Georgetown Football

2015 Football Coverage

From HoyaSaxa.com game recaps. Links to other contemporary coverage may be out of date.

Game #1: St. Francis (Sep. 5)

Picked for fifth in the seven team Northeast Conference pre-season poll, the St. Francis Red Flash gained 520 yards on a shaky Georgetown defense, cruising to a 48-20 win in the 2015 season opener in Loretto, PA.

St. Francis scored on its first three drives and never looked back. The Red Flash opened with a seven play, 71 yard drive keyed by a 38 yard run by running back Khairi Dickson and a 20 yard Dickson run for the score, just two minutes into the game. The drive was placed on hold after junior LB Tyrell Williams was taken off the field in an ambulance following a tackle.

Following consecutive threes and out by the Georgetown offense, Dickson scored a second touchdown on St. Francis' next series: a 40 yard run to put the Frankies up 14-0 with 5:32 in the quarter. Another three and out from the Hoyas followed, and St. Francis took quick advantage: a five play, 50 yard drive led by a 37 yard run by RB Marcus Bagley to put SF up 21-0 with 1:52 in the quarter. Georgetown has not come back from a deficit of 21 or more points in the Patriot League era, and wasn't going to in this game, either.

Georgetown's first points of the game came from the defense, via a 36 yard interception returned by Ettian Scott for a touchdown, 21-6. The defense held St. Francis to field goals over its final two series of the half to end the scoring at 27-6 at intermission.

Georgetown opened the second half with promise, advancing to the St. Francis before a crushing 14 yard sack of Nolan put the Hoyas out of field goal position. Punting to the Red Flash two yard line, St. Francis responded with a methodical 12 play, 98 yard drive to extend the lead to 34-6, but on its next possession, a fumble at its 18 set up the Hoyas for its first offensive points of the season, as quarterback Kyle Nolan passed for nine yards and ran nine yards for the score, 34-13.

The score held steady until early in the fourth, where the Red Flash scored two touchdowns in 31 seconds, the first coming at the conclusion of a 5 play, 77 yard drive, the second on a Nolan interception returned for a touchdown, 48-13. Nolan added a 13 yard touchdown with 8:52 remaining, but reserve QB Tim Barnes was added for the final series of the game, where the Hoyas stalled at the St. Francis 10 with under a minute to play.

Georgetown's numbers were weak across the board. Nolan finished ended the game 14 for 29 for just 110 yards and two interceptions. Jo'el Kimpela managed just 60 yards on the ground, with Matt Buckman catching five passes for 45 yards. Bagley led all rushers with 19 carries for 147 yards (7.7 yards per carry), while Dickson had 22 carries for 129 yards and three TD's. Georgetown was outgained 281-129 on the ground, while Ty Smith's nine catches for 140 yards led the Flash to double the Hoyas' passing numbers, 239-114.

The 48 points is the most allowed by Georgetown in two seasons, and the most in a season opener since 2002. Overall, the Hoyas are Georgetown is 77-33 all-time in season openers, 6-8 since joining the Patriot League in 2001.

Next up for the Hoyas, a home game with Marist, who lost to Bucknell 17-0.

Game statistics:

                          GEORGETOWN      ST. FRANCIS
First downs                       15               29
Rushed-yards                  26-129           48-281
Passing yards                    114              239
Sacked-yards lost               3-14             3-24
Passes                       16-32-2          23-33-2
Punts                         7-39.0           2-37.5
Fumbles-lost                     0-0              1-1
Penalties-yards                 3-20             9-85
Time of possession             20:36            39:24

 
Additional links follow below. No local coverage was posted online.

• GUHoyas.com
• SFU Athletics
• Associated Press

 

Game #2: Marist (Sept. 12)

In an emotional follow-up from last week, the Georgetown Hoyas defeated Marist 34-7 in the home opener at Multi-Sport Field.

For the first time since the 1950 season, the Hoyas took the field without its signature gray helmets, but stripped the helmet design to a simple color and included just one number on the helmets: 2, the jersey number of injured teammate Ty Williams (C'17). It was a powerful message of team unity that served it well, scoring on four consecutive possessions to put the game away by halftime.

After an exchange of punts, Georgetown scored on its first major drive of the game: an eight play, 67 yard drive that resulted in a 33-yard field goal and an early 3-0 lead. On the ensuing series, Marist quarterback Ed Achziger was intercepted by DB David Akere, who returned the ball to the Marist nine yard line and set up QB Kyle Nolan to find WR Justin Hill in the back of the Georgetown end zone, 10-0. The Red Foxes, who entered the game with just 21 yards on the ground in its opener with Bucknell, found little progress against the Georgetown defense, with a three and out that set up the Hoyas at its 40 early in the second quarter. Nolan responded with an eight play, 60 yard drive, capped by an 11 yard run by senior RB Jo'el Kimpela and a 17-0 lead, its largest lead in any game since it met the Red Foxes in the second game of the 2014 season. Marist coach Jim Parady benched Achziger for sophomore Michael White, who had a rocky start. On his second play, DB Jelani Williamson read White's pass play and picked off the pass, racing 34 yards for a touchdown and a 24-0 Georgetown lead. White recovered to lead Marist (0-2) on its best drive of the day, an eight play, 86 yard drive to close to 24-7, but no closer. With its last drive of the first half, Nolan took advantage of a short field and guided the G-men on a seven play, 55 drive that took advantage of a key Marist penalty to extend the drive, whereupon runs by Kimpela and Isaac Ellsworth set up Nolan to find Hill for his second score of the evening, giving the Hoyas a 31-7 lead they took to halftime. Marist managed just one drive of more than 11 yards in the first half, while Georgetown scored on five of its final six possessions of the half, taking advantage of defensive stops that gave the Hoyas a net 30 yard advantage of average field position.

