Some thoughts from Georgetown's 17-7 win over Lehigh this past Saturday:
1. Past Or Prologue? This isn't a team Georgetown is supposed to beat, even in some decidedly down years at Lehigh. It's sufficiently rare (just one prior win since 2001) that it's worth asking the question: is this a moment in time, or the start of something big?
Maybe a little bit of both.
The past three games have sent echoes of the 2011 season, one where the Hoyas surprised everyone with a five game win streak en route to its only winning season since 1999. It was also a period of retrenchment by some PL programs that allowed Georgetown to sneak up on them (Colgate, for one; maybe Lafayette as well). This season's Hoyas haven't sneaked up on its recent opponents but played 60 minutes of consistent football, one that gives it an opportunity to control time of possession (we'll get to that later) and play to its strengths.
Or is this a harbinger of things to come? The financial imbalance of football at Georgetown University has always been a quick and deserved response to why the program has struggled, but it has also been a deficit of impact talent. This season's team has some important contributions with underclassmen on offense (Dunneman, Kibble, Grimes) and defense (Daniel, Dugger, Mose, Cadet, Rufo) that have overachieved based on what was popularly expected out of their classes in 2022 and 2023. That's something to build upon for a program that is often rebuilding every year.
In one sense, 2023 is neither 2011 redux nor a window into dominance: it is what it is, and it's been fun to watch thus far. Georgetown has been competitive in every game but one this season, and when was the last time you could say that? The Massey Ratings service had GU as underdogs in each of the last eight games of the season and a 1.189% chance of making it as far as four wins. And yet, here we are.
2. Raiders Up: A 3:00 pm start time at home is rare for Georgetown, and if this was major college football, it would be the afternoon version of prime time. It's not, of course, but the Hoyas will be the late game Saturday versus Colgate.
Georgetown is 1-18 all time versus Colgate dating to 2002--the Red Raiders opted not to fit GU in its 2001 schedule. The games have been routinely noncompetitive as Colgate owned the rushing game as is their tradition, with the only Georgetown win coming in the aforementioned 2011 season. A look at its statistics to date offers some clues about what may be the biggest game of the season relative to Georgetown fighting for six wins this season.
Did I say rushing? Colgate is last in the PL in offense and fifth in rushing at 110 yards a game. That's not enough to dominate this game, and Colgate is allowing 185 yards in return, which if GU rushed for 185 in this game , it would be a very, very good sign.
Averages can be deceiving, however. Unlike Georgetown, Colgate traditionally schedules up to begin a season and as such they were overmatched in losses to Syracuse, Villanova, Penn, and Holy Cross. Since then, versus Cornell and Dartmouth, it has averaged 185 yards gained and 130 allowed.
Colgate's passing game also bears watching. Ranked near the bottom of the league overall, the Red Raiders passed for 221 yards pre game but allowed 316.5 in return. Georgetown enters the game ranked 1st in pass defense, so watch this closely. Also worth watching? Time of possession. Georgetown won't be close to the 40 minute time of possession it held at Lehigh, but a 33 -35 minute total would be a sign GU is controlling the ball and limiting Colgate possessions. In a series like this , this could be the numbers that can turn to an upset.
3. Looking Back: This marks the 20th anniversary of a memorable game in the Colgate-Georgetown series, a 20-19 Colgate win to open the season at the pre-MSF configuration known as Harbin Field.
"[Trailing] Colgate, 14-0, Coach Benson substituted freshman Alondzo Turner in at QB, who led an exciting 15 play, 80 yard drive," wrote the game recap at HoyaSaxa.com. "Turner was shaken up towards the end of the drive and Crawford returned, and when Georgetown faced a 4th down at the 2 yard line, Crawford found William Huisking in the end zone for the score, 14-7."
It continues:
"After a Colgate punt, Crawford returned to quarterback the team the rest of the game. Following the punt, he answered with a 35 yard TD pass to Luke McArdle for a touchdown. Rob Smith, making his first start at kicker in the wake of Michael Gillman's injury, had the PAT blocked, 14-13.
"In the fourth, Colgate responded with an 11 play drive that stalled at the Georgetown 32. With 8:44 to play, the Hoyas went three and out and punted to Colgate at its 21, but the Raiders fumbled at the Georgetown 47 with 6:44 to play. Georgetown responded with a seven play drive highlighted by a 29 yard pass to TE Jordan Jarry to the Colgate 1, where Kim Sarin gave Georgetown the go-ahead score, 19-14. A try for two points failed thereafter."
"In the race for the end, Colgate drove to the Georgetown 46, but a long pass was intercepted at the 25 with 1:28 to play. A penalty for excessive celebration hurt the Hoyas, sending them back to its 10 The team needed just one first down to put away the game, but instead combined for four yards in three plays. Opting to punt and not take a safety for field position, Colgate got the ball and returned it to the Georgetown 35 with 20 seconds to play.
"Narrowly averting another interception in the series, Colgate's Brown completed passes of 10 and 22 yards took the Raiders to the Georgetown 2 with under 10 seconds to play, where a direct snap to WR J.B Gerald found receiver DeWayne Long to seal the win, 20-19."
This was as close as any opponent would get to the Red Raiders for the next three months. Despite opening with five of its first six on the road, Colgate won 15 consecutive games that season until falling to Delaware in the FCS national championship game. No Patriot League opponent has been as close since.
4. Around the PL: A productive week for league teams last weekend:
Colgate 27, Dartmouth 24 (OT): Special teams heroics were the order of the day before 2,732 rain-soaked fans at Andy Kerr Stadium last week. With Dartmouth trailing 17-3 at the half, the Indians came back from 14 down in the fourth quarter to force overtime, where Colgate connected on a short field goal and blocked Dartmouth's response to carry the win. Colgate was 4 for 4 inside the red zone, Dartmouth just 4 for 7.
Bucknell 21, Colgate 13: In a series that dates to 1888, Bucknell earned a third consecutive win over the Big Red for the first time ever, holding Cornell scoreless for the final 27 minutes of the game and holding the homestanding Big Red to 3 for 13 on third down in the win before 2,142 at Schoellkopf Field. Running back Coleman Bennett led the Bison with 157 rushing yards.
Fordham 26, Stony Brook 7: A long season continues for the Seawolves as Fordham pulled ahead late for a 26-7 win over winless Stony Brook before 4,165 at LaValle Stadium. Stony Brook was held to a season low 27 yards on the ground.
Lehigh travels to Bucknell this weekend, with Lafayette and Holy Cross, both idle last week, meeting for what may be the early PL title game.
