breaking a 31-year-old Patriot League single-game tackles record with 30 against Nebraska. The League’s preseason defensive player of the year also tied the NCAA Division I mark.
Bucknell freshman defensive lineman Justin Fisher was named the Patriot League Football GEICO Rookie of the Week after tying for a game-high nine tackles in his collegiate debut against Sacred Heart.
Holy Cross senior linebacker Liam Anderson, Lafayette senior linebacker Major Jordan and junior wide receiver Julius Young all received honorable mentions for their performances on Saturday.
The Patriot League football players of the week are selected in a vote by League media members and each school’s sports information directors, who are not eligible to vote for their student-athletes.
2021 Patriot League Football Standings
| School |
Overall |
Overall Pct. |
PL |
PL Pct. |
| Holy Cross |
1-0 |
1.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Georgetown |
0-0 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Bucknell |
0-1 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Colgate |
0-1 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Fordham |
0-1 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Lafayette |
0-1 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
| Lehigh |
0-1 |
.000 |
0-0 |
.000 |
Patriot League Football Week Two Schedule – Saturday, Sept. 11
Stony Brook at Colgate (ESPN+) – 1 p.m.
Georgetown at Delaware State (ESPN3) – 2 p.m.
Lehigh at Richmond (FloFootball/NBCSW) – 2 p.m.
Merrimack at Holy Cross (ESPN+) – 2 p.m.
Monmouth at Fordham (ESPN+) – 6 p.m.
Bucknell at Villanova (FloFootball) – 6 p.m.
Lafayette at William & Mary (FloFootball) – 6 p.m.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, So., QB, Locust Valley, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial
*Sluka threw for a pair of touchdowns and rushed for one more to lead Holy Cross to a 38-28 victory over UConn, the program’s first victory over an FBS opponent since 2002 and the first by a Patriot League team since 2015.
*The sophomore quarterback completed 9-of-16 passes for a career-high 123 yards.
*The 2020-21 Patriot League Rookie of the Year also rushed for 112 yards on 14 carries, including a 76-yard run in the fourth quarter to set up the game-sealing touchdown.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, Sr., LB, Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXIII
*Greenhagen broke a Patriot League single-game recorded and tied the NCAA Division I record with 30 tackles in the Rams loss at Nebraska.
*The 2021 Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year made 13 solo stops.
*His 30-tackle total was the most recorded against an FBS opponent since NCAA defensive statistics became official in 2000.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Derek Ng, Holy Cross, Sr., PK, Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman
*Ng connected on all five of his PATs and booted a 30-yard field goal to help Holy Cross to a 38-28 upset victory over FBS opponent UConn.
*The All-League placekicker made his 30-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the second quarter to give the Crusaders a 24-21 lead at halftime.
*He also kicked off seven times for 408 yards.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Justin Fisher, Bucknell, Fr., DL, King of Prussia, Pa./Upper Merion Area
*Fisher tied teammate Blake Leake for a game-high nine tackles in Bucknell’s season opener at Sacred Heart.
*The King of Prussia, Pa. native also had a quarterback hurry in his collegiate debut.
*Fisher came off the bench to help the Bison defense hold NEC-favorite Sacred Heart’s explosive offense to seven points in the first half.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Liam Anderson, Holy Cross, Sr., LB, Flanders, N.J./Mount Olive
*Anderson led the Crusaders’ defense with eight tackles, 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and two quarterback hurries in a 38-28 defeat of FBS opponent UConn.
Major Jordan, Lafayette, Sr., LB, Frackville, Pa./North Schuylkill
*Jordan recorded a career-high 15 tackles against Air Force, who led the FBS in rushing during the 2020 season. His 15 tackles were also a game-high.
Julius Young, Lafayette, Jr., WR, Houston, Texas/Episcopal
*Young posted career highs in receptions (9) and receiving yards (146), including a 23-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. The junior wide receiver also had a career-long 43-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
Offensive Player of the Week
9.6 – Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, So., QB
Defensive Player of the Week
9.6 – Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, Sr., LB
Special Teams Player of the Week
9.6 – Derek Ng, Holy Cross, Jr., PK
Rookie of the Week
9.6 – Justin Fisher, Bucknell, Fr., DL
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athlete 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.