198 Penalty yards, both teams 56 INT yards, Georgetown 14 Pts. off turnover, Georgetown 2.5 Yards per carry, Marist 3.3 Yards per carry, Georgetown 5-1 GU home openers since 2010 12-16 Remaining home games since 2010

Georgetown opened the second half strong, driving 61 yards in nine plays for a 31 yard field goal and a 34-7 lead. Neither team scored thereafter, although Marist had two drives into Georgetown territory that fell short, with a fourth down stand by the Georgetown defense and a fumbled forced at its 21 midway in the fourth.

Kyle Nolan had a solid game: 21-34 for 200 yards, without a sack or interception. Jo'el Kimpela rushed for 57 yards as the Hoyas contributed only 117 yards on the ground. The ongoing story of the game was penalties, where Marist gave up 105 yards to penalties compared to its 263 total yards for the game. The setbacks contributed to just 4 of 15 third downs completed by the Red Foxes compared to 7 of 16 for the Hoyas.

Following interviews with the PL Network, head coach Rob Sgarlata had the game ball close at hand as he left Multi-Sport Field. He didn't say where it was being awarded, but there's a good chance it's headed to Ty Williams with the thoughts and prayers of his teammates.

Next up for the Hoyas, a home game with Dartmouth, making its 2015 season opener.

Game statistics:

                              MARIST       GEORGETOWN
First downs                       15               29
Rushed-yards                   26-65           35-117
Passing yards                    198              200
Sacked-yards lost                0-0             3-21
Passes                       22-44-2          21-35-0
Punts                         7-37.3           6-35.8
Fumbles-lost                     2-1              1-0
Penalties-yards               11-105             7-93
Time of possession             26:32            33:28

 
Additional links follow below.

• GUHoyas.com
• GoRedFoxes.com
• Associated Press
• The HOYA
• Poughkeepsie Journal

Game #3: Dartmouth (Sept. 19)

A game that was within Georgetown's grasp was out of Kyle Nolan's reach, as the senior QB threw two interceptions that were returned for Dartmouth touchdowns and fumbled on the precipice of the Dartmouth goal line, giving the Big Green a 31-10 win in its season opener at Multi-Sport Field.

The Georgetown defense contained Dartmouth quarterback Dalyn Williams early in the game, as the first two series for the Indians Big Green netted no yardage. The Hoyas got on the board first, an eight play play, 56 yard drive that featured a 31 yard pass Nolan to Matt Buckman for an early 7-0 lead. Georgetown appeared to have contained dartmouth on a punt from its next possession, but Dartmouth returner Ryan McManus returned the kick 65 yards to the georgetown nine, setting up Williams for a nine yard run to tie the score.

Two critical mistakes by Nolan turned the game. Five plays into the next series, Nolan's sideline pass at the 48 was picked off and returned to to the Georgetown 13. It took RB Brian Grove just one play to give Dartmouth the lead, 14-7. After the Georgetown defense held Dartmouth to a three and out, the Hoyas were pinned inside their ten and there was one play they could not run...but Nolan did it anyway, with a pass at his eight that was intercepted and returned for the score, 21-7. Despite gaining only 48 yards in the first half, Dartmouth led 21-10 at the half and never looked back.

Dartmouth opened the second half with as 13 play, 72 drive that exceeded any offensive efforts to date, which was halted at the Georgetown three and Dartmouth was held to the field goal, 24-10. The Hoyas opened by driving into Big Green territory, but Nolan suffered a nine yard sack at the DC 39 which resulted in 36 yard punt and a 16 yard return, setting the table for a eight play, 72 yard drive where Williams was 5-5 for 65 yards, including a 27 yard TD pass to Dylan Mellor, 31-10. Georgetown's only serious second half drive also ended in Nolan's hands, a 13 play, 77 yard drive early in the fourth quarter where, on fourth and goal at the Dartmouth three, Nolan fumbled at the goal line. The veteran Dartmouth defense closed the door on Georgetown's running game, holding Jo'el kimpela to 29 yards and the team to 23 yards overall. With no consistent running game, Nolan accounted for most of the Georgetown yardage, 31 for 53 for 308 yards but with little effect on the final score. The Hoyas held a commanding lead in time of possession, but the turnovers were not to be ignored.

0 Dartmouth turnovers 3 Georgetown turnovers 14 Pts. off Georgetown turnovers 24.7 Avg. punt return, Dartmouth 4-21-0 GU record vs. Ivy League

It was the first game played between the schools since a 10-0 Georgetown win in 1916, and the Hoyas will return the series to Hanover in the 2018 season.

 
Next up for the Hoyas, a road game at Columbia where the Lions hope to end a 22 game losing streak, second longest in school history. This isn't the Columbia teams of old, as the Lions were within 28-24 to Fordham after three quarters and are now coached by Al Bagnoli, who won nine Ivy titles in 22 years at Pennsylvania.

Game statistics:

                           DARTMOUTH       GEORGETOWN
First downs                       14               22
Rushed-yards                  31-143            32-23
Passing yards                    155              308
Sacked-yards lost               3-22              1-0
Passes                       18-29-0          31-53-2
Punts                         7-42.0           6-47.5
Fumbles-lost                     0-0              3-1
Penalties-yards                 8-92             6-60
Time of possession             23:51            36:09

 
Additional links follow below.

• GUHoyas.com
• DartmouthSports.com
• Associated Press
• Big Green Alert
• The Dartmouth
• The HOYA
• Lebanon (NH) Valley News
• WMUR-TV

Game #4: Columbia (Sept. 27)

Two Georgetown touchdowns in the final minute of the first half proved the difference as Georgetown defeated Colmbia 24-16 before 5,175 at Wien Stadium Saturday, capturing the initial game in the Lou Little Trophy series.

Columbia's home opener was deemed by many its best chance at ending a 22 game losing streak dating to November 2012. The Hoyas began the game with a steady drive, moving nine plays to the Columbia 30 and completing a pass to the eight yard line that was invalidated by offensive pass interference. The penalty and a pair of negative yardage plays forced the Hoyas to kick, whereupon the Lions drove the ball down the field behind Skyler Mornhinweg, a Florida transfer who started three games for the Gators in 2013. He led the Lions on a 10 play, 47 yard drive that stalled at the Georgetown 23, where kicker Cameron Nizialek missed from 40 yards out. After a brief drive, Columbia drove 50 yards in 11 plays, where Nizialek picked up a 29 yard field goal and an early 3-0 lead.

