Patriot League Football Notebook (.PDF)

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN TO PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL GAMES THIS WEEK
The Patriot League’s seven squads are in action over three days to kick off the 39th season of play. On Thursday, the League faces a pair of FBS opponents when defending League champion Lafayette meets MAC foe Buffalo for a 7 p.m. game on ESPN+. Fordham will also travel to MAC territory when they take on Bowling Green at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. On Friday, Lehigh continues the FBS trend at Michie Stadium, taking on AAC opponent Army West Point at 6 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Colgate travels north to Maine for a 7 p.m. meeting on FloSports. Bucknell meets AAC foe Navy at noon on CBS Sports Network in the fourth meeting between a League team and an FBS opponent during Week One. Georgetown hosts Davidson at 12:30 p.m. in the only home Patriot League game of the week before Holy Cross opens the Dan Curran era at Rhode Island at 7 p.m. on FloSports.

 

LAFAYETTE ENTERS THE SEASON NO. 17 AND 18 IN STATS PERFORM AND COACHES POLLS; HOLY CROSS RECEIVING VOTES IN BOTH
Lafayette, the reigning Patriot League champion, enters the 2024 season ranked No. 17 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 and No. 18 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches Poll. The Leopards finished the 2023 season No. 21 in the Stats Perform Poll and No. 19 in the AFCA Coaches Poll after a 9-3 overall record and a 5-1 League mark for a share of the League crown and an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs. Holy Cross enters the season receiving votes in both polls after finishing ranked No. 22 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. The Crusaders also received votes in the Stats Perform Poll after finishing 7-4 overall and 5-1 in League play to claim a share of the League title for a record fifth-straight season.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE VICTORIES VS. FBS OPPONENTS
Since 2000, Patriot League football programs have recorded six victories over FBS (formerly I-A) teams. Holy Cross leads the League with three wins, defeating Buffalo, 40-37, in 2022 after beating UConn, 38-28, in 2021. The Crusaders also defeated Army West Point, 30-21, in 2002. Fordham outlasted Buffalo in a 40-37 shootout last season. Colgate and Lehigh also recorded victories against the Bulls, winning in 2003 and 2002, respectively.
 
2024 Patriot League Football Standings (as of Aug. 28)

School	PL	PL Pct.	Overall	Overall Pct.
Bucknell	0-0	.000	0-0	.000
Colgate	0-0	.000	0-0	.000
Fordham	0-0	.000	0-0	.000
Georgetown	0-0	.000	0-0	.000
Holy Cross	0-0	.000	0-0	.000
Lafayette	0-0	.000	0-0	.000
Lehigh	0-0	.000	0-0	.000

ONLINE SCHEDULE | ONLINE STATS
 
CONWAY ENTERS SEASON AS FCS ACTIVE TACKLES LEADER
Fordham Sr. LB James Conway is the NCAA DI FCS active leader in total tackles, entering the 2024 season with 387. The Omaha, Neb. native ranks 10th in Patriot League history, 45 total tackles behind Holy Cross great Jacob Dobbs, who broke the League’s career tackles record during the 2023 season.
PATRIOT LEAGUE CAREER TOTAL TACKLES LEADERS
1. Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross (2019-23), 432
2. Lee Picariello, Lehigh (1988-91), 425
2. David Streeter, Holy Cross (1993-96), 425
4. Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham (2018-22), 424
FCS ACTIVE CAREER TOTAL TACKLES LEADERS
1. James Conway, Fordham (2021-pres.), 387
2. Adam Bock, South Dakota St. (2019-pres.), 344
 
THREE OF THE FCS TOP-12 RUSHING LEADERS RETURN
Three returning Patriot League running backs finished among the FCS’s top-12 rushers when the 2023 season concluded. Lafayette So. RB Jamar Curtis finished second, averaging 132.7 yards per game, including a pair of 200-yard rushing performances. The Leopards boasted the No. 17 rushing offense (189.7) in the FCS. Holy Cross Sr. RB Jordan Fuller finished 11th in the FCS in rushing average (104.6) and led the nation in rushing touchdowns (19). Fordham Sr. RB Julius Loughridge was one of four League players to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards, finishing 12th in the FCS with 104.2 rushing yards per game.
PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYERS AMONG FCS RUSHING LEADERS
No. Name, School, Rushing, YPG
2. Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, 132.7
11. Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, 104.6
12. Julius Loughridge, Fordham, 104.2
 
LEOPARDS RANK NO. 13 in CBS SPORTS FCS POWER RANKINGS
Ranked No. 17 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 and No. 18 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, defending Patriot League champion Lafayette was picked No. 13 in the CBS Sports FCS Power Rankings, released weekly by analyst Emory Hunt. “The Leopards were one of the great stories of the 2023 season. They were solid on both sides of the ball and really could beat you any type of way,” Hunt noted. Future Patriot League associate member Richmond was ranked No. 17. The Spiders will join the Patriot League for the 2025 season.
 
