PatriotFB Notebook (.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 Ten, including three League contests on ESPN+. No. 21 Holy Cross travels to Lehigh for a noon meeting, with audio available on Fox Sports Lehigh 94.7 FM/1230AM and LVFoxSports.com. No. 16/20 Lafayette puts its six-game win streak on the line when they host Colgate at 12:30 p.m. Bucknell takes on Fordham at 1 p.m. with audio available on WFUVSports.org.
LAFAYETTE RANKED NO. 16 AND 20; HOLY CROSS NO. 21 IN COACHES POLL; FORDHAM RECEIVING VOTES
Lafayette climbed to No. 16 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the Stats Perform Top 25 Poll. The Leopards No. 16 ranking in the Coaches’ Poll is the highest a Leopards’ squad has been ranked in the Patriot League era. Prior to this season, the last time Lafayette was in either poll was Dec. 21, 2009. The Crusaders moved up to No. 21 in the FCS Coaches Poll and are receiving votes in the Stats Perform Top 25 after a 49-47 win at Fordham. The Rams are receiving votes in the Coaches’ Poll.
COLGATE’S OWEN GOSS NAMED FEDEX GROUND FCS NATIONAL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Colgate Sr. DB Owen Goss earned FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday. Goss tied the FCS single-game record for combined blocked kicks, finishing with a blocked field goal and two blocked PATs in a loss against Bucknell. He joins five other FCS players, including Colgate’s Brandon Tinson (2000) and Bucknell’s Josh Eden (2010).
DOBBS CLOSING IN ON PATRIOT LEAGUE TACKLES RECORD
Holy Cross 5th-year LB Jacob Dobbs is six 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 13.9 tackles per game. The League’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year is tied for fourth in League history with 420 tackles and is second among the FCS active leaders. Lafayette Sr. LB Marco Olivas up to 363 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 11.3 tackles per game through eight games. He is fourth among the active FCS leaders with 351.
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.), 420
3. Marco Olivas, Lafayette (2019-pres.), 363
4. James Conway, Fordham (2021-pres.), 351
2023 Patriot League Football Standings (as of Nov. 2)
| School |
PL |
PL Pct. |
Overall |
Overall Pct. |
| Lafayette |
3-0 |
1.000 |
7-1 |
.875 |
| Holy Cross |
3-1 |
.750 |
5-3 |
.625 |
| Georgetown |
2-2 |
.500 |
4-5 |
.444 |
| Fordham |
1-2 |
.333 |
5-3 |
.625 |
| Colgate |
1-2 |
.333 |
3-5 |
.375 |
| Lehigh |
1-2 |
.333 |
2-6 |
.250 |
| Bucknell |
1-3 |
.250 |
3-5 |
.375 |
ONLINE SCHEDULE |
ONLINE STATS
JACOB DOBBS NAMED A FINALIST FOR WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY
Holy Cross 5th-year LB 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 six 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.
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 10th week. Lafayette So. RB Jamar Curtis is sixth in the FCS, averaging 120.2 yards per game. He rushed for a career-high 229 yards in a win vs. Holy Cross in Week Eight. The Leopards are 16th in the FCS in rushing offense (197.5). Fordham Jr. RB Julius Loughridge is eighth in the FCS, averaging 116.8 yards per game after rushing for 211 yards vs. Holy Cross. The Rams are 35th in rushing offense, averaging 166.6 yards per game. Holy Cross Sr. QB Matthew Sluka (113.5) and Jr. RB Jordan Fuller (99.8) are ninth and 12th, respectively, to help the Crusaders rank third in rushing offense (257.5 ypg).
PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYERS AMONG FCS RUSHING LEADERS
No. Name, School, Rushing YPG
6. Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, 120.2
8. Julius Loughridge, Fordham, 116.8
9. Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, 113.5
12. Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, 99.8
MONTES AND SLUKA AMONG PASSING TD LEADERS
Fordham So. QB C.J. Montes and Holy Cross Sr. QB Matthew Sluka are third and ninth, respectively, in the FCS in touchdown passes heading into Week 10. Montes has 21 TD passes in his first season at Fordham, having thrown just one interception, coming in Week Nine vs. Holy Cross. Sluka did not start Holy Cross’s game vs. Fordham. He threw one TD pass against Lafayette in Week Eight, giving him 17 this season. He also has seven rushing TDs.
PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
3. C.J. Montes, Fordham, 21
9. Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, 17
LAFAYETTE AND MATTHEW SLUKA EARN NATIONAL HONORS
Lafayette received FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week on Oct. 23 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 and accounting for four touchdowns against the Leopards.
COKER LEADS FIVE LEAGUE WRS AMONG FCS REC. TD LEADERS
Holy Cross Sr. WR Jalen Coker became the Crusaders’ career receiving leader, reaching 2,371 yards against Lafayette in Week Eight, and leads the FCS with 11 touchdown receptions this season. Four more League receivers are among the top 15, including Fordham’s trio of Garrett Cody, Mekai Felton and MJ Wright, along with Bucknell So. WR Eric Weatherly, who are all tied for 11th with six TD catches through nine weeks.
RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS
1. Jalen Coker, Holy Cross , 11
11. Garrett Cody, Fordham, 6
11. Mekai Felton, Fordham, 6
11. Eric Weatherly, Bucknell, 6
11. MJ Wright, Fordham, 6
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 third in the PL and ninth in the FCS in rushing (113.5 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 in TFLs per game (1.8) and sacks per game (1.00), leading the Patriot League in both categories. He is sixth in forced fumbles per game with 0.38. Shaeffer has recorded 14.0 TFLs and 8.0 sacks in Lafayette’s last four games, garnering Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week twice during that stretch (Oct. 2, Oct. 9).
FORDHAM’S PESKIN AMONG NCAA FIELD GOAL LEADERS
Fordham Sr. PK Brandon Peskin is 14th in the FCS, connecting on field goals at a .846 clip (11-of-13). He earned FedEx Ground National Special Teams Player of the Week after making a career-long 45-yard field goal with time expiring in a 38-35 victory over Lehigh. He also made a 42-yarder in the final two minutes to tie the score. Peskin is 13th in the FCS with 1.38 field goals per game and 26th in scoring with 7.5 points per game.
NO. 21/rv HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (5-3, 3-1 PL) AT LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (2-6, 1-2 PL)
Goodman Stadium/Bethlehem, Pa. Noon (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP - Marco Socci; Analyst - Lance Haynes
RADIO BROADCAST (Fox Sports Lehigh Valley 94.7 FM and 1230 AM/LVFoxSports.com): PxP - Matt Kerr; Analysts - Mike Yadush, Connor Mills
SERIES HISTORY: Holy Cross and Lehigh will meet for the 39th time in series history, with the Mountain Hawks holding a slight 19-18-1 advantage. The series began in 1924, but the second matchup did not come until the first season of the Patriot League in 1986. Holy Cross has won the last five meetings. Lehigh’s last victory came in 2017.
LAST MEETING: (Nov. 5, 2022) - At Holy Cross 42, Lehigh 14
COLGATE RAIDERS (3-5, 1-2 PL) AT NO. 16/20 LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (7-1, 3-0 PL)
Fisher Stadium/Easton, Pa. 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP - Gary Laubach; Analyst - Mike Joseph; Sidelines - Meghan Caffrey, John Leone and Phil Ng
SERIES HISTORY: In a series that began in 1906, Colgate holds a 47-15-4 advantage over the Leopards. The Raiders have won three of the last five meetings, though Lafayette claimed a 21-16 victory in Hamilton, N.Y., last season.
LAST MEETING: (Nov. 5, 2022) - Lafayette 21, at Colgate 16
BUCKNELL BISON (3-5, 1-3 PL) AT FORDHAM RAMS (5-3, 1-2 PL)
Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field/Bronx, N.Y. 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP - Andrew Bogusch; Analyst - Grant DelVecchio
RADIO BROADCAST (WFUVsports.org/WFUV 90.7 FM): PxP - Brian Rabacs; Analyst - Lou Orlando
SERIES HISTORY: Bucknell and Fordham get together for the 39th time in series history, with the Rams holding a 20-18 advantage. The first meeting between the Rams and Bison came in 1929. Fordham has won the last 10 meetings between the two programs.
LAST MEETING: (Nov. 5, 2022) - Fordham 59, at Bucknell 17
Bye Week – Georgetown
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.