Georgetown answered on an eight play drive, where Georgetown quarterback Kyle Nolan completed on three straight passes to enter Columbia territory and set up Henry Darmstadter for a career long 46 yard kick, only the ninth field goal in Georgetown history beyond 45 yards.

The Lions continued to build momentum under Mornhinweg, moving the Light Blue on an 11 play, 79 yard drive that reached third down just once, A 22 yard pass to the georgetown two set up RB Cameron Molina for the score and a 10-3 lead with 4:35 to halftime.

The ensuing drive was perhaps the most important of Kyle Nolan's season. He opened with two passes to midfield, and following two Alex Valles carries, Nolan took it himself for 14 yards to the Columbia 26, where a Lion fouled advanced the ball to the 12. Georgetown advanced as close as the Columbia two yard line before the drive stalled, but on fourth down at the four, Nolan took it in himself to tie the score with 29 seconds in the half, 10-10. But on the ensuing kickoff, the Columbia return team lost track of the ball and fumbled it back to the Hoyas at the Lion 21. Two plays later, Nolan found Justin Will cutting across the defense and the hoyas had turned the game around with a 17-10 halftime lead.

Columbia opened the second half with its best drive to date, beginning at its 29. Consecutive gains by Molina pushed the ball to midfield, and Mornhinweg completed two pass plays to the Georgetown six. The Hoyas held on three straight attempts, and on fourth and goal, Mornhinweg found Cameron Dunn for the score, but the score was overturned for an offensive holding call. Settling for the field goal, Nizialek missed wide right from the 20.

Georgetown wasted no time in answering, as Nolan found Hill alone down the field with no defenders within ten yards, and Hill ran unabated to the end zone, 24-10. A Columbia score late in the fourth quarter ended the scoring.

"I think this was a winnable game," said head coach Al Bagnoli in post game comments. "It's one we would all like to play again if we could."

Columbia held leads in most statistics from the game but the two turnovers and two missed field goals proved the difference. The Hoyas were led by Kyle Nolan, who threw for 264 yards and 41 rushing yards. On the strength of the 80 yard pass from Nolan, Justin Hill led all GU receivers with 118 yards.

"The Hoyas played virtually error-free football while taking full advantage of almost every Columbia mistake," said Columbia blogger Jake Novak. "Georgetown QB Kyle Nolan had one of his best games ever, throwing and running well enough to keep the Hoyas in control. The Georgetown defense bent, but got tough in the red zone."

"The Lions made crucial errors at the worst possible moments. But Columbia's defense was also not able to play consistently enough to win. The Lions also lost too many points because of an inaccurate kicking game."

Game statistics:

                           GEORGETOWN        COLUMBIA
First downs                       21               23
Rushed-yards                   33-65           35-129
Passing yards                    264              232
Sacked-yards lost                0-0             2-18
Passes                       21-32-1          23-38-1
Punts                         5-32.2           3-43.7
Fumbles-lost                     1-0              2-1
Penalties-yards                 4-62             8-69
Time of possession             25:31            34:29

 

#Hoyas celebrate with #LouLittleTrophy following 24-16 win over Columbia @PatriotLeagueFB @NCAA_FCS #WeAreGeorgetown pic.twitter.com/s8mZkbf4K3

— Georgetown Football (@HoyasFB) September 26, 2015 Additional recaps follow below:

• GUHoyas.com
• GoColumbiaLions.com
• Associated Press
• Columbia Daily Spectator

Game #5: Harvard (Oct. 2)

Six rushing touchdowns led the #24-ranked Harvard Crimson to a convincing 45-0 win over the Georgetown Hoyas at a stormy Harvard Stadium, playing before an announced crowd of 7,566.

The Crimson were in control early, punting just once by halftime. Its first drive netted 40 yards and a field goal, 3-0. Georgetown drove to midfield but failed on fourth down, setting up Harvard for a short field. A fumble at the Georgetown four appeared to give the Hoyas a reprieve, but it was ruled to have been retained by the Crimson. On the next play, RB Paul Stanton brought it in from four yards to go up 10-0 with 5:12 in the first quarter.

Georgetown's only serious first half drive advanced to inside the Harvard 20, but a 34 yard field goal missed. While the Hoyas managed four punts and a fumble on its next five possessions, Harvard was unabated: a six play drive to go up 17-0 with 13:04 in the second, a two play drive made it 24-0 at the 10:51 mark, and a long nine play drive to lead 31-0 with 1:19 to halftime. The Crimson outgained the Hoyas 317-123 while Kyle Nolan's short-distance passing effort was contained by the Harvard defense. Nolan ended the first half 11 for 24 for just 67 yards.

Harvard took the second half kickoff 47 yards to set up its opening drive of the third quarter, an eight play scoring drive that netted its fifth rushing touchdown of the evening, 38-0. A brief Georgetown drive set up Harvard for a grinding 17 play drive that consumed almost seven minutes of the third quarter and ended in a one yard run, 45-0.

As Harvard sat its defensive starters, the Hoyas advanced to the Crimson 25 early in the fourth quarter, only its second drive of the half. Facing a fourth and one, Harry McCollum fumbled the snap on a prospective field goal and the Hoyas turned the ball over without a kick. The defense held Harvard at the Georgetown seven with 7:57 to play, but the offense was three and out. Emblematic of its offensive struggles came on its final drive, where on a fourth and two at the 50 line with 1:12 remaining, Georgetown simply punted.

The margin of defeat was the most for a Georgetown team since a 48-0 loss to Richmond on Oct. 25, 2008. The win was the 17th straight for Harvard, trailing only Ohio State in all of Division I for consecutive wins.

                          GEORGETOWN          HARVARD
First downs                       11               27
Rushed-yards                  25-112           53-245
Passing yards                    110              249
Sacked-yards lost                2-9              0-0
Passes                       11-38-0          22-36-0
Punts                         8-32.4           2-44.5
Fumbles-lost                     1-1              2-0
Penalties-yards                  1-5             6-55
Time of possession             24:40            35:20

 
Additional links follow below.

