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2013 Football Coverage
From HoyaSaxa.com game recaps. Links to other contemporary coverage may be out of date.
The Hoyas held a 250-116 advantage in total yards at the half, and were outgained 301-283 at the end. Georgetown managed two first downs after halftime against a Wagner team which lost its top seven tacklers from 2012. If head coach Kevin Kelly was upset with the offense's flagging results, he wasn't saying. ""We played a playoff caliber team," Kelly said in a link at GUHoyas.com. "We knew going into the ballgame that [Dominique Williams] was a tough back and that we needed to get two or three guys on him because he wouldn't go down easily. "But we have a lot of football left. In the first half we did some real good things on offense, some good things on special teams and on defense overall and now we just have to get ready for next week." Georgetown returns to home games on consecutive weekends with Davidson and Marist. These are the only games of the season where Georgetown is a clear favorite. Game statistics:
GEORGETOWN WAGNER
First downs 17 17
Rushed-yards 33-104 56-230
Passing yards 204 106
Sacked-yards lost 2-15 3-16
Passes 24-42-1 12-21-2
Punts 9-37.9 6-38.0
Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0
Penalties-yards 5-38 4-25
Time of possession 26:48 33:12
Game #2: Davidson (Sep. 7) The Georgetown Hoyas pulled away with three touchdowns in the second quarter in a 42-6 win over Davidson at Multi-Sport Field Saturday evening. Davidson entered the game with a run of poor fortune in season openers, having lost 10 of its last 11, but sought to shake things up in its opening drive. Driving 69 yards in 16 plays, the Wildcats drove to the Georgetown six before the defense held. On the field goal try, junior DT Jordan Richardson blocked the attempt. Georgetown's opening drive was also foiled late. The Hoyas matched Davidson's drive with a 12 play effort, moving to the Wildcat 20. On an second down, QB Isaiah Kempf was picked off by Davidson's Myles Atkins at the one yard line. For its part, the Wildcats committed the first of three major mistakes in the half, surrendering the ball three plays later with a Rohan Williamson interception that set up the Hoyas for a crisp five play, 27 yard drive that gave Nick Campanella a two yard run for the touchdown, 7-0, his 16th career rushing TD.
Game statistics:
DAVIDSON GEORGETOWN
First downs 18 20
Rushed-yards 31-76 42-190
Passing yards 214 185
Sacked-yards lost 0-0 0-0
Passes 22-43-2 16-23-1
Punts 6-31.8 5-42.2
Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-0
Penalties-yards 6-71 9-85
Time of possession 29:21 30:39
Game #3: Marist (Sep. 14) A two touchdown underdog entering the game, a winless Marist College team won its first game at Georgetown in nine tries dating to 1994, scoring 28 unanswered points for a 43-23 win at unfinished Multi-Sport Field. It is the first road win by any Marist team over a team from the Patriot League. Noticeably absent from the stat sheet was senior LB Dustin Wharton, out of action for only the second time in his career and ending a run of 24 straight appearances in the starting lineup. At the outset, however, a turnover was the issue. On its first play of the game, Georgetown quarterback Isaiah Kempf was intercepted at midfield, setting up the Red Foxes for an eight play, 57 yard drive where senior quarterback Chucky Looney completed two passes totalling 40 yards to WR Armani Martin, who scored the opening touchdown from six yards out. A missed extra point gave Marist am early 6-0 lead.
Georgetown begins a two week run with Ivy League opponents with a trip to Brown on Saturday. Brown has won the three prior meetings between the schools, most recently a 37-10 win at the MSF last fall. Game statistics:
MARIST GEORGETOWN
First downs 25 27
Rushed-yards 48-230 32-55
Passing yards 275 398
Sacked-yards lost 7-43 0-0
Passes 17-27-0 35-52-1
Punts 5-42.6 4-38.5
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-2
Penalties-yards 9-73 6-48
Time of possession 33:22 26:38
Game #4: Brown (Sep. 21) Mike Szostak of the Providence Journal summed it up in three words: "That was easy." A Brown University squad that featured 18 senior starters walked over Georgetown in its season opener before a small crowd of 3,093 at Brown Stadium, 45-7. The Bears scored on five of its first six possessions and Georgetown never threatened. The Bears served notice on its opening drive, moving 92 yards in nine plays, with QB Patrick Donnelly shredding the GU secondary, completing 5 of 6 passes for 58 yards and the first score of the afternoon on an eight yard pass, 7-0. Georgetown answered with a three and out and a 23 yard punt that set up Brown at midfield, where BU drove seven plays and settled for a 32 yard field goal, 10-0.