SEVEN NAMED STATS PERFORM FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA
Seven Patriot League football student-athletes received 2024 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America honors when it was announced. All 13 FCS conferences and 60 schools were represented among the 106 Stats Perform All-America Selections.
2024 Stats Perform Preseason All-Americans
Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, Jr. RB, First Team
Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, Sr. RB, Second Team
James Conway, Fordham, Sr., LB, Second Team
C.J. Montes, Fordham, Jr., QB, Third Team
Matt Jaworski, Fordham, Sr., DL, Third Team
Ryder Langsdale, Lafayette, Sr., OL, Third Team
Saiku White, Lafayette, Sr., DB, Third Team
 
LEAGUE RETURNING QBs AMONG ’23 FCS PASSING TD LEADERS
Three returning Patriot League quarterbacks ranked among the final FCS leaders in touchdown passes.  Fordham So. QB C.J. Montes was impactful during his first season in the Bronx, tossing a League-leading 26 touchdown passes to rank sixth in NCAA DI FCS, and leading the League with 3,000 passing yards. Bucknell Sr. QB Ralph Rucker also made a strong first impression on the League, tossing 21 touchdown passes to tie the program’s single-season record. He broke Bucknell’s single-season passing yards (2,537) and completions (211). So. QB Dean DeNobile earned starting duties early in his career and responded with 20 touchdown passes, leading the Leopards to its first League title since 2013.
PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
6. C.J. Montes, Fordham, 26
15. Ralph Rucker, Bucknell, 21
20. Dean DeNobile, Lafayette, 20
 
CURTIS, FULLER & MONTES NAMED TO PAYTON WATCH LIST
Lafayette Jr. RB Jamar Curtis, Holy Cross Sr. RB Jordan Fuller and Fordham Jr. QB C.J. Montes were selected to the 35-member Walter Payton Award Watch List, presented by Stats Perform to the FCS Offensive Player of the Year. Curtis, a 2023 Payton Award finalist, was the FCS’s second-leading rusher, averaging 132.7 yards per game. The 2023 First Team All-Patriot League selection was named Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in July. Fuller led the FCS with 19 rushing touchdowns in 2023 and is Holy Cross’s career leader in the category with 40. Montes, also a 2023 Payton Award finalist, led the Patriot League in passing yards (3,000) and touchdown passes (26) during his first season in the Bronx.
 
CONWAY AND WHITE NAMED TO BUCHANAN WATCH LIST
The Rams’ Conway and Lafayette Sr. DB Saiku White were named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, presented to the FCS defensive player of the year by Stats Perform. Conway is the FCS active leader in total tackles (387) after averaging 129 total tackles per season during his first three seasons at Fordham. The three-time All-Patriot League honoree finished second in the League and fourth in the FCS with 11.7 tackles per game last season. White, a two-time team captain, received 2023 AP All-America Third Team laurels after leading the League with four interceptions, including a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown in a win over Georgetown.
 
HC’S KELLY NOMINATED FOR GOOD WORKS TEAM
Holy Cross 5th OL Christo Kelly was one of 178 nominees for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Established in 1992, the Good Works Team recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and "good works" off the field. Kelly, a team captain, will serve as the Co-President of the Holy Cross Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) after serving as the SAAC Vice President last year. He is the co-founder of the campus's Uplifting Athletes chapter, which raises funds and awareness for the rare disease community.
 
THREE LEAGUE PLAYERS NOMINATED FOR CAMPBELL TROPHY
Lehigh Gr. LB Mike DeNucci, Holy Cross Sr. RB Jordan Fuller and Colgate 5th DL Nick Marsh are 2024 nominees for the 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. DeNucci, a two-time team captain and two-time All-League selection earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and is pursuing his master’s in business analytics at Lehigh. Fuller, a CSC Academic All-America Second Team honoree and Academic All-Patriot League selection led NCAA DI FCS in rushing touchdowns (18) last season. Marsh started all 11 games for the Raiders, finishing with 23 tackles and 4.5 TFLs while making the League’s Academic Honor Roll.
 
