Spring 2021 Playoff Preview: Holy Cross

 

The Jackrabbits discovered their playoff fate on Sunday and I'm not sure we could have hoped for a better scenario.  The Jackrabbits were aiming for a top-4 seed with a strong chance to be a top-2.  When the bracket was revealed they were not only a top-2 but were the #1 seed.  I wasn't shocked but I was speechless.  I've closely followed the program for the last 15 years and this feels like another step moving forward.  

On Saturday at 2pm the Jacks will take on the Patriot League Champions, the Holy Cross Crusaders (3-0) in the first round of the FCS playoffs.  This is Holy Cross's second Patriot League Championship in a row.  They have scored 29 points per game and allowed just 12.33.  Their head coach is Bob Chesney and he is in his 3rd year with Holy Cross and has an overall record of 79-37.  The 2019 Championship Holy Cross won was their first in 10 years.

Offense

The Holy Cross offense is predicated on the run.  They come in averaging 200 rushing yards per game including a 292 yard outburst against Fordham.  In terms of passing, they aren't great averaging just 86 yards per game.  Obviously with a strong rushing attack Holy Cross should control the clock, which they do at 30:38 per game.  They convert on 47.5% of their 3rd down opportunities and have scored on 11 of 14 redzone trips but get a TD on just 50% of those.  

The offense has ran with a two quarterback system with two guys who do vastly different things but it seems they have settled on their guy for the stretch run.  Freshman #9 Matthew Sluka (6-3, 215) is the straw who stirs the drink of this offense and is really tough.  He is the teams leading rusher with 31 attempts for 212 yards and 4 TD.  He has a long of 57 so he has some speed.  Passing he is 10 of 14 for 111 yards and 2 TD. Senior #10 Connor Degenhardt (6-6, 214) was the starter for the first two games of the season before being replaced by Sluka and is more of a traditional pocket passer.  On the year he has completed 21 of 38 passes for 128 and 2 TD with 1 INT.   He only attempted two passes against Bucknell and they came in the 4th quarter.  Sluka was named Patriot League Newcomer of the Year this spring and was named a Jerry Rice Award Finalist on Monday. 

The running back position has a nice duo in #34 Peter Oliver (6-0, 219) and #22 Jonathan Abrams (6-0, 209).  Oliver is a load and runs hard while Abrams is maybe a little shiftier.  Oliver has 174 rushing yards with a 7.6 YPC average and 1 TD.  Abrams on the other hand has 17 attempts for 97 yards.  Neither back has any receptions.  In addition to Abrams and Oliver, the Crusaders also utilize #32 Macklin Kortebein (6-1, 205) and he has 12 attempts for 48 yards.  Interestingly, Kortebein has also filled in as an extra defensive back and has 3 stops on the year. 

The wide receiver group has a big unknown at this point.  #1 Ayir Asante (6-0, 180) was a Hero Sports Freshman All-American in 2019 but has only played in 1 game this spring and didn't play in the last one.  In 2019 he had 48 receptions for 697 yards and 6 TDs.  In that one game this spring he had 5 receptions for 34 yards and 1 TD.  Wide Receivers that I expect to play this weekend are #80 Jalen Coker (6-3, 195), #15 Byron Shipman (6-3, 190) #87 Jack Jewell (6-3, 190), and #3 Spencer Gilliam (5-11, 188).  Coker has 3 receptions for 67 yards and 1 TD, Shipman has 5 for 33 and 1 TD,  Jewell has 2 for 31, and Gilliam has 2 for 9.    In addition, Tight End #89 Sean Morris (6-4, 230) is a threat to catch the ball with 7 receptions for 42 yards.  Fellow TE #40 Alex Sloan (6-3, 21) has 2 receptions for 19 yards.

The offensive line for Holy Cross is experienced.  From left to right they go #77 Grady Smith (6-4, 285), #75 John Brekke (6-3, 292), #57 Nick Olsofka (6-4, 281), #68 Jack Bowler (6-3, 295), and #76 Pat McMurtrie (6-6, 295).  This group will have to play a good game in order for Holy Cross to win.  I was able to watch their game against Fordham and they did a great job of resetting the line of scrimmage.  They have allowed 8 sacks on the season. 

