# 2021 Holy Cross Crusaders football team

The 2021 Holy Cross Crusaders football team represented the College of the Holy Cross as a member of the Patriot League during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Bob Chesney, Holy Cross compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 6–0 in conference play, winning the Patriot League title. The Crusaders advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where they beat Sacred Heart in the first round before losing to Villanova in the second round. They played their home games at Fitton Field in Worcester, Massachusetts.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 12:00 p.m. | at UConn* | | Rentschler FieldEast Hartford, CT | CBSSN | W 38–28 | 18,782 |
| September 11 | 2:00 p.m. | Merrimack* | No. 24 | Fitton FieldWorcester, MA | ESPN+ | L 21–35 | 8,211 |
| September 18 | 12:00 p.m. | at Yale* | | Yale BowlNew Haven, CT | ESPN+ | W 20–17 | 3,987 |
| September 25 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 20 Monmouth* | | Kessler StadiumWest Long Branch, NJ | ESPN+ | W 45–15 | 4,235 |
| October 2 | 1:30 p.m. | Harvard* | | Fitton FieldWorcester, MA | Spectrum News 1 | L 13–38 | 10,023 |
| October 16 | 1:30 p.m. | Georgetown | | Fitton FieldWorcester, MA | ESPN+ | W 48–14 | 4,518 |
| October 23 | 5:00 p.m. | Colgate | | Polar ParkWorcester, MA | Spectrum News 1 | W 42–10 | 9,508 |
| October 30 | 12:00 p.m. | at Lehigh | | Goodman StadiumBethlehem, PA | ESPN+ | W 31–12 | 3,211 |
| November 6 | 12:30 p.m. | Lafayette | | Fitton FieldWorcester, MA | ESPN+ | W 35–10 | 6,514 |
| November 13 | 1:00 p.m. | at Fordham | | Coffey FieldBronx, NY | ESPN+ | W 52–24 | 3,265 |
| November 20 | 1:00 p.m. | at Bucknell | | Christy Mathewson–Memorial StadiumLewisburg, PA | | W 45–6 | 864 |
| November 27 | 12:00 p.m. | Sacred Heart* | No. 24 | Fitton FieldWorcester, MA (FCS Playoffs First Round) | ESPN+ | W 13–10 | 4,163 |
| December 3 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Villanova* | No. 24 | Villanova StadiumPhiladelphia, PA (FCS Playoffs Second Round) | ESPN+ | L 16–21 | 5,109 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| STATS | RV | 24 | RV | — | RV | — | — | — | RV | — | RV | RV | 24 | 19 |
| FCS Coaches | RV | RV | — | RV | 24т | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 24 | 22 |

## Game summaries
### At UConn

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Crusaders | 7 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
| Huskies | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Connecticut
* Date: September 4
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 79 °F (26 °C)
* Game attendance: 18,782
* Referee: Jeff Pruitt
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Ed Cohen (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (color), and Tina Cervasio (sideline)
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | HC | CONN |
| First downs | 19 | 18 |
| Total yards | 363 | 262 |
| Rushing yards | 226 | 88 |
| Passing yards | 137 | 174 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 33:13 | 26:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Holy Cross | Passing | Matthew Sluka | 9/16, 140 yards, 2 TD |
| Holy Cross | Rushing | Matthew Sluka | 14 rushes, 112 yards, TD |
| Holy Cross | Receiving | Jalen Coker | 4 receptions, 75 yards |
| UConn | Passing | Jack Zergiotis | 17/41, 174 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT |
| UConn | Rushing | Kevin Mensah | 21 rushes, 66 yards |
| UConn | Receiving | Keelan Marion | 3 receptions, 60 yards, 2 TD |
This was the Crusaders' first win over an FBS opponent since 2002.