In some Patriot League circles, where Georgetown University is the square peg in the Patriot League's well-rounded, soon to be scholarship alignment, losing to the Hoyas is unexpected. Losing twice to Georgetown is unbelievable. Losing three, well, is unforgivable.

"This football team," said Lafayette coach Frank Tavani, "has beaten us the last two seasons and sent our season swirling downwards. It's not about revenge, it's extra motivation."

The heat is on Frank Tavani and the Lafayette Leopards, where the local papers have not failed to remind the locals how the Hoyas have taken two straight from Lafayette, including a 14-13 loss last season at the MSF. With Lafayette trying to set its course for a chance at the Patriot League title, this is a game with added interest.

Georgetown's interest is more about righting the ship than sailing into the playoffs. Georgetown hasn't won since Sep. 20 at Princeton, and its mix of quarterback changes and defensive inconsistency are causing some to compare this season not to the 8-3 record of 2011, but to the slump of 2010, where the Hoyas started 3-1 and dropped the next six straight.

Georgetown is last in the Patriot League in defense, and for a third consecutive week, an experienced pass offense sets sights on the Hoya secondary.

Senior quarterback Andrew Shoop returns to action Saturday averaging 242 yards a game in the air--of note, nine TD passes versus just two interceptions. Unlike some opposing quarterbacks this year, Shoop doesn't run the ball very much, relying on a pair of veteran runners in sophomore Rob Scheuerman (87-390-3) and Vaughn Hebron (72-284-2). The two combined for 136 yards last week against Holy Cross but it was Shoop's passing that carried the Leopards late. All-PL candidate Mark Ross (46-654-5) leads a deep receiver corps that will test Georgetown's zone and cover-2 options, as Ross has caught at least 100 yards in passes for each of the last four games.

Defensively, Lafayette has allowed just three touchdowns in the past two games and held Holy Cross to just 47 yards on the ground last week. The Leopards rank near the middle statistically in defense in the PL with one big statistic, which are among our keys to the game, below.

Offensively, Georgetown put up numbers on Colgate, but don't expect a similar show against Lafayette. Kyle Nolan was unknown to the Colgate defensive game plan and it showed, but Lafayette has had a week to prepare for his style of play. The Hoyas must get more out of a running game that needs to give the Hoyas a chance in time of possession, where the G-men suffered mightily and saw its defense just wear out amidst a 41:08 Colgate offensive time of possession last week.

The GU defense has held a "bend, but not break" strategy in each of the last two games with Lafayette and a similar prescription would be in order Saturday. Keeping Lafayette out of the red zone, where it has a 95% conversion, is a priority.

Some keys to the game:

1. Third And Short: If Scheuerman and Hebron can pick up yardage early, Shoop will be much more effective with third down conversions, where the Leopards are just 32% effective this season.

2. Turnover Margin: Lafayette is a remarkable +11 on turnovers through seven games, Georgetown -1. For Georgetown to contend, the hoyas must be interception-free and force at least two LC turnovers. Turnovers were the difference late in the last two games with these schools and figures to be a key element in this one.

3. Kickers Beware: Neither team has done well on net punting this season, but Jeremy Moore's punt returns continue to lead the league, and as such it is the only stat where GU leads the other six PL teams. Field position will be critical in the second half, and it'll come from the punting game.

Georgetown has to step up its defensive intensity to stay in this one and convert inside the red zone with sevens, not threes. Anything short on either task will send Georgetown home to finish out the season, a deflating end to a season of promise and higher expectations.