Defense

The Holy Cross defense aligns in a 4-2-5 and is pretty stout against the run allowing just 44 yards per game.  Through the air they are allowing 249 yards per game.  They have 10 sacks by 9 different players players contributing to that total, 4 of which came in the Patriot League Championship game.  Maybe the most impressive stat is that opponents are just 3 of 12 on third down against this group!  In the red zone, they have allowed scores on 5 of 7 trips and just 2 of those were touchdowns.   They have forced 7 interceptions (5 against Bucknell) and have 2 fumble recoveries.

Up front they have #17 Benton Whitley (6-3, 251) and #92 Dan Kuznetsov (6'3 236) at defensive end and #97 Jason Modak (6-1, 268) and #96 Jordan Jackson (6-3, 255) at the tackles.  These guys are quick and aggressive. Kuznetsov leads the group with 13 tackles, 4 TFL, and 1.5 sacks.  Modak and Whitley have 7 tackles a piece while Modak has added one sack and Whitley 2.  Jackson has 6 stops of his own and 1.5 sacks.  #55 Jake Reichwin (6-3, 243) is an active reserve and has 9 tackles and a sack from his defensive end position.  #98 Matt Cedeno (6-3, 262) is a top reserve on the interior and has 4 tackles and a .5 sack.  

The two linebackers for the Crusaders are studs.  #27 Jacob Dobbs (6-0, 222) leads the team in tackles with 28 total stops, 2 TFL, .5 Sack, 1 INT, and 1 FR. #29 Liam Anderson (6-3, 223) has 12 total tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 INT.  #54 Dante Bolden (6-2, 225) is a true freshman who is the top reserve linebacker and has 7 tackles, a sack and a pass breakup.         

The 4-2-5 defense is unique because of how teams utilize the safety position.  Holy Cross has four experienced and productive safeties that they deploy.  #23 Joe Lang (5-11, 210) leads the trio and is second on the team with 16 tackles and 1 PBU. #2 Grant Holloman (5-11, 180) is fourth on the team in tackles with 13 tackles, 1 INT, 1 BU, and 1 QBH and  #26 Walter Reynolds (6-0, 190) has 9 stops and a pass breakup.  The top reserve is #8 Terrell Prince (5-11, 213) and he has 11 stops on the year.   

The cornerbacks for Holy Cross are #4 Devin Haskins (6-2, 190) and #7 John Smith (6-0, 185).  Smith is in his second year as a starter and has 5 tackles, 3 INT (1 in each game), and has 4 pass breakups on the season.  His INT return against Bucknell was taken back for a 58 yard INT return.  Haskins has 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 PBU, and 1 FF.        

Special Teams

One thing that is clear about Holy Cross is that they have an excellent kicker.  #35 Derek Ng has made 5 of 7 of his field goal attempts including a long of 51 while going 3 for 3 from 40+ yards.  He has had one blocked kick so that could be something to watch.  Ng also handles the kickoff duties where he has a 57.4 yard per kick average with 2 touchbacks but has also kicked 2 out of bounds.  This could be something to watch as it is supposed to be fairly windy on Saturday in Brookings.  

The punting duties belong to #95 Patrick Haughney.  He has just 8 punts on the season but a nice average of 41 yards per punt with a long of 65.  He has forced 4 fair catches and has landed 2 inside the 20.  In addition, there has only been 1 punt returned by an opponent and it did not gain any yardage.

#7 John Smith is the primary punt returned and he has just 1 attempt for 8 yards.  However, #21 Terrence Spence must have picked up a blocked punt as he has a TD off of a 20 yard return.  The kick return duties belong to #20 Tyler Purdy who has 4 returns for 84 yards.  If Ayir Asante is healthy I would expect to see him back there returning kicks too.      

How to Watch

As I finish editing this, I've learned that the game is sold out.  It will be available on ESPN3 which means you do need to have a TV provider in order to stream and will not be available with just an ESPN+ subscription.  If you can't find a way to watch it, 570 WNAX will have their great broadcast available to listen to.

Prediction

On the podcast, with limited research, I predicted a 35-10 score.  I think this holds true.  The Jacks will get up early which will put Holy Cross in a tough position because they aren't built to throw the ball all over the field.  If Ayir Asante returns at wide receiver that will certainly help their cause but I don't think he will be enough.  

Go Jacks!

Matt