slides: Holy Cross Football Media Day

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Joe Parello, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Holy Cross held its annual football media day yesterday, and the Crusaders have high hopes for this season.

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Media Day

Holy Cross held its annual football media day yesterday, and the Crusaders have high hopes for this season. Holy Cross went 6-5 in 2011, including a 4-2 mark in conference, good for second in the Patriot League. Now, returning 17 starters, coach Tom Gilmore's team seems poised to challenge defending champion Lehigh for Patriot League supremacy.

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With the Kickers?

"Dang kickers!" Gilmore yelled before being dragged into this photo with the Crusaders' specialists. Returning kicker John Macomber just looks on as long snapper Matt Fava gives the team a thumbs up.

From left to right: Junior kicker John Macomber, Sophomore long snapper Matt Fava, Gilmore, Freshman punter Connor Fitzgerald

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Captains

Here's Gilmore again, a little more pleased this time around and posing with his captains.

From left to right: Senior defensive back Tom Mannix, Senior offensive lineman Sean Whited, Gilmore, Senior linebacker Roman SanDoval, Senior wide receiver Gerald Mistretta.

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Gerald Mistretta

Senior captain Gerald Mistretta was named a third-team preseason All-American by the Beyond Sports Network. Mistretta finished last season as a first-team All-Patriot League selection after catching 60 passes for 723 yards and six touchdowns.

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Linebackers

The Crusaders are hoping someone can emerge from this inexperienced group of outside linebackers. Junior George Sessoms kneeling in the middle would seem like a good candidate for increased playing time after moving to linebacker from safety.

From left to right: Freshman Ryan Smith, Senior Nick Mercurio, Junior George Sessoms (kneeling), linebackers coach Dakota Allosso, Junior Pete Anastasio, Freshman Ryan Germano

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Running Backs

Holy Cross seems well stocked at the running back position, where it returns four players who started multiple games. Senior Eddie Houghton stepped into the starting lineup late last season and rushed for over 500 yards, leading the team.

From left to right: Freshman Alex Waked, Senior Matt Bellomo, Senior Eddie Houghton, running backs coach Matt Fanning, Senior Sam Auffant, Junior Reggie Woods, Freshman Elad Covaliu.

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Kevin Watson

Fifth-year senior Kevin Watson came into training camp as the front-runner for the starting quarterback position. Whether or not Watson gets to end his injury-plagued Holy Cross career as the starter remains to be seen, but Gilmore says there was never a doubt in his mind that Watson was coming back after missing the end of 2010 and all of 2011.

"There was no never really a decision, to be honest with you," Gilmore said.

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The Secondary

Holy Cross is looking to rebuild the majority of its defensive backfield, but has the luxury of doing it around senior Tom Mannix. Gilmore loves Mannix' nose for the ball, and says he plays a lot bigger than he is.

Top from left to right: Assistant secondary coach Nick Lezynski, Freshman Matt Bhaya, Senior Tom Mannix, Freshman J.T. Frank, Junior Kyle Toulouse, Junior irvin Scott, Junior Andrew Zitnik, Freshman John Zakrzewski, Sophomore Logan Silver

Bottom from left to right: Junior Phillip Gough, Freshman Coan Calabrese, Freshman Steven Martinez, Freshman Dabness Atkins, Sophomore Diego Quintanar, Sophomore Ben Coffaro, Sophomore Sam Jones.

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Seniors

This group of Holy Cross seniors has gone a combined 21-13, including a 13-5 mark in the Patriot League with a conference championship. The pressure will be on Mistretta, Mannix and offensive lineman Sean Whited to help carry the team this season.