The 38 point deficit is the largest in a non-conference game for Georgetown since a 49-10 loss to Richmond on Nov. 14, 2009. Game statistics:
GEORGETOWN BROWN
First downs 17 23
Rushed-yards 37-55 48-268
Passing yards 180 208
Sacked-yards lost 0-0 5-30
Passes 21-44-1 21-29-0
Punts 9-37.1 3-47.0
Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1
Penalties-yards 7-47 12-86
Time of possession 24:50 35:10
Game #5: Princeton (Sep. 28) Amidst dark clouds over the Nation's Capital, the weather provided a suitable backdrop to a stormy outcome and an uncertain future for the 2013 season, as Princeton routed Georgetown, 50-22, before a sold out if dispirited crowd at the ever-unfinished Multi-Sport Field. The Hoyas simply could not stand up to the pressure of Princeton's motion offense and gave up its most points at home in the Kevin Kelly era (2006-present) and the first time a Georgetown club has allowed 40 more points in three consecutive games since the 2007 season.
With the bleachers emptying, Kempf took the Hoyas on its best series of the game, a 15 play, 82 yard drive which was capped by a one yard Nick Campanella score, 43-22. Unfortunately, Princeton returned the favor in a methodical 13 play, 77 yard drive to go up 50-22 with 1:10 in the third. The fourth quarter was largely garbage time, with no serious scoring threat thereafter. Princeton coach Bob Surace talked to the GUHoyas.com broadcast after the game, while Coach kelly did not appear for comments. So where do the coaches start in reviewing this game? Penalties, for one. The Hoyas logged 13 penalties for 110 yards, at least three of which helped lead to Princeton scoring drives. A unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on punt coverage by John Egan late in the fourth was emblematic of a poorly coached effort in this regard. Tackling? Inconsistent and often nonexistent, as two Princeton touchdowns were scored uncontested off the line of scrimmage for a total of 112 yards. Injuries were well evident. Although linebackers Dustin Wharton and Nick Alfieri returned after two weeks, RB Joel Kimpela was held out, as was CB Stephen Atwater. Wide Receiver Zack Wilke was knocked out with a concussion in the second quarter, and freshman CB Porter Huntley injured his leg and was carried off the field. RB Dalen Claytor was hurt late in the third, while QB Isaiah Kempf was hurt late in the third and was replaced by sophomore Cameron MacPherson, who himself moved up to second string this past week after Kyle Nolan was injured in the loss to Brown. Nick Campanella led all Georgetown rushers with 88 yards, but the star of the backfield was Princeton quarterback Quinn Epperly, whose first four rushes resulted in four touchdowns, a rare statistic noted by the New York Times in its Sunday editions. The final score marked the first time a Princeton team had topped 50 points in the last 13 seasons. Georgetown's next opponent is an undefeated Fordham team that has already defeated the likes of Temple and Villanova, and carries enough players on full scholarship to fill its two-deep twice over. Game time is Oct. 12 at 1:00 pm. Game statistics:
PRINCETON GEORGETOWN
First downs 30 19
Rushed-yards 48-326 40-176
Passing yards 216 167
Sacked-yards lost 1-6 1-4
Passes 23-36-0 19-39-2
Punts 9-34.1 10-39.5
Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 7-47 13-110
Time of possession 32:58 27:02
Game #6: Fordham (Oct. 12) Fifteen minutes was all Fordham needed to dismiss the injury-plagued Georgetown Hoyas, 34-12, before just 1,831 at the unfinished Multi-Sport Field. The undefeated ranked Rams built a 21-0 first quarter lead, and despite some missed opportunities, were never threatened thereafter, as Georgetown (1-5) dropped its fourth straight. Fordham opened the game crisply, with a nine play 64 yard drive that went to third down just once in the series. Quarterback Michael Nebrich was 4 for 4 in the possession, hitting WR Brian Wetzel with an eight yard pass for the score, 7-0. The Hoyas' offense showed some early signs of life, advancing to the Fordham 30 before Matt MacZura was unable to connect on a career-best 47 yard field goal. On an exchange of punts, the rams took over at the Georgetown 20, where Nebrich led the Rams on a seven play, 80 yards drive that took just over two minutes. Keyed by a 28 yard pass from Nebrich to WR Tebucky Jones Jr. to the GU 8, Nebrich took it in one play later for the score, whereupon Jordan Richardson blocked the PAT, 13-0. If there were any doubts about the outcome of the game, Georgetown's next series would settle the score. Three plays into the drive, QB Isaiah Kempf threw into double coverage at the Georgetown 29, where Fordham's Jordan Chapman picked off the pass and went straight down the sideline for the score. Following a two point conversion, the Hoyas were down now 21-0 with 1:14 left in the first period.