• GUHoyas.com
• GoCrimson.com
• Boston Globe
• Boston Herald
• Fox Sports
• Harvard Crimson

Game #6: Lafayette (Oct. 10)

Kyle Nolan threw five touchdown passes as the Georgetown Hoyas put together its best Patriot League game in four years, rolling past Lafayette 38-7 in the 76th Homecoming Game at renamed Cooper Field. The 38 point total is the most points scored by Georgetown in PL action since a 40-17 win over Colgate on Oct. 22, 2011.

Lafayette (1-5) entered the game averaging only 64 yards per game rushing, and the Leopards suffered mightily on the ground all afternoon. Lafayette opened the game with an eight yard run by DeSean Brown, but no one could have foretold that LC would net just one rushing yard for the remainder of the game. After the Hoyas held Lafayette on its opening drive, a 37 yard punt return by Jake DeCicco set the Hoyas up for its first scoring drive, where QB Kyle Nolan completed three of his last four passes in the drive, including a 19 yarder to WR Matt Buckman for the score, 7-0.

The Leopards drove into Georgetown territory on its next series but stalled at he GU 41, whereupon the Hoyas picked up confidence on a 11 play, 72 yard drive which netted a 35 yard field goal and a 10-0 lead. On its next series, the Hoyas appeared to be in trouble when punter Ben Priddy fumbled the snap and set up the Leopards deep in GU territory, but the Leopards could not convert. Two running plays netted zero yards and a third down pass was broken up by GU's Garrett Powers, as the Leopards settled for a 44 yard field goal attempt. Powers would have none of it, breaking through the line for a block which returned the ball to the Georgetown 19.

The Hoyas responded with an efficient drive that set the course for the remainder of the game. Despite a pair of early penalties in the drive, Nolan had the Hoyas' offense in high gear. Facing a second and 24 at its 13, Nolan found DeCicco for 38 yards to midfield. Subsequent passes to Jo'el Kimpela and DeCicco brought Georgetown to the Lafayette 12. Two plays, later Nolan found Buckman in the end zone and the Hoyas were now up 17-0.

Lafayette wasn't done yet, answering back with a 12 play, 65 yard drive that was aided by two critical Georgetown penalties which, it left untouched, would have forced the leopards to punt within its own territory. Instead, Lafayette continued its drive and converted on a fourth and seven at the Georgetown 30 with a 22 yard pass play to set up a five yard pass to WR Matt Mrazek for the score, 17-7.

Georgetown answered with a game-crushing drive towards the end of the second quarter. Taking over with 3:58 to halftime, Nolan was 5-6 in the air for 34 yards to advance the ball to the Lafayette 27 with 24 seconds in the half. On a third and six, he found DeCicco across the end zone on a post pattern and the Hoyas took a 24-7 lead into the break, outgaining the Leopards 272-108 behind Nolan, passing 21 for 27 for 214 yards and three touchdowns.

The teams exchanged punts to open the second half whereupon Georgetown began its second drive at its 22, where Nolan took a keeper 42 yards down the sideline to set up the Hoyas for its next score, with consecutive 15 yard passes to Justin Hill and Jake DeCicco to go up 31-7. Lafayette advanced to midfield on its next series but opted to go for fourth and six, but Ettian Scott broke up the pass play and the Hoyas took advantage of a short field, moving swiftly down the field thanks to a 37 yard pass play to WR Branden Williams, setting up a pass to WR Justin Hill in the back of the end zone with a acrobatic catch, 38-7.

Lafayette's last drives of note worked the passing lanes, where QB Drew Reed was 5 for 5 as the Leopards drove to the Georgetown 24, but a receiver fumbled the ball and Georgetown's David Akere picked up the fumble at the GU 16. Two series later, the Leopards were picked off by Ettian Scott at midfield, and did not threaten thereafter.

Excepting a run of penalties which will be focus of practice this week, the box score reflects a throughout Georgetown effort on all phases of the ball. The Hoyas outgained the Leopards 464-257, collected five sacks and allowed just one, and were 5 for 5 inside the red zone, allowing Lafayette only one drive to extend inside the 20. The Leopards managed a season-low nine yards on 20 carries, and were 2 of 12 on third downs and 2 of 5 on fourth.

Nolan finished the game 28 of 36 for 311 yards and passed Isaiah Kempf (2009-13) as the team's all-time leader on pass completions.

"I said all along we'd come down here and have a tough football game, but to get spanked like that is not something we saw coming," said Lafayette coach Frank Tavani. "I know everybody's disappointed and nobody is more disappointed than I am. Our alumni and fans have every right to be upset, and I'm the guy they should be upset with."

Of immediate concern to the Leopards, the promise of a sixth straight losing season on College Hill, with the Leopards traveling to undefeated Harvard this week. Lafayette fans, who saw Harvard demolish the Hoyas 45-0 just a week earlier, have defeated the Crimson just once in its last 13 games dating to 1996.

Georgetown will seek to get some players healthy in the week prior to its game with Colgate, as RB Isaac Ellsworth and WR's Harrison Glor and Jake DeCicco all left this game due to injuries. But as seasons go, a Homecoming win is always important, especially to a Georgetown team that has surprised many by with a competitive 3-3 mark this season.

 


                           LAFAYETTE       GEORGETOWN
First downs                       15               21
Rushed-yards                    20-9           27-153
Passing yards                    248              311
Sacked-yards lost                1-6             5-27
Passes                       28-44-2          28-38-0
Punts                         4-38.8           4-40.2
Fumbles-lost                     1-1              1-0
Penalties-yards                 3-42           11-130
Time of possession             28:38            31:22

 
Additional links follow below.


