Game 8: Charleston Southern University
October 28, 1:30 pm
Buccaneer Field, Charleston, SC
Tickets: $7.00, available at gate.
GU Radio: WGTB-92.3
CSU Radio: WJKB-950
 
About The Buccaneers:
Location: Charleston, SC
Enrollment: 3,000
First year of Football: 1991
Conference: Big South
2005 Record: 7-4
Record vs. Georgetown: First Meeting

The "four game season" begins Saturday. The first win may be a week away, though.

Charleston Southern was a late addition to the Hoyas' 2006 schedule, but coach Kevin Kelly knows CSU is no "filler" team. Winners of 12 straight, with one of the nation's best passing attacks, Charleston poses a particular challenge to a Georgetown team whose pass defense is susceptible and whose run offense is nonexistent. Their opponent excels against both.

Some have discounted the Bucs' 7-0 record as a product of a weak schedule, which includes three Division II schools and an NAIA team. Nonetheless, this team defeated The Citadel and is the defending Big South co-champions, so Georgetown can't take them lightly. Although the Bucs' running game has not been dominant, its passing game is. Quarterback Collin Drafts has thrown for nearly 1700 yards this season, much of it to All-America candidate Maurice Price. The junior WR has led the nation for two seasons in pass receptions per game, and has caught 69 passes for 713 yards. Georgetown's leading receiver, Brent Craft, has only 315 yards in passes to date.

CSU has also profited from a strong run defense. The Bucs have held opponents to an average of 111 yards per game and have forced 16 fumbles, recovering six--a bad stat given Georgetown's turnover issues this year. Junior LB Jada Ross leads a strong linebacker corps that may try to mix blitz packages off the GU offensive sets, which could further test GU's ability to maintain ball control and not give up costly turnovers. Georgetown may be able to pass on the Bucs, but this is not a demonstrated strength to date for GU. In last week's game, VMI passed for 256 yards in a 27-22 loss, but GU has not completed a pass of more than 40 yards all season. 

The quarterback situation is still unsettled for Georgetown, an issue that must be settled if the Hoyas expect to gain any success down the stretch. Absent a running game that remains dependent on the QB to generate yards, and mindful of opportunities in the passing game, the play of the signal caller is GU's best, perhaps only, hope in this game.

The Hoyas' defense had moments against Lehigh and Bucknell but wilted again in late first and early second half play. The defensive line will be challenged to get to Drafts while the secondary must keep Price off the ball. Turnovers will help--Drafts threw four INT's last week but GU has capitalized on only one opponent interception all year.

Some additional keys to the game:
--The First Fifteen Minutes. This game could get ugly sooner rather than later. CSU has seven TD's in the first quarter this season, and 13 in the first half. Georgetown has one TD all season in the first quarter and only three in seven first halves this year.
--Options In The Air. If Georgetown is going to move the ball in the air, CSU will try to force the ball away from Craft. Kenny Mitchell and Kyle Van Fleet need to step up in a big way.
--Field Position. Opponents have feasted off favorable field position on Georgetown this season. Getting the Bucs to face a 80 or 90 yard drive instead of a 45 or 50 yard drive has to be a priority in how the Hoyas assess field position opportunities.

While the Hoyas enter the game as considerable underdogs, perhaps Charleston Southern can serve as  an example of how things can turn around. When Jay Mills took over in 2003, CSU finished 1-11, followed up with a 5-5 mark in 2004, 7-4 in 2005, and already 7-0 in 2006. That growth wasn't an accident--the school upgraded its spending and committed to a coach to get the right players into the system, and results followed. Win or lose, those are some good lessons for Hoya fans to take out of a game like this.