While the two teams were comparable on the ground (135-131, Fordham), Nebrich was the clear leader in the air. The All-America candidate finished 35-47 for 405 yards and no interceptions, while Barnes' debut was somewhat more understated: 16-31 for just 124 yards. Tebucky Jones led all receivers with 12 receptions for 182 yards, which outpointed GU's entire passing output for the afternoon (158). As the outcome was settled early, the score may understate the efforts the Georgetown defense did in preventing Fordham from making this one a rout. The Hoyas held Fordham without a score in the red zone on three of eight possessions. In its prior six games, Fordham had been held without a red zone possession in four of 31 possessions. Dustin Wharton led all tacklers with nine in a team wide effort. Next up: a road trip to Lehigh, where the Hoyas have not defeated the Engineers in any of its prior six meetings. Game statistics:
FORDHAM GEORGETOWN
First downs 29 16
Rushed-yards 34-131 42-190
Passing yards 405 158
Sacked-yards lost 2-14 2-16
Passes 35-47-0 20-39-1
Punts 2-44.5 8-42.0
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 8-56 7-53
Time of possession 30:32 29:28
Game #7: Lehigh (Oct. 19) The Lehigh Engineers scored on seven of its first eight possessions, and narrowly missed on an eighth, before mailing in the second half in a 45-24 win over Georgetown at Goodman Stadium.
The loss clinches the seventh losing record in Kevin Kelly's eight seasons on the Hilltop, and the 13th consecutive loss to Lehigh dating to the 2001 season, both school records. Game statistics:
GEORGETOWN LEHIGH
First downs 26 26
Rushed-yards 43-229 39-234
Passing yards 140 298
Sacked-yards lost 0-0 1-6
Return yards 0 0
Passes 19-30-0 28-38-0
Punts 6-40.8 2-45.0
Fumbles-lost 2-0 1-0
Penalties-yards 5-40 7-60
Time of possession 28:18 31:42
Game recaps:Game #8: Colgate (Oct. 26) With three defensive starters injured, it was a familiar outcome as Colgate scored touchdowns on four of its first five possessions and held on for a 34-14 win Saturday before a crowd of just 1,981 at unfinished Multi-Sport Field. Defense was at a premium in the first quarter. Colgate moved 78 yards in eight plays to open the game, as a one yard run gave Colgate the touchdown, but an errant kick left the score at 6-0. The Hoyas answered with a five play, 65 yard drive, capped by a 55 yard touchdown pass from Kyle Nolan to Zack Wilke, the longest play of the season and giving Georgetown an early 7-6 lead. Georgetown announcer Chuck Timanus correctly called the parallel between last year's start between the two teams, where the Hoyas went up 7-6 in Hamilton and got run over thereafter. The Red Raiders continued its mix of run and pass plays to great effect, a seven play, 64 yard drive midway in the first quarter, 13-7. Georgetown looked to match the score on its next series, where QB Kyle Nolan led the Hoyas on a ten play, 71 yard drive to the Colgate 19, but on a third down run, RB Brandon Durham fumbled the ball at the 15 and Colgate took full advantage, driving 85 yards in 12 plays to put the Red Raiders ahead for good, 20-7.
