Win. Win big. And let's see David Fajgenbaum get some playing time.
After six straight losses, and ten of its last eleven since its last Homecoming game, none of the three goals above are guaranteed, but if the Georgetown Hoyas can't take out a season of frustrations on Marist College at the 67th Homecoming Game, they're certainly not likely to do so at Lafayette or Fordham. For a Marist team that has been outscored 88-9 in three games versus PL teams this year, it's a rare test of how Georgetown can handle a team it should otherwise defeat.
The Red Foxes have struggled as much as the Hoyas on the ground. Much was made of RB Adam Hansen's four TD's against St. Peter's, but his 44 yards was a team high against a run defense ranked 110th. Hansen leads the Red Foxes with a meager 294 yards in nine games, so Marist must go to the air if it is to contend. Quarterback Steven McGrath (117-192-7, 7 INT) has up to three options in the receiver corps, particularly with 6-4 Prince Prempeh (26-546). Prempeh's speed represents a threat in the secondary which Georgetown has to adjust to, with WR Tim Keegan (16-243) capable of opening
holes in the middle.
Like the Hoyas, Marist has been worn down defensively in their losses. A young defensive line has put a lot of pressure on Marist's linebackers to save the day, and the resulting yardage has put MC in a hole much as it has the Hoyas. Three players to watch will be junior LB Dan Smith (75 tackles), sophomore LB Nick Andre (62 tackles, 10 vs. St. Peter's), and DB Huck Correia (71 tackles, 2 INT).
The two teams are very close statistically, so what realistic advantage do the Hoyas have? Strength of schedule. Marist's three wins have come against three of the weakest I-AA teams available: Sacred Heart, LaSalle, and winless St. Peter's. The Red Foxes have not fared well at all against NEC and PL non-conference opponents--and for however poor the Hoyas' 1-7 record, it has come against a better quality opponent and, for the most part, GU has not been blown out in any single game.
Of course, it's no gimme. Eliminating turnovers and a steady running game--two items unseen this season--provide the recipe for a happy Homecoming feast for the Hoyas, who have yet to grasp the effectiveness of the Kelly system. Turnovers and the "shotgun draw" may allow MC to hang around (as it did versus Fordham) and make a game of it.
Some additional keys to the game:
--The First Fifteen Minutes. You'd be hard pressed to find two slower first quarter teams. Entering last week, Marist and Georgetown have combined for a touchdown each in the first quarter all season, of which Marist added two against SPC. Marist is winless when trailing after the first quarter, as is Georgetown.
--Charlie Houghton. Is Houghton the foundation for the future or another in a long line of Georgetown RB's that cannot gain consistent yardage? The porous Marist line may not answer that definitively, but it's Houghton's turn to step up.
--INT's. Georgetown has been unable to cut off drives with the turnover. Owing to Marist's need to get the ball in the air, the secondary must take advantage without exposing GU to giving up big plays.
There's another element to this game. As pre-game favorites, Georgetown has to show the Homecoming crowd that there's light at the end of 2006's tunnel. Anything short of a big win in front of the home crowd could really torpedo what's left of the season and set back the gains made by the staff to keep the team focused to the task at hand. All the pieces are in place for a better finish than fans have grown used to, and a win starts to get the tools in place to make a run at the end stretch of league opponents. Could Georgetown knock Lafayette out of the I-AA playoff race next week? Don't even think about it unless they take care of business this week.
So win. And win big. And win it for seniors like David Fajgenbaum, the scholar-athlete quarterback who has suited up for four years without a start. He deserves to end the home schedule a winner, and so does this team.
