A trio of Falcons elevated their games on opening weekend, putting up impressive numbers and playing pivotal roles in guiding their team to victory. Jahan Dotson (Penn State) played for the Falcons during the 2016 campaign, John Metchie (Alabama) roamed the Peddie gridiron in 2018 and Matt Sluka (Holy Cross) put up prodigious numbers during the undefeated 2019 season.
In Penn State's 16-10 win over Big Ten rival Wisconsin, star wideout Dotson scored the game's first touchdown, a 49-yard reception early in the third quarter. His 42-yard grab in the fourth led to the Nittany Lions second touchdown of the game. Dotson finished the afternoon with five receptions for 102 yards. Playing in 31 career contests, Dotson has caught a pass in 30-straight games and currently ranks 13th all-time at Penn State in career receiving touchdowns (14) and 17th in receiving yards (1,677).
In Alabama's 44-13 win over Miami, Metchie had six catches for 76 yards including a 37-yard receiving touchdown for the Tide's first score of the season. In 2020, he totaled 916 yards and six touchdowns on 55 catches as the Tide went on to win the National Championship.
Sluka at quarterback paced Holy Cross to an upset win at the University of Connecticut, 38-28, marking the Crusaders' first victory over an opponent from the NCAA's top division (FBS) since 2002. Sluka threw a pair of touchdowns and rushed for one more, totaling 123 yards in the air and 112 yards on the ground. In the fourth quarter, Sluka had a 76-yard run to help set up a key touchdown.