• GUHoyas.com
• GoLeopards.com
• Associated Press
• Allentown Morning Call

Game #7: Colgate (Oct. 17)

Colgate quarterback Jake Neville successfully completed a fourth down and one yard at the Colgate 40 with 2:30 remaining to preserve the Red Raiders' 17-13 win over Georgetown Saturday at Cooper Field. Colgate led 17-0 at the half but the Hoyas scored 10 points in a 2:09 stretch of the fourth quarter. Georgetown further narrowed the count with a 37 yard field goal with 4:41 to play, but the Red Raiders ran out the clock with the big play.

From the outset, it was clear that Georgetown was not facing the kind of defense employed by Lafayette, as Colgate limited the Hoyas to just two first downs and 25 yards on its first four possessions. The Colgate offense was effective early in establish field position, driving to midfield and pinning the Hoyas back on its opening possession, where a punt to the Georgetown 48 set up a short field for the red raiders. Quarterback Jake melville rushed 36 yards down the field to set up the Red raiders's first score, an eight yard run by RB James Holland for the 7-0 score.

Colgate continued its offensive progress early in the second, but fumbled the ball to Georgetown on consecutive possessions,. neither of which the Hoyas could capitalize on. The first fumble, recovered by LB Matthew Satchell at the GU 46, went nowhere as a result of a holding penalty which negated a 16 yard pass play and forced a punt. Te second fumble set the Hoyas at the Colgate 38, but Georgetown failed to post a single first down and turned the ball back over on downs less than two minutes alter.

From the Colgate 30, Melville found a seam in the Hoyas secondary, with WR Adam Greenwald tearing open the Hoyas for 48 yards to the Georgetown five and a second rushing touchdown from Holland followed, 14-0. Following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty which moved the ensuing kickoff back 15 yards, the hoyas were able to start its next drive near midfield, where the Hoyas drive to the Colgate 10 before QB Kyle Nolan fumbled the ball at the 10. An exchange of punts set up Colgate at midfield with 49 seconds to play, where a crisp four play drive to the Georgetown set up a 38 yard field goal to end the half, 17-0. The red raiders held a 277-80 advantage on total yards, with 47 of the Hoyas' total coming on the series interrupted by Nolan's fumble.

The third quarter offered its share of missed opportunities, with fumbles from each team on sustained drives, but without points for either. The hoyas did not answer in the scoring column until early in the fourth, where passes of 29 and six yards from Nolan to WR Justin Hill drove the Hoyas deep into Colgate territory and set up a 37 yard field goal, 17-3. With 14:10 to play, Georgetown surprised Colgate with an onside kick, recovered by the hoyas and converted in short order, as a 28 yard pass to WR jake DeCicco and a 10 yard run from Kyle Nolan closed the lead to 17-10.

The Georgetown defense was revitalized by the turn of events and held the Red Raiders to three and out, returning the ball to the GU offense with 11:41 to play. The Hoyas went on a methodical 15 play drive that reached third down just once, moving to the Colgate 20. The Hoyas closed to the Colgate 11 but a double reverse was sniffed out by the Colgate defense and resulted in a nine yard loss, eventually leading to a 37 yard field goal to close to 17-13 with 4:41 to play.

Colgate took over at its 30 and advanced to the GU 39 with 2:30 to play.

"We had been struggling offensively the second half to be able to execute consistently. But once we got the ball back, we said, 'No more. Let's end it now.'," said Colgate coach Dan Hunt in post-game remarks.

With the game on the line, the Red Raiders went for it on fourth and one and Melville gained two on the play, extending the drive and clinching the win. The Red Raiders ran out the clock thereafter.

"The O-line stepped up, the running back stepped up and on the fourth-down play the quarterback stepped up and got the yard we needed."

The two teams competed evenly in the stats column. Each team had 18 first downs, Jake Melville had 190 yards passing to Kyle Nolan's 194, and Georgetown had just three more plays than Colgate did for the game, 68 to 65. Colgate was able to convert two of its three ed zone scoring possessions into touchdowns while Gu settled for field goals, and the fourth down call from Colgate coach Dan Hunt proved decisive in the Red Raiders' 12th win over the Hoyas in 13 games dating to 2002.

"What you saw in the second half from our ball club is that we're a pretty resilient group," said Georgetown coach Rob Sgarlata. "In years past, that 17-point deficit turns into 24 and then we're chasing it the entire game."



                             COLGATE       GEORGETOWN
First downs                       18               18
Rushed-yards                  42-184           40-111
Passing yards                    190              194
Sacked-yards lost                1-6              0-0
Passes                       11-23-0          21-38-0
Punts                         4-38.2           6-34.2
Fumbles-lost                     4-3              2-2
Penalties-yards                 8-54             4-26
Time of possession             32:06            27:54

 
Additional links follow below.


• GUHoyas.com
• GoColgateraiders.com
• Associated Press
• Georgetown Voice

Game #8: Bucknell (Oct. 24)

Reserve quarterback Tim Barnes led the Georgetown Hoyas on a 94 yard fourth quarter drive while the Hoya defense held back the Bucknell Bison scoreless on consecutive drives to the edge of the Georgetown end zone in a thrilling 17-9 win by the Hoyas at Bucknell's Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium.

For two teams which averaged less than seven points between them in first quarter action this season, the opening quarter held plenty of excitement. The Bison opened by driving inside the GU 25, but a Georgetown interception returned the ball to midfield and a Georgetown drive stalled at the Bucknell 10, settling for a 22 yard field goal and a 3-0 lead. The Bison quickly answered with a 10 play, 75 yard drive to take the lead, but miss the PAT, a number that would be crucial later in the game. Georgetown answered in a big way. Converting a third and 26 to keep a eight play, 69 yard drive alive, QB Kyle Nolan then found WR Justin Hill open on a 41 yard pass play and the Hoyas took a 10-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.  
Georgetown continued the offensive surge early in the second, but an interception at the Bucknell 10 took the wind out of the Hoyas' sails and Georgetown did not manage a first down the remainder of the half. The Bison picked up a field goal midway in the second, and advanced to the GU 20 with two seconds left, but missed a 37 yard field goal that gave Georgetown a 10-9 edge at halftime.

