The heavily favored Syracuse Orange (2-2) host Holy Cross (1-2) at the Dome on Saturday with an opportunity to boast a winning record for the first time this season.
Both teams enter the weeknd carrying the baggage of underwhelming starts to their seasons.
The Crusaders, of the Patriot League, wedged their lone victory of the season over UNH in between losses to Navy and Yale. Picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League, the good news for Holy Cross is that they don’t begin league play until next week against Bucknell.
Syracuse is still repenting from the beatdowns delivered to them by Maryland and Clemson. Even their 19-point victory last week over Western Michigan seemed a bit disauding due in part to the Orange momentarily taking their foot off the gas during the second half.
In last Saturday’s victory over Western Michigan Tommy Devito looked like the highly-touted college prospect Tommy Devito, for the first time all season. The blatant disparity in weight classes between Holy Cross and Syracuse should give Devito the confidence to reach back and deliver a few haymakers, the same way he did against the Broncos.
Meanwhile, the Syracuse defense is in a classic lose-lose situation. If the orange stymie a Crusaders offense, that has averaged just 10 points over three games, it will be deemed par for the course for an ACC defense facing an outmatched Patriot League attack. At the same time, Syracuse fans will be slamming the panic button with both fists if the Crusaders do somehow manufacturer some serious offense.
In order to put up a respectable fight Holy Cross will have pray that their depleted offensive line can protect quarterback, Connor Degenhardt. Bob Chesney’s offense will be forced to throw the ball, especially if they are chasing points all afternoon, which will make life extremely difficult for the first year starting quarterback.
Be sure to tune into WAER at 11:30 for Countdown to Kickoff on 88.3.
The most impressive part of the Crusaders’ football program is perhaps their punter, Cody Wilkinson. Last week against Yale, Wilkinson set a school record averaging 48.6 yards over eight punts, which also earned him Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Cody will see plenty of action Saturday.
Kickoff is set for 12:00pm on Saturday, September 28th.