'They’ve all had their moments of making plays': Four players in mix for Holy Cross QB job

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WORCESTER — From the start of last year’s spring practice, the Holy Cross football team had its starting quarterback for 2024.

Senior Joe Pesansky played well filling in for Matthew Sluka the season before, he knew the offense and had the most experience of any QB on the roster.

“There was a big gap,” HC coach Dan Curran said before a recent practice.

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This spring is much different, with four quarterbacks, Austen Frattura, Josh Jenkins and Cal Swanson, all rising juniors, and Braden Graham, a rising sophomore, vying to be the Crusaders’ starter.

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“There’s no complete separation yet,” Curran said. “They’ve all had their moments of making plays. I think it’s probably going to be something that’s going to work itself out through the spring and into the summer, which is a good thing. You want all those guys to have an opportunity.”

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The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Jenkins, who is a mobile threat, last season attempted one pass, which resulted in an interception. Jenkins has the most experience in the HC offense.

Frattura, 6-2 and 215, and Graham, 6-1 and 215, have not played in any games for the Crusaders. The 6-3, 205-pound Swanson is a transfer from the University of Illinois. He did not appear in any games during his two seasons with the Fighting Illini.

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“Josh and Austen have more experience in the offense,” Curran said, “and Cal and Braden are doing a good job picking it up.

“It’s a competition,” Curran said. “They all have different strengths and weaknesses, and I think it’s on the coaches to continue to develop these guys and see how it works itself out over the next two weeks and into the summer as well.”

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Balance has been key for Crusaders​

HC’s offense had a terrific third-down period last Thursday and looked explosive. On Saturday, the defense had its best day of the spring.

“You want that back-and-forth,” Curran said. “I remind the guys that this is a very humbling sport, and you have to go out and earn it every day. I think the programs that have the mindset of ‘Let’s go 1-0 today,’ they’re the ones that not only have the ability to have sustainable success, but when they don’t have their ‘A’ game, ‘Can they play complementary football? Can they play winning football?’”

Examples of that last season included HC’s game against Fordham, when linebacker Frankie Monte led a dominant defensive effort, but the Crusaders’ managed just a first-half field goal.

In the second half, Pesansky came up big in the red zone with touchdown passes to Jacob Petersen and Jayden Clerveaux rushed for 110 of his game-high 159 yards to help the Crusaders win, 19-16.

“When the game mattered most,” Curran said, “our offense came up with huge plays.”

In the Bucknell game, the Bison scored 21 points in the first half and led HC, 31-17, late in the third, but the defense came up with three turnovers, including Monte’s fumble recovery that sealed a 40-38 Holy Cross victory.

“We made big plays in critical moments,” Curran said, “and those turnovers helped us play winning football.”

Hash marks​

The Crusaders will play their annual spring game at 3 p.m. April 12 at Fitton Field. The event is open to fans. Admission and parking are free. There will be in-game, on-field contests and former HC wide receiver Byron Shipman will host in-game interviews with coaches and players. The Crusaders will sign autographs after the game. In the event of inclement weather, the location of the spring game may change. Details will be provided closer to the event if changes are made. … Former Holy Cross offensive lineman Dalton Daddona has joined the HC staff as an offensive assistant. Daddona was a top backup for the Crusaders in 2022 and 2023, and helped HC rank nationally in scoring and rushing offense both seasons.

—Contact Jennifer Toland at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: A Crusader Competition as four players in mix for Holy Cross QB job

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