Defense was the order of the second half, where Bucknell advanced to the GU 28 before the Georgetown defense held on a fourth down pass breakup in the end zone and no points changed hands. Georgetown managed only two series in the third quarter for a combined -2 yards before coach Rob Sgarlata substituted for junior QB Tim Barnes late in the the third with the Hoyas starting a drive at its six yard line. Converting on a key third and nine early in the fourth quarter, barnes led the hoyas on a14 play drive that was completed with an 11 yard run by Joel Kimpela and a 17-9 lead with 13:03 remaining.

The outcome was certainly not settled, thanks to a number of impassioned Bucknell drives to follow. The defense held Bucknell three and out on its next series, butt he Bison advanced deep into Georgetown territory midway through the fourth, but were halted by a Leo Loughery sack which forced a punt. On the next Georgetown series, however, Barnes was intercepted at the GU 49 and the Bison then drove to the Georgetown 12 with just 2:27 remaining. The Bison dropped a TD pass on second down, and suffered a incompletion on third. On fourth and five, the defense forced a coverage sack and the Hoyas were spared, but the offense went three and out and punted it back to Bucknell at midfield with 1:57 remaining.

Back came the Bison. Facing a fourth and 18 with 1:24 remaining, Bucknell QB R.J. Nitti completed a 40 yard pass to the GU 25. A pass nearly resulted in a touchdown on first down, while a four yard sack to the 29 followed on second, and a Bucknell holding penalty declined on third forced a 4th and 18 with 29 seconds remaining. Nitti's pass was broken up in the back of the end zone, and the Hoyas survived with its first win at Lewisburg since 2007 and a 4-4 record with three games to play.

Game statistics:



                          GEORGETOWN         BUCKNELL
First downs                       14               23
Rushed-yards                  29-132            38-74
Passing yards                    156              338
Sacked-yards lost               4-45             3-11
Passes                       15-29-2          28-49-1
Punts                         6-40.0           6-44.2
Fumbles-lost                     0-0              0-0
Penalties-yards                 3-24             5-38
Time of possession             23:03            36:57

 
Additional links follow below:


• GUHoyas.com
• BucknellBison.com
• Associated Press
• Sunbury Daily Item

Game #9: Lehigh (Oct. 31)

In a game of missed opportunities, the Georgetown Hoyas battled back from a 17 point first half deficit, only to fall to Lehigh, 33-28, before a crowd of 7,950 at Murray Goodman Stadium.

This was widely expected to be a defensive battle but the Georgetown defense arrived late to the party. On its opening play, reserve QB Brad Mayes found WR Casey Gatlin for 33 yards down to the Georgetown 30, setting up the Engineers for a 41 yard field goal and an early 3-0 lead. Georgetown QB Kyle Nolan was sacked twice in his first four plays as a six play Georgetown drive punted it back to Lehigh, whereupon a 23 yard pass and consecutive running plays totalling 24 yards set up the Engineers for another score. In a six play drive that reached second down just once, Lehigh RB Micco Brisker drove a two yard again into the end zone and a 10-0 lead just eight minutes into the first quarter.

Sacks on each of the next two drives set back Georgetown further, and despite a career high 62 yard punt by Georgetown punter Harry McCollum early in the second quarter, Lehigh was having its way on the field. A nine play, 80 yard drive led Lehigh to its next score, as Mayes was 4 for 6 in the drive, with an 11 yard pass to WR Troy Pelletier for a 17-0 lead.

Led by a 22 yard pass on third and two to extend its next drive, Georgetown finally got on the scoreboard with a 10 play, 65 yard drive that was completed with a five yard pass to WR Harry Glor at the 4:50 mark. The defense, unfortunately, was unable to stop Lehigh at much of anything, as the Engineers went 12 plays in 3:50 with Pelletier's second TD catch and a 24-7 lead at the half. Holding a 301-125 advantage in total yards, three of Lehigh's six drives were from 75 yards or more, all resulting in touchdowns.

Lehigh looked to be running away with the game a the opening of the second half, taking advantage of a short Georgetown punt to drive 41 yards in six plays, with a 41 yard run by RB Dominic Bragalone setting up a short field goal and a 27-7 lead.

Georgetown began its climb back with WR Luke Morris, who caught three consecutive passes for 46 yards to bring the Hoyas to the Lehigh 32 with 7:00 in the third quarter. A 22 yard run by Jo'el Kimpela drove to the Lehigh six yard line, where Nolan found Glor for the touchdown, 27-14.

The Engineers' offense remained sharp, driving to the Georgetown 33 yard line late in the third before the defense held them on a fourth and one. From there, Nolan led the Hoyas on an eight play drive to open the fourth quarter, with three consecutive passes to Morris which gained 30 yards, the last of which was a 19 yard pass to close the gap to 27-21 five seconds into the fourth quarter.

What followed was a gamble by the coaching staff which, in hindsight, was unnecessary. Hoping to repeat an onsides kick successfully executed against Colgate two weeks earlier, the attempt was sniffed out by the Engineers and set up a short field for the Lehigh offense to begin the fourth quarter. Two plays, later, Lehigh was inside the Georgetown 10 and on a fourth and goal at the one, regular quarterback Nick Shanifsky came off the bench for the sneak and a 33-21 lead, which would be the eventual margin of victory. The kick came way too soon and was far too easy for the home team--Georgetown would need to battle for the remainder of the game.

On its next series with 11:12 remaining, an ankle injury to Jo'el Kimpela brought in RB Alex Valles, who gained 17 yards on four carries to bring the Hoyas to midfield. On a fourth and three, Nolan found WR Jake DeCicco on a big 24 yard gain, giving the Hoyas new life midway in the quarter. A pair of gains from Valles brought the Hoyas to the Lehigh five, but penalties set the cause back. On fourth down, Nolan found DeCicco in the end zone, but DeCicco dropped the pass with 4:54 remaining.

