Some thoughts following Georgetown's 21-20 win over Bucknell last week:
1. Five Plays: Yes, Georgetown-Bucknell games tend to be close outcomes (four of the last five by three points each) but this was an extremely tight game that legitimately could have gone either way, and nearly did.
The teams combined for 135 plays but five bear a second look:
Second Quarter: With 4:45 remaining and a 14-0 lead, Bucknell was on the verge of taking the game over. Following a Bucknell Punt and a 27 yard first down run by Savion Hart, the Hoyas ran Hart two carries for a combined two yards. On a third and eight at the Bucknell 40, the safe play was to have Danny Lauter scramble around for a short pass to Jimmy Kibble or Nick Dunneman, and certainly not to give it to Hart a fourth consecutive time. Surprisingly, this is what Georgetown did, and hart tore through the Bucknell line for 40 yards and the score. It awakened the Hoyas offensively and four minutes later they tied the score.
Third Quarter: With 1:16 remaining, the Bison had awoke from its third quarter slumber and drove into Georgetown territory. One a third and five from the Georgetown 46, Cooper Blomstrom broke up a pass at the Georgetown 35, and the Bison were forced to punt. This was a drive that had points written all over it, and keeping them off the board bought the Hoyas some time.
Fourth Quarter: With 9:25 to play, Bucknell had drove to Georgetown five and a touchdown from QB Ralph Rucker had just been overturned by an offensive holding penalty. Still, the Bison had momentum, and Rucker's pass to WR Josh Gary in the end zone would have given Bucknell the lead. Gary dropped it, and the Bison had to settle for a field goal.
Fourth Quarter: 3:38 remaining: yes, the missed Bucknell field goal was big, but perhaps an even more consequential play happened for the Hoyas on a third and two at the Georgetown 28. Fall short here, and the Bison get the ball back somewhere near midfield with three minutes (and two time outs) to get that winning score. Savion Hart rushes for two yards, and instead of kicking with 3:35 to play, the Hoyas get a first down and squeeze nearly two minutes off the clock for the Bison's last hope.
Fourth Quarter: With 24 seconds remaining, the Georgetown defense had withstood a pair of long incomplete passes, each of which could have conceivably won the game. On a fourth and 10 inside the Georgetown 45, the defense simply did not allow Rucker to dial up a third pass play, and so saved the win.
Any of those four, any of them, go the other way, and it's a different game, and likely a loss. It's why coaches preach the need to focus on every play as the most important play of the game, because sometimes it's just that.
2. Good News On Attendance: With no fanfare, and even less promotion, home attendance through four games at Cooper Field bears some support.
Through those four games, average home attendance is 3,262 per game. At many schools, this would be cause for widespread panic, but given the state of affairs at Georgetown, where parking is scarce, seating few, amenities lacking, and a student body that, post-COVID, doesn't experience a culture of athletic support, it's a good number; in fact, it's trending for the largest attendance since 1978, when games were held on the baseball field as Kehoe Field awaited the air rights under Yates Field House.
Two games remain, and there' s always room for more.
More on this Thursday.
3. Around The PL:
Holy Cross 34, Lafayette 28: The Crusaders have staked its claim to the driver's seat for the league's one (and likely, only) playoff berth, jumping to a 21-0 lead and fighting off two fourth quarter drives from the Leopards, the last one ending 16 yards short of the goal line. Crusader QB Joe Pesansky continues to be the most efficient signal caller in the conference: just 183 yards in the air, but eight of 12 on third down and no sacks surrendered. It's a tough loss for the defending PL champions, who are down two games to Holy Cross with three to play, traveling to Bucknell this weekend.
Merrimack 51, Colgate 17: No one saw this coming--the Warriors ran up 535 yards total offense on a Colgate team coming off its win over Georgetown. Colgate QB Jake Stearney was held to 155 passing yards and two interceptions as the Red Raiders were outscored 34-7 after halftime. The loss clinches a fifth losing season for the Red Raiders over the past six seasons.
Lehigh 33, Fordham 19: The Engineers are trending upward as they meet the Hoyas Saturday, taking a 31-3 halftime lead en route to the win. Fordham, winless at 0-8, was held to 98 yards rushing and allowed 246 while Lehigh scored on five consecutive possessions to end the first half. More on the Engineers Friday, but its rushing game was clicking Saturday. As for Fordham, they will host Colgate.