McCarney finished 20-28 for 248 yards passing and the Red Raiders totaled 557 yards overall. Georgetown has now allowed 500 or more yards in four consecutive games. The loss all eliminates the Hoyas from the Patriot League race with four weeks remaining, though Bucknell did its part for the rest of the league in a stunning 48-10 win over Lehigh, its first win over the Engineers since 1997. Game statistics:
COLGATE GEORGETOWN
First downs 31 16
Rushed-yards 48-309 20-54
Passing yards 248 257
Sacked-yards lost 1-8 0-0
Passes 20-28-1 23-40-0
Punts 1-13.0 4-42.2
Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1
Penalties-yards 1-10 6-50
Time of possession 36:49 23:11
Game #9: Lafayette (Nov. 2) Penalties and turnovers led the Georgetown Hoyas to allow four touchdowns over four series in the third quarter, as Lafayette walked over Georgetown, 45-27, a dispiriting Senior Day performance at the unfinished Multi Sport Field. This was a 7-7 game in the final two minutes of the first half, and then sank like a rock. The loss marks Georgetown's third winless home record since 1990, all within the last seven years. After a Georgetown punt to open the game, Lafayette drove 10 plays in 75 yards to open the scoring, scoring on a pass play from Drew Reed to Demetrius Dixon on a 4th and 1 at the Georgetown 36 that eluded three tacklers en route to the end zone. Georgetown was less effective over its first two series, but leveraged runs and short passes to drive early in the second, with an 11 play drive that popped when RB Nick Campanella burst through the line of scrimmage and raced 37 yards for the tying score, 7-7. An exchange of punts returned Lafayette the ball with 5:05 in the half, where the Leopards 85 yard in over 12 plays, aided by two Georgetown penalties in the red zone which led to a two yard score by lafayette RB Ross Scheuerman with 1:08 left in the half, 14-7. Georgetown drove as close as the Lafayette 32 late in the half, but a penalty and sack ended any further scoring threat. Georgetown committed six penalties in the first half and mistakes continued to follow them in the second. After an exchange of punts to open the third quarter, the Leopards drive was juiced when Georgetown was flagged for a face mask on the second play of the series, a face mask on an out of bounds play. Taking advantage, Reed found Mark Ross on a 40 pass and a 10 yarder to Mike Duncan on consecutive plays, 21-7, a 47 second drive. A holding penalty set back the Hoyas on its next drive, and QB Kyle Nolan missed a receiver by throwing an interception returned to the Georgetown 39. Lafayette continued to pick at the Georgetown defenses, but an unsportsmanlike conduct call on the Hoyas advanced the ball to the two. On the next play, Reed found WR Pat Creahan alone in the end zone, 28-7. It was the second consecutive scoring drive of five plays or less. The Georgetown focus just wasn't there. On the next play, Nolan's receiver didn't turn around, giving the Leopards an easy interception at the Georgetown 40. The Leopards drove three plays to the Georgetown four yard line where Reed found Ross in the corner of the end zone, 35-7. What was left of the fans were then chided by the Lafayette TV announcers as being "ugly" towards the Georgetown coaching staff, but did not elaborate. With the game out of contention, Georgetown then began to pick up yardage. After a 15 yard Nick Campanella run was waived off by penalty, Nolan found WR Zack Wilke for a 24 yard catch to the Lafayette 10, and two plays later found TE Dan Sprotte for a nine yard score. Kelly opted to bring senior Devon Papendrew in for the PAT, but the kick shanked and bounced off the lower crossbar, 35-13. With whatever momentum that engendered, Georgetown's special teams then allowed a 99 yard kickoff right up the middle, 42-13. The return was endemic of a game where the Hoyas appeared unfocused for much of the game and worn out against a hungrier Lafayette team. With still more than 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Nolan led the Hoyas back on a 12 play drive, capped by a four yard pass play to Sprotte for the touchdown. MacZura returned for the PAT and connected thusly, 42-20. The special teams turned in a poor effort