Georgetown's defense rose to the challenge, holding Lehigh to a three and out for the only time in the game and forcing a punt back to Georgetown with 3:14 to play. Nolan was 4-5 of the drive, with a 43 yard pass to DeCicco and a 17 yard pass back to DeCicco to close to 33-28 with 1:40 to play. But was there enough time?

This time, the onside kick was called for and Lehigh was ready for it. A pair of timeouts and a defensive stop on third down saw Lehigh face a fourth and one at the GU 44 with 46 seconds left, whereupon Shanifsky, who missed much of this game following a hip injury suffered last week versus Fordham, again came on and put the game out of reach with a two yard run. One play later, the closest game ever played at Goodman Stadium between the teams ended as the others did, with a Lehigh win.

Statistically, Georgetown led narrowly in total yards (453-436) and time of possession (33:32-26:28) but failed to stop Lehigh from scoring in any of its five red zone possessions. The short field from the onsides kick and the dropped pass in the end zone proved fatal to Georgetown's upset hopes. As for a Lehigh team entering the game a combined -10 in turnover margin, it left the field with no turnovers, a mission well accomplished against an aggressive Georgetown defense.

The Hoyas enter a bye week with a home finale against Fordham on Nov. 14. The Rams (7-2) were upset on a failed two point conversion with no time remaining at Colgate, but will enter Coooper Field as a prohibitive favorite for the 59th meeting between the schools.

Game statistics:



                          GEORGETOWN           LEHIGH
First downs                       21               22
Rushed-yards                   38-98           40-222
Passing yards                    355              214
Sacked-yards lost                2-6             5-38
Passes                       25-38-0          18-24-0
Punts                         4-42.2           2-50.5
Fumbles-lost                     0-0              0-0
Penalties-yards                 6-54             3-35
Time of possession             33:32            26:28

 
Additional coverage follows below:


• GUHoyas.com
• Lehigh Sports.com
• Allentown Morning Call
• Lehigh Brown & White
• Easton Express-Times
• Lehigh Football Nation

Game #10: Fordham (Nov. 14)

The Georgetown Hoyas battled back from a 28-7 first half deficit to rally into the final minute, where a late interception sealed a 38-31 Fordham win that averted a major upset for the 16th ranked Rams.

Georgetown caught an early break in the game, when Fordham returner Jihaad Pretlow opted to field the opening kick out of the end zone and never made it past the two yard line. The defense held and forced a punt that set up the Hoyas at the Fordham 42 yard line. With starting WR Jo'el Kimpela sitting out the game with an injury, RB Alex Valles rushed for 24 yards in the drive, including a 19 yard run to the end zone that gave Georgetown the early lead, 7-0. It took the Rams just seven plays to answer, with six rushes for 65 yards and a seven yard touchdown pass from QB Kevin Anderson to WR Jonathan Lumley, 7-7.

Fordham entered the game with a composite +11 in turnover ratio, and Georgetown knew that any mistakes could be deadly in this regard. After an exchange of punts, Georgetown set up its next drive at its own 19, where Valles fumbled on the opening handoff. Two plays later, RB Chase Edmonds was in the end zone, and Fordham took a 14-7 lead.

The Rams quickly took charge. Passing plays of 35 and 42 yards set up the Rams at the Georgetown three, where Anderson connected with Lumley in the end zone, 21-7. Georgetown went nowhere on its next drive, and Fordham drove inside the Georgetown 30 when an Anderson pass to the end zone was intercepted by David Akere. But on the next series, Nolan was intercepted at midfield, with a pick-six to the end zone and a 28-7 Fordham lead.

What could have followed was a rout. What did occur was one of the great comebacks, albeit short of the win, that has defined the grit and determination of this 2015 team.

On the kickoff, Georgetown's Isaac Ellsworth took the ball at the five and was not stopped until he reached the Fordham 12, an 83 yard return which revived the Hoyas' sagging fortunes. Two plays later, QB Kyle Nolan raced around the right end and the Hoyas closed to 28-14 with six minutes to play. Fordham stayed on the ground on its next series, with five rushes by Chase Edmonds and a 12 yard run by Jarred Brevard advanced the Rams to the Fordham 30. One penalty and two incompletions later, the Rams faced a fourth and five at the Georgetown 37, where freshman LB Mike Taylor stopped Fordham's Anderson and swung momentum back the to the Hoyas with 1:37 to play.

Kyle Nolan's veteran leadership at quarterback was in evidence in this series, which successfully balanced the yardage and the clock. A pair of completions brought the Hoyas to midfield, with two more runs before a crucial third and six at the Fordham 36 was answered with a 19 yard pass to Jake DeCicco which stopped the clock and extended the drive. Two plays later, with seven seconds remaining, Nolan found Harrison Glor in the back of the end zone and the Hoyas closed to 28-21 at the half.

Despite the scholarship gap between the two schools, the second half was a fight throughout. The Hoyas were contained on its first drive, but Fordham responded with a six play, 32 yard drive that drove to the edge of field goal territory. On a third and one from the Georgetown 30, Fordham's Chase Edmonds was held to no gain. On fourth and one, the defense responded yet again, holding Edmonds behind the line of scrimmage and rallying back momentum to the Blue and Gray.

The momentum was ever so brief. For the second time in the game, a first down handoff to RB Alex Valles resulted in a fumble deep in Georgetown territory. The defense held Fordham to a gain of just eight yards, however, and the Rams settled for a 40 yard field goal, 31-21. On Georgetown's next possession, the Hoyas matched the Rams' drive, moving to the Fordham 24 for a 41 yard field goal try by Henry Darmstadter, but his kick bounced off the right upright and the Hoyas could not close the lead.

While the game was not for a Patriot league title (thanks to Colgate's win over Lehigh), the game had all the makings of a championship contest, with strong play on nearly ever series. On Fordham's next series, Anderson was intercepted by Georgetown's Hunter Kiselick at midfield, which set up a 26 yard touchdown pass from Kyle Nolan to freshman Branden Williams, and the Hoyas had closed to 31-28. The missed field goal loomed large, but as the fourth quarter opened, there was still time for Georgetown to be in range for the biggest upset in this series in two generations.

