The FCS season is quick approaching, so we’re going inside every convention race. With defending co-champs Lafayette and Holy Cross main the best way, right here’s our 2024 Patriot League soccer preview.
Lafayette’s resume is powerful, getting into the 2024 season off profitable a co-Patriot League championship and incomes an FCS playoff look, and with a No. 17 nationwide rating whereas returning eight starters on both sides of the ball.
To watch out, although, use pencil when writing within the Leopards as a title lock.
The Patriot League has a superb depth of title hopefuls this season, and that features Holy Cross, final yr’s co-champion which had received outright titles within the 4 earlier seasons.
There’s additionally not a scarcity of key returning gamers on offense. Plus, PL groups carried out properly in opposition to outdoors competitors, going 17-13 in FCS matchups.
2024 Patriot League Soccer Preview
Predicted Order of End
*-FCS Playoff Qualifier
1. *Lafayette (9-3, 5-1; No. 17 nationwide preseason rating) – The street schedule is daunting for coach John Troxell’s squad, beginning at Buffalo and Monmouth and together with Fordham and Colgate. All-America working again Jamar Curtis, the PL’s preseason offensive participant of the yr, set this system’s single-season report for speeding yards (1,460), and the offense has a powerful passing combo with quarterback Dean DeNobile (2,177 yards of complete offense, 26 complete touchdowns) and large receiver Elijah Steward. Left deal with Ryder Langsdale has began each recreation for 2 years working. Defensive finish Jaylon Joseph is coming off PL defensive rookie of the yr, whereas the secondary is powerful with the return of Saiku White and A.T. Ntantang.
2. Fordham (6-5, 2-4) – All six of Fordham’s 2023 PL video games had been determined by eight or fewer factors, so this season, the Rams have to reverse the shut losses. Quarterback CJ Montes engineered an FBS win over Buffalo and threw with elite effectivity (3,000 passing yards, 64.1%, 26 touchdowns, one interception). Defenses have to stay sincere in opposition to Montes given RB Julius Loughridge’s exploits (1,146 speeding yards) out of the backfield. The protection boasts an unmatched duo within the league with defensive finish Matt Jaworski (13.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks), who was the PL preseason defensive participant of the yr, and linebacker James Conway (129 tackles, 386 in profession).
3. Holy Cross (7-4, 5-1) – New coach Dan Curran was a powerful rent to exchange the ultra-successful Bob Chesney when contemplating he guided Merrimack (53-58 report in 11 seasons) to an upset of the Crusaders in 2021. Quarterback Joe Pesansky additionally has a frightening activity in changing long-time standout Matthew Sluka, however he handed for 5 TDs in profitable two begins a yr in the past. After all, it helps the PL’s top-ranked offense to return All-America RB Jordan Fuller (1,046 yards and 18 TDs on simply 156 carries) and WR Justin Shorter (95 profession receptions). Linebacker Frankie Monte is a big-hit machine.
4. Colgate (6-5, 4-2) – The Raiders, who received six of their final seven video games and handed Lafayette its solely PL loss final season, lurk as a darkish horse. Quarterback Jake Stearney impressed as a passer in his freshman marketing campaign, though Michael Brescia is a veteran of 29 profession video games with 20 begins. They’ll work behind a Bardhyi Gashi-led offensive line and goal Treyvhon Saunders, who was second within the PL in receptions (68) and third in receiving yards (859). The go protection should enhance after being ravaged for 283.5 yards per recreation and 27 TDs – each league lows.
5. Georgetown (5-6, 3-3) – Extremely, in his solely motion, QB Danny Lauter set this system’s single-game report with 428 passing yards in opposition to Lafayette, and this yr’s offense returns WRs Jimmy Kibble (33 catches, 753 yards, eight TDs) and Nicholas Dunneman (70-706-4) and tight finish Isaiah Grimes (30-266-2) in addition to RB Naieem Kearney (601 speeding yards). There’s some retooling happening after the Hoyas ranked No. 1 within the PL in complete protection, permitting simply 324.1 yards per recreation, however there’s maturing expertise, and defensive backs Wedner Cadet and Zeraun Daniel excel in opposition to the go.
6. Bucknell (4-7, 1-5) – Like Georgetown, Bucknell has by no means appeared within the FCS playoffs. However even the staff picked final within the PL’s preseason ballot returns a standout passing duo with QB Ralph Rucker (program-record 2,537 passing yards and a record-tying 21 TD passes with simply 5 interceptions) and WR Eric Weatherly (42 receptions, 603 yards, seven TDs). Protection was the Bison’s calling card, however enchancment is required after opponents averaged 33.7 factors and 431.2 yards per recreation. Linebacker and main tackler Brad Jamison returns.
7. Lehigh (2-9, 1-5) – The Mountain Hawks struggled to get rotated in coach Kevin Cahill’s first season, they usually’re 14-44 (11-22 PL) since 2018. Enchancment ought to come behind the lead of LB Mike DeNucci and security Nick Pelekian, who had been named to the league’s preseason staff. Quarterback Dante Perri, the 2021 and ’22 starter, hopes to get again on monitor as being No. 2 on the depth chart final season. As a freshman, Luke Yoder rushed for 644 yards, together with 545 in six league video games.
How the Convention Predicted the Race
5 Gamers to Know
Jamar Curtis, RB, Lafayette (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – Curtis capped his sophomore season with 151 yards from scrimmage and 4 TDs in a playoff loss to Delaware. He had 1,624 scrimmage yards and 17 TDs for the season.
Mike DeNucci, LB, Lehigh – At all times everywhere in the area, DeNucci had 87 tackles final season, however he additionally seeks to get again to his dominance in 2022 (16.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks).
CJ Montes, QB, Fordham (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – As a sophomore,Montes had the fourth-lowest interception proportion (0.3 – one choose in 376 makes an attempt) within the final 25 FCS seasons amongst QBs to throw 150+ passes.
Jordan Fuller, RB, Holy Cross (Walter Payton Award preseason nominee) – With 40 speeding TDs in 34 profession video games, Fuller holds the Crusaders’ report. Final yr’s 18 scores on the bottom additionally marked their single-season excessive.
James Conway, LB Fordham (Buck Buchanan Award preseason nominee) – Conway ranks tenth in PL historical past with 386 profession tackles and is closing in on the all-time report (former Holy Cross linebacker Jacob Dobbs with 432).
5 Should-See Matchups
1. Holy Cross at Lafayette (Oct. 26) – Lafayette posted a 38-35 street win in final yr’s showdown, which featured over 1,000 yards of complete offense. Jamar Curtis racked up 250 yards from scrimmage with two TDs. In defeat, former Crusaders sign caller Matthew Sluka set an FCS report for speeding yards by a QB (330).
2. Lafayette at Fordham (Oct. 5)
3. Lafayette at Lehigh (Nov. 23)
4. Fordham at Holy Cross (Oct. 9)
5. Lafayette at Colgate (Nov. 9)
Quick Truth
Lafayette vs. Lehigh – “The Rivalry” – is school soccer’s most-played sequence. Lafayette has an 82-72-5 all-time lead heading into this season a hundred and sixtieth assembly, or 14 extra video games than the No. 2 sequence of Princeton vs. Yale within the Ivy League.
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