2015 Results: 6-5 (3-3)
Returning starters
Offense 10
Defense 6
The Crusaders, fresh off of being named one of the top 100 college football programs during the Associated Press Poll era, are looking to get back to those winning ways as it seems like 2009’s 9-3 season was decades ago. The low point came in 2012 when Tom Gilmore’s squad finished 2-9, but since then we’ve seen improvement each year as they’ve gone from 2 to 3 to 4 and finally to 6 wins last season. Outisde of the roster there’s reason to hope we see a break out year, should history repeate itself. Just a few short seasons before the 9-3 season in 2009 the Crusders were 1-11 and saw incremental improvement until exploding to the 9 win season.
Helping lead the charge is an explosive passing game, led by senior Peter Pujuols. Pujuols enters the season as a preseason all-conference selection after throwing for 3,195 yards with 28 touchdowns last season on a 129.1 efficiency rating and led the entire league in total offense. A quarterback, no matter how good, doesn’t put those numbers up without a stud target on the outside, and Pujuols has that in Brendan Flaherty. Last season Flaherty finished with 106 receptions for 1,082 yards and 12 touchdowns, which landed him on multiple All American teams. He enters his senior season ranked first in receptions per game, and in the top 10 in career receptions. Even with that explosive passing game we must see an improved run game if the program wants to wins its 7th conference title. Gabe Guild returns as the teams leading rusher, bur finished with just 409 yards. The only other back to see more than a handful of carries was Diquan Walker, who totaled 309 yards last season. Yes, Pujuols added 319 yards of his own, but adding more depth to the run game will open up even more lanes for the potent passing attack.
What looks to be the biggest key for the Crusaders this season is getting consistent play out of the defense. At times last season the defense looked solid as they allowed 7 points or fewer 4 times – though it’s worth noting those games were against Georgetown, Bucknell, Lafayette and Albany. The other 7 games of the season the defense surrendered nearly 34 points per game. Even the explosive offense they possess wasn’t able to keep up with that kind of pace as the team was just 2-5 in those 7 contests. The top end talent is there – defensive lineman Dewayne Cameron and defensive backs Alim Muhammad and Luke Ford are all on the preseason All Patriot teams. Who steps in around them is key. The Patriot is full of offensive talent, and this Holy Cross team will only go as far as the defense takes them. As good as this offense is we don’t need a MVFC type defense for Holy Cross to potentially grab a playoff berth. If the defense can knock the average from 34 points per game in the 5 toughest match ups down to about 24 points per game I think we may see a playoff team.
Schedule
9/3 @ Morgan State
9/10 @ New Hampshire
9/17 @ Albany
9/24 Dartmouth
10/1 – @ Lafayette
10/8 Bucknell
10/15 Harvard
10/22 – Lehigh
10/29 @ Colgate
11/5 @ Georgetown
11/12 Fordham – Yankee Stadium
AGS Patriot League Preseason prediction: 4th place