Game 4: Brown University (0-0)September 14, 1:00 pm (EST)Washington, DC Cooper Field (3,750) Tickets? Available TV: ESPN+ GU Radio: None BU Radio: Varsity App About the Bears: Location: Providence, RI Enrollment: 7,222 Conference: Ivy Record vs. Georgetown: 5-1 Meet The Coach: James Perry (Brown '00) 5th season, 12-28 Career: 25-38 |
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After three weeks of preparatory work, the first true tests of the 2024 season begin with consecutive home games: Saturday against Brown, and Columbia following next week. Over the years, this has been a test Georgetown has not often passed.
The Hoyas' struggles with Patriot League teams over the past quarter century are well known. It has struggled even more against Ivy League opponents despite the premise that also being non-scholarship, academic oriented recruiting somehow levels the playing field. It doesn't. Since joining the Patriot League, Georgetown is a mere 7-32 against Ivy opponents, and 2-17 at home. One of those two wins came against Brown, 10 years ago this weekend.Where many Ivy schools have steered clear of Georgetown, Brown University signed a four year series with the Hoyas, beginning with this game. Pragmatically speaking, when Ivy schools sign such deals, they see it in terms of wins and not as an organic rivalry between the schools. As such, Brown hopes for Saturday's outcome to build upon a 5-1 all-time record against Georgetown and help earn the Bears its first winning season since 2013. For the Hoyas, it's a must-win if it is to chart a course towards a winning season of its own.
Brown was picked sixth in the 2024 Ivy League pre-season poll and if it is to make a serious climb into the top half of the division it begins in the hands of quarterback Jake Wilcox. The fifth year senior ed the Ivy League with 292.4 yards passing per game, but even with those numbers the Bears did not contend because their rushing game was among the nation's worst. The Bears averaged just 96 yards per game and it forced Wilcox to resort to compete in the air. Its leading returning RB is senior Stockton Owen (114-375, 7 TD) but he'll need help from senior Jordan DeLucia (41-168, 1 TD) to give Wilcox options, especially as the Bears rebuild following the graduation of all-Ivy WR Wes Rockett, 12th nationally in passing receptions. A three receiver lineup led by junior Solomon Miller (19-302) will provide Wilcox ample opportunities as a veteran offensive line will attest.
Brown's defense, which improved towards the end of the 2023 season, must keep the points down to prevail. Brown gave up 29.0 points per game last season and held opponents under 26 points just twice. Six returnees on defense provide leadership but the returnees predominate in the linebackers and secondary, so the defensive line will see its first real test as a new unit. The Bears were last in the Ivy in rushing defense, with 186.6 yards allowed on the ground per game.
Veteran Ivy League reporter Jake Novak summed up the Hoyas' 40-14 loss last week as follows: "The Hoyas have started to play as inconsistently as they always do." Fair or not, this is the perception the Ivy League will have towards Georgetown until the Hoyas demonstrate they can play toe to toe with programs that they should be competing against. Georgetown relied on Naieem Kearney (17-98, 1 TD) for much of its run offense but they will have to diversify and, depending on the scope of Mason Gudger's injury from last week, get more production beyond Kearney. Saturday's game may no be a referendum for Danny Lauter but in his fourth game as a starter in 2024, the time is now to step forward. An average of just 9.9 yards per reception and one pass play of more than 21 yards could be picked apart by Brown's middle and secondary as Sacred Heart did after the first quarter to that game. Since he is not a threat to take off and run (seven carries, six yards), he needs more out of receivers Nicholas Dunneman (just 36 yards per game to date) and isaiah Grimes, with just four catches in three games. Defensively, Georgetown was overwhelmed on the ground (264 yards) and must revert to the defensive sets, especially after halftime, that served them well earlier in the season.
Three Georgetown starters were injured early in the Sacred Heart game and, in typical Georgetown fashion, there has been no word on their condition and all three are listed as starters Saturday. Of these, the viability of senior DT VeRon Garrison is vital for the defense to reassert itself.
Some keys to the game:
1. Who Controls The Run?: Neither team expects to win on the ground but the ability to control their opponent's rush game and force more attempts (and more risk) from above bears watching.
2. Defensive Penetration: Brown was last in the Ivy League in sacks last season.
3. Third Down Conversion: Brown averaged 43 percent on third down last season, good for 19th nationally while Georgetown is under 31 percent through three games this season.
Schools of the Ivy League has been unforgiving as Homecoming opponents at Georgetown, going 7-1 since 2007. Yes, the 2014 win over Brown was the exception, a game where the Hoyas forced four turnovers and put 250 yards on the ground en route to the win."Looking back on the stats this is one of the most dominant games we've had running the football," said head coach Rob Sgarlata after that game. It's not likely to be a redux, but rediscovering the running game against a defensive line making its 2024 debut is an opportunity the Hoyas won't have again this season.