Despite Fordham's Edmonds sidelined midway in the third quarter with an injury, the Rams offense continued to move. Fordham advanced to the Georgetown 29 to open the fourth quarter, but penalties took them out of field goal range and the Rams nailed a punt deep in Georgetown territory at its five yard line. Kyle Nolan then stunned the Maroon by finding Isaac Ellsworth on a 53 yard pass play that drove to the Fordham 22, but a subsequent holding penalty stalled the drive and Georgetown settled for a tying field goal at the five minute mark, 38-38.

Fordham saved its best for last in this game, calling on its special teams. On the kickoff, Pretlow received the ball at the Georgetown three and proceeded 76 yards down the sideline before being stopped at the Georgetown 21. The Rams needed only three plays, capped by a 10 yard Brevard run, to regain the lead, 38-31, with 3:45 remaining.

For its part, Georgetown was up to the task of one more rally. On a third and 10 at its 17 yard line, Nolan found Glor for 21 yards. On a fourth and one at its 47, senior FB Troye Bullock pounded through the line for ten more yards. passes to Harrison Glor and Matt Buckman brought the Hoyas inside the Fordham 35 with under a minute remaining, and a pass to DeCicco at the Fordham 20 stopped the clock with 35 seconds remaining. Following an incompletion, Nolan looked to the end zone for the score, but the pass was intercepted at the goal line with 27 seconds remaining, ending the rally and the game.

How close was this game? Just one yard separated the total yardage between the two teams: 425 for Fordham, 424 for Georgetown. Just two seconds separated the rime of possession: 30:01 for the Rams, 29:59 for the Hoyas. But the turnover count favored Fordham, and two critical fumbles in Georgetown territory proved the difference in a game most Georgetown fans never saw, owing to the men's basketball opener and women's soccer NCAA match scheduled at the same time. They missed one of the best efforts seen by a Georgetown team - win or lose -- in some time.

At 9-2, Fordham seems a likely NCAA playoff entrant, with a budget over three times that of Georgetown. Its future schedules includes games with unlikely teams such as Tulsa, Charlotte, and Hawaii, and its win over Army in the season opener validated that this is a team playing at a very high level. Ten weeks after that win at West Point, this battle in Washington was every bit as tough, and those who installed Fordham a three touchdown favorite surely underestimated the fight of the Hoyas this day.

Georgetown ends its season Saturday at Holy Cross.

Game statistics:



                             FORDHAM       GEORGETOWN
First downs                       22               24
Rushed-yards                  36-208            27-96
Passing yards                    217              328
Sacked-yards lost               1-10              1-5
Passes                       21-29-2          28-46-2
Punts                         3-37.7           4-44.5
Fumbles-lost                     2-0              3-2 
Penalties-yards                 8-45             5-52
Time of possession             30:01            29:59

 
Additional coverage follows below:


• GUHoyas.com
• Fordham Sports
• Associated Press
• Fordham Ram
• Georgetown Voice
 


Highlights from Senior Day against Fordham

Posted by Georgetown Football on Sunday, November 15, 2015

 
 

Game #11: Holy Cross (Nov. 21)

An interception on the third play of the game set the table for a 45-7 rout by Holy Cross, as an injury-depleted Georgetown team showed little of the promise displayed throughout much of the season.

Things started poorly for Georgetown. On the third play of the game, a pass from QB Kyle Nolan was intercepted and returned to the Georgetown five, where the Crusaders needed just two plays for a five yard run by Gabe Guild to lead 7-0 less than two minutes into the game. The Hoyas were three and out in its next series, where a meager 21 yard punt set up a short field for the Crusaders. QB Peter Pujals led the Crusaders on a seven play drive that ended with a 18 yard Guild run and a 14-0 lead.

The Hoyas managed just 10 yards in a first quarter that saw three defensive starters taken off the field by injury and Holy Cross picking up a third touchdown with 2:31 in the quarter on a seven play drive that was capped off by a 32 yard pass from Pujals to WR Kalif Raymond, 21-0, with 13:25 remaining. The Crusaders picked up another punt at midfield less than three minutes later, where a five play drive increased the lead to 28-0, and the depleted Hoyas had no answer. Its only serious drive of the half ended when a field goal try never made it to the end zone, and a Crusader drive that was halted at the Georgetown five picked up a late field goal to carry a 31-0 lead into halftime.

Georgetown opened the second half with a 17 play drive that consumed nearly seven minutes of the third quarter. Converting on four third downs and a fourth down, Nolan advanced the Hoyas to the Holy Cross six yard line, ending the shutout with a six yard pass to Matthew Buckman, 31-7. Any hopes for a rally were short-lived, as the Crusaders drove 74 yards on its next series for a score, 38-7, then intercepted Nolan on the first play of the next Georgetown series, returning the ball to the Georgetown one yard line and converting it one play thereafter, 45-7.

Pujals finished the afternoon 26 for 41 for 294 yards and two touchdowns. Nolan was ineffective for much of the game, going 25 for 42 for just 172 yards, with two sacks and two interceptions that led to 14 Holy Cross points. With Jo'el Kimpela sidelined, senior FB Troye Bullock led the rushing attack with 52 yards rushing.

The outcome earned Holy Cross its first winning season since 2011 and ended any rumblings about a coaching change for Tom Gilmore, who remains under .500 after 12 years at Holy Cross.

Georgetown ends its season on a three game losing streak and a 4-7 finish overall. The Hoyas were 4-0 against teams with a record below .500, but winless against seven teams that finished the season above .500.

Game statistics:

                          GEORGETOWN       HOLY CROSS
First downs                       22               24
Rushed-yards                  36-208            27-96
Passing yards                    217              328
Sacked-yards lost               1-10              1-5
Passes                       21-29-2          28-46-2
Punts                         3-37.7           4-44.5
Fumbles-lost                     2-0              3-2 
Penalties-yards                 8-45             5-52
Time of possession             30:01            29:59

 
Additional coverage follows below:

• GUHoyas.com
• GoHolyCross.com
• Associated Press
• Worcester Telegram