SEVEN PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL ALUMS IN THE NFL
Seven Patriot League football student-athletes were with NFL organizations when rosters were trimmed to 53 players on Aug. 27. Fordham’s Nick Zakelj (San Francisco 49ers), Holy Cross’ Jalen Coker (Carolina Panthers), C.J. Hanson (KC Chiefs), Kalif Raymond (Detroit Lions) and Benton Whitley (NY Giants) made their respective teams’ 53-man rosters. Fordham’s Chase Edmonds (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Lafayette’s Malik Hamm (Baltimore Ravens) were placed on  IR for their respective teams.
 
NO. 18/17 LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT BUFFALO BULLS (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Buffalo, N.Y./UB Stadium  Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
LIVE STATS
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP - Anthony Lima; Analyst - Jordan Reid
SERIES HISTORY: Lafayette and Buffalo will meet for the eighth time in series history, with the Leopards holding a 6-1 series advantage. Lafayette is 4-0 in Buffalo.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 19, 1998) - Buffalo 16, at Lafayette 14
 
FORDHAM RAMS (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT BOWLING GREEN FALCONS (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Bowling Green, Ohio/Doyt Perry Stadium     Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
LIVE STATS
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP - Joey Lindstrom; Analyst - Ryan Cavanaugh
RADIO BROADCAST (WFUVSports.org/90.7 FM): PxP - Lou Orlando; Analyst - Evan Harkin
SERIES HISTORY: Fordham and Bowling Green will meet for the first time.
LAST MEETING: N/A
 
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS (0-0, 0-0 AAC)
West Point, N.Y./Michie Stadium     Friday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
LIVE STATS
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP - Dave Ryan; Analyst - Adam Breneman; Sideline - Tina Cervasio
RADIO BROADCAST (Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM/LVFoxSports): PxP - Matt Kerr; Analyst - Matt Markus and Connor Brown
SERIES HISTORY: Lehigh and Army West Point will meet for the 12th time in series history. The Mountain Hawks trail the series 8-2-1. Lehigh won the first meeting between the programs in 1893.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 9, 1995) - At Army 42, Lehigh 9
 
COLGATE RAIDERS (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT MAINE BLACK BEARS (0-0, 0-0 CAA)
Orono, Maine       Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. (FloSports)
LIVE STATS
BROADCAST (FloSports)
SERIES HISTORY: Colgate and Maine meet for the sixth time in series history, with the Raiders holding a 3-2 edge.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 10, 2022) - Colgate 21, at Maine 18
 
BUCKNELL BISON (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT NAVY MIDSHIPMEN (0-0, 0-0 AAC)
Annapolis, Md./Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium             Saturday, Aug. 31 at Noon (CBS Sports Network)
LIVE STATS
BROADCAST (CBS Sports Network): PxP - Carter Blackburn; Analyst - Randy Cross
SERIES HISTORY: Bucknell and Navy will meet for the 15th time in series history, all between 1898 and 1925. The Bison trail the series 9-4-1.
LAST MEETING: (Nov. 14, 1925) - At Navy 13, Bucknell 7
 
DAVIDSON WILDCATS (0-0, 0-0 PIONEER) AT GEORGETOWN HOYAS (0-0, 0-0 PL)
Cooper Field/Washington, D.C.       Saturday, Aug. 31 at 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Jeremy Huber; Analyst – Christian Taylor
SERIES HISTORY: Georgetown and Davidson meet for the 14th time in series history. The Hoyas hold a 9-4 series advantage.
LAST MEETING: (Aug. 31, 2019) At Davidson 27, Georgetown 20
 
rv/rv HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (0-0, 0-0 PL) AT RHODE ISLAND RAMS (0-0, 0-0 CAA)
Meade Stadium/Kingston, R.I.          Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. (FloSports)
LIVE STATS
BROADCAST (FloSports)
SERIES HISTORY: Holy Cross and Rhode Island will meet for the 11th time in series history. The Crusaders hold a 9-1 advantage in the series.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 3, 1988) At Holy Cross 49, Rhode Island 7
 
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 who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.