PatriotFB Notebook (.PDF)
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN TO PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL GAMES THIS WEEK
All seven Patriot League football teams are in action on ESPN+ during the final week of the regular season. Lafayette travels to Lehigh for the 160th edition of “The Rivalry” with coverage on ESPN+ and Fox Sports Radio Lehigh Valley beginning at noon. Holy Cross travels to Georgetown looking to keep its Patriot League title streak alive with kickoff on ESPN+ scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Bucknell hosts Colgate, and Fordham welcomes Merrimack, both starting at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
PATRIOT LEAGUE TITLE AND FCS PLAYOFF BERTH ON THE LINE ON FINAL SATURDAY
•Lehigh controls its destiny to claim its 13th Patriot League football title. The Mountain Hawks can clinch the League’s automatic qualifying (AQ) berth into the NCAA DI FCS Championship and at least a share of the League crown with a victory against Lafayette. Lehigh would claim the outright League title with a win and a Holy Cross loss. Lehigh could still claim the League’s AQ with a loss vs. the Leopards if Holy Cross fell to Georgetown and Bucknell loses against Colgate.
•Holy Cross can clinch at least a share of the League title, extending its Patriot League-record streak to six, with a win vs. Georgetown even if Lehigh defeats Lafayette. The Crusaders can only clinch the League’s AQ with a win vs. the Hoyas and a Lehigh loss vs. Lafayette.
•If Lehigh and Holy Cross lose and Bucknell defeats Colgate, it would create the first crowning of tri-champions in League history, with the Bison, Crusaders and Mountain Hawks receiving a share of the title. Due to the three tied teams having identical records against each other, identical records down the League standings (without breaking lower ties per League policy), and no common non-League opponents, the Athletics Directors from the four institutions not included in the tie would be asked to make the final decision on the League’s AQ based on factors including, but not limited to, strength of schedule, overall record, computer rankings and performance during the second half of the season.
2024 Patriot League Football Standings (as of November 21)
| School |
PL |
PL Pct. |
Overall |
Overall Pct. |
| Lehigh |
4-1 |
.800 |
7-3 |
.700 |
| Holy Cross |
4-1 |
.800 |
5-6 |
.455 |
| Bucknell |
3-2 |
.600 |
5-6 |
.455 |
| Georgetown |
2-3 |
.400 |
5-5 |
.500 |
| Lafayette |
2-3 |
.400 |
6-5 |
.545 |
| Fordham |
2-4 |
.333 |
2-9 |
.182 |
| Colgate |
1-4 |
.200 |
2-9 |
.181 |
ONLINE SCHEDULE |
ONLINE STATS
FORDHAM’S CONWAY APPROACHING LEAGUE TACKLES RECORD
Fordham Sr. LB James Conway recorded 11 tackles in the Rams’ Nov. 16 victory over Georgetown to become the Patriot League’s career leader in tackles. Conway passed Crusaders’ All-American Jacob Dobbs (432), who broke the record last season. The Omaha, Neb. native has 49 tackles in four games this season and is the FCS active leader in tackles and tackles per game (11.47).
PATRIOT LEAGUE CAREER TOTAL TACKLE LEADERS
1. James Conway, Fordham (2021-pres.), 436
2. Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross (2019-23), 432
3. Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham (2018-22), 425
3. Lee Picariello, Lehigh (1988-91), 425
3. David Streeter, Holy Cross (1993-96), 425
THREE AMONG FCS TOP FIVE IN TOTAL TACKLES
Colgate Jr. LB Cole Kozlowski, a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, leads the League and is second in the FCS in total tackles per game, averaging 11.0 through 11 games. Bucknell So. LB Gavin Willis is third in the FCS with 10.6 tackles per game. He recorded a career-high 19 tackles against Cornell (Oct. 19). Holy Cross Sr. LB Frankie Monte is third in the League and eighth in the FCS with 10.2 tackles per game. Monte posted a career-high 21 stops vs. Lehigh (Nov. 9). Five more League players are averaging seven or more tackles per game, including Georgetown’s GianCarlo Rufo (8.1), who is 40th in the FCS.
FCS TOTAL TACKLE LEADERS FROM THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
FCS Rank. Name, School, Total Tackles per Game
2. Cole Kozlowski, Colgate, 11.0
3. Gavin Willis, Bucknell, 10.6
8. Frankie Monte, Holy Cross, 10.2
LEHIGH FIFTH IN THE FCS IN TEAM PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE
Through 12 weeks, Lehigh is fifth in NCAA DI FCS in team pass efficiency defense (108.93). The Mountain Hawks’ have allowed just 158.0 passing yards per game to lead the Patriot League and rank among the FCS leaders. They also lead the League and rank 16th in the FCS with 12 interceptions this season. Lehigh has put pressure on opposing QBs, leading the League and ranking 12th in the FCS with 2.80 sacks per game. Jr. DL Matt Spatny is fifth in the FCS with 1.0 sack per game.
WILLIS NAMED NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bucknell So. LB Gavin Willis was selected the Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 11 after recording 14 tackles, a career-high 4.0 TFLs and two fumble recoveries, including a 79-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the Bison’s 28-27 win against Fordham. Willis leads the FCS with five fumble recoveries. Willis is the second League football student-athlete to earn national recognition, joining Lafayette Jr. WR Elijah Steward, who received National Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9
LEAGUE DEFENSIVE BACKS CLIMBING FCS ACTIVE LEADER LISTS
Lafayette Sr. DB Saiku White and Fordham Sr. DB Nahil Perkins are tied for fourth among FCS active leaders with nine career interceptions. White picked off a pass in the end zone in a loss vs. Bucknell in Week 10. Perkins picked off two passes in a win vs. Colgate in Week 10 and currently leads the Patriot League with five interceptions this season. He is also second among active FCS players with 40 career passes defended. Lafayette Sr. DB Gabe DuBois is sixth in the FCS with 34. This season, Perkins (1.8) and DuBois (1.3) are second and 10th in the FCS, respectively, in passes defended per game.
COLGATE’S SAUNDERS RANKS WITH FCS RECEPTION LEADERS
Colgate Jr. WR Treyvhon Saunders leads the Patriot League and is fifth in the FCS with 7.2 receptions per game. In Week Five, he tied the League’s single-game record with 16 receptions in a loss at Penn. Saunders matched former Lehigh All-American WR Troy Pelletier, who set the record with 16 grabs against Georgetown on Oct. 14, 2017. Saunders’s previous career-high was 10 receptions against the Hoyas in 2023. The FCS single-game record is 24 receptions, shared by Chas Gessner (Brown, 2002) and Jerry Rice (Miss. Val. St., 1983).
THOMAS AND CLERVEAUX CARRYING THE LOAD IN LEAGUE PLAY
Bucknell Fr. RB Tariq Thomas has earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors three times this season, averaging 107.3 rushing yards per game in League play to rank atop the Patriot League. He is rushing for 70.9 yards per game overall to rank fifth. Holy Cross So. RB Jayden Clerveaux carried just four times in the first two weeks of the season but has stepped in after injury to All-America RB Jordan Fuller in Week Three. Clerveaux has claimed League Offensive Player of the Week honors twice, rushing for 159 yards vs. Fordham on Oct. 12, and 165 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries at Harvard. He ranks fourth in rushing yards per game in League play (100.2), helping the Crusaders remain in contention for the League crown.
No. Name, School, League only rushing yards per game
1. Tariq Thomas, Bucknell, 107.3
2. Julius Loughridge, Fordham, 102.4
3. Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, 101.2
4. Jayden Clerveaux, Holy Cross, 100.2
THOMAS AND SAFFOLD ON RICE AWARD WATCH LIST
Bucknell’s Thomas and Georgetown Fr. DL Isaac Saffold were among the 30 FCS student-athletes selected to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List, presented annually by Stats Perform to the FCS freshman player of the year. Thomas, a three-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, is fifth in the League in rushing yards per game (70.9 ypg). Saffold has recorded 22 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks for the Hoyas through 10 games. Fordham All-American and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Chase Edmonds won the Jerry Rice Award in 2014.
PL RETURN SPECIALISTS AMONG FCS’S BEST THIS SEASON
The Patriot League boasts several of the FCS leaders in kick return average and punt return average this season. Two players rank among the nation’s top 20 in kickoff returns, and three among the top punt returners. Cadden is 18th in the FCS in kickoff return average, at 25.6 yards per return. Cadden (13.2) and Lafayette Fr. Mason Kuehner are ninth and 12th in the FCS in punt return average, respectively. Cadden leads the nation with two punt return TDs.
PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYERS AMONG FCS KICKOFF RETURNERS
No. Name, School, Kickoff Return Avg.
18. TJ Cadden, Bucknell, 25.6
20. Jaden Green, Lehigh, 25.1
PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYERS AMONG FCS PUNT RETURNERS
No. Name, School, Punt Return Avg.
9. TJ Cadden, Bucknell, 13.2
12. Mason Kuehner, Lafayette, 12.5
23. Nicholas Dunneman, Georgetown, 7.6
PATRIOT LEAGUE FEATURES THREE 2,000-YD RUNNING BACKS
Fordham Sr. RB Julius Loughridge ranks sixth among active FCS players in rushing yards per game (94.5) and ninth among active players in rushing yards (3,120). Lafayette Jr. RB Jamar Curtis is 77 yards short of the 3,000-yard mark, ranking 11th among active FCS rushers with 2,933 yards entering the season’s final week. He is eighth with 88.9 yards per game throughout his career. Holy Cross Sr. RB Jordan Fuller is 35th among FCS active rushers with 2,092 yards and third with 44 rushing touchdowns. He has not played since suffering an injury at Bryant in Week Three.
PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYERS AMONG FCS RUSHING LEADERS
No. Name, School, Rushing Yards
9. Julius Loughridge, Fordham, 3,120
11. Jamar Curtis, Lafayette, 2,933
35. Jordan Fuller, Holy Cross, 2,092
FORDHAM’S CONWAY A FINALIST FOR DORIS ROBINSON AWARD
Fordham Sr. LB James Conway was selected among the 13 NCAA DI FCS finalists for the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award. The Doris Robinson Award is celebrating its 10th anniversary season, honoring excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Conway, a three-time All-Patriot League selection and two-time Academic All-Patriot League, leads all active FCS players in total tackles (436), and broke the Patriot League’s career tackles record on Nov. 16. He carries a 3.57 cumulative GPA as a business administration major and has been an active local volunteer in the Fordham community.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.