on the next kick, as Lafayette advanced to its 45 yard line. Georgetown gave up a face mask penalty on the first play of the drive, as Lafayette kept it on the ground to run down the clock. A nine play, 50 yard drive advanced to the Georgetown four and cashed in a short 21 yard field goal at the 4:08 mark, 45-20. A senior-dominant lineup returned for the final Georgetown series of the quarter, with catches from reserves such as Aaron Aiken and Elliot Owusu to advance the Hoyas to midfield. Passes to Sprotte and Dalen Claytor, each seniors, advanced the drive to the Lafayette 16 in the final minute, with a pass tp fellow senior Michael Cimilluca driving to the five. A pass catch to Owusu saved an interception at the two, and with 28 seconds left. Two plays later, Nolan faked out everyone and walked it in, 45-27. Drew Reed (18-24, 275 yards) threw four touchdowns for the Leopards, Kyle Nolan two for the Hoyas, but penalties (11) and turnovers (3) were endemic of a poor effort all around by Georgetown. The Hoyas actually held a net lead in total yards, but 184 of the 400 yard total came in the fourth quarter with the outcome decided. Game statistics:
LAFAYETTE GEORGETOWN
First downs 23 24
Rushed-yards 36-88 32-147
Passing yards 275 253
Sacked-yards lost 4-15 4-21
Passes 18-24-0 29-44-3
Punts 3-33.3 3-41.3
Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 7-48 11-91
Time of possession 30:02 29:58
Game #10: Bucknell (Nov. 16) Bucknell's top-rated defense in the Patriot League was as advertised, holding Georgetown to just 22 yards rushing in a 17-7 decision Saturday in Lewisburg, PA. Both teams started out slowly, trading punts over the first four possessions. Field position began to tip the scales for the Bison, pinning the Hoyas at its five and trading it for a Georgetown punt which set up Bucknell at inside the GU 47 yard line. The Bison drove 11 plays for the opening score, with a six yard pass to WR Josh Brake, 7-0. A 35 yard kick return from Georgetown's Brandon Durham was disallowed by penalty, and Georgetown's ensuing punt was returned by the Bison deep in Georgetown territory, where Bucknell converted on a five play, 27 yard drive, 14-0.
The Bison opted to keep the ball on the ground within its next series, but fell one yard short. In a surprising call, Bucknell coach Joe Susan opted to go for it on 4th and one, deep in his team's own territory. The Bison needed one yard, they got eight, and whatever faint hopes the Hoyas had of a rally simply evaporated. Bucknell ate up the remaining eight minutes of the clock, including converting a 4th and 1 with 1:07 remaining. The loss was Georgetown's eighth straight, the second longest streak in the school's 139 year football history, surpassed only by Kevin Kelly's winless 0-11 season in 2009. Georgetown ends the season next Saturday at Holy Cross. Game statistics:
GEORGETOWN BUCKNELL
First downs 15 17
Rushed-yards 25-22 45-137
Passing yards 149 112
Sacked-yards lost 4-29 5-31
Passes 20-37-0 14-21-0
Punts 6-29.8 5-33.4
Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-0
Penalties-yards 4-25 8-80
Time of possession 23:12 36:48
Game #11: Holy Cross (Nov. 23) Kyle Nolan's 82 yard quarterback run with 1:57 to play earned Georgetown its most important win of the season, rallying from an early deficit and dominating the second half in a 28-21 upset of Holy Cross at Fitton Field in Worcester, MA. The win ended an eight game losing streak for the Hoyas and earned Georgetown a season ending win for only the second time since the 2002 season. The Hoyas stumbled at the start, with a fumble by senior RB Nick Campanella on the second play of the game. HC took over in Georgetown territory, driving 42 yards in six plays for the 7-0 lead three minutes into the game. The Hoyas punted the ball back but a Holy Cross returned fumbled the wind-adjusted punt, setting up the Hoyas at the Crusader 26. The offense stalled over the next three downs, but with nothing to lose, Georgetown opted to go on 4th and six at the 22, with sophomore QB Kyle Nolan finding senior TE Dan Sprotte for the first down. Three plays later, sophomore RB Joel Kimpela went six yards for the score, 7-7. Holy Cross reasserted itself over its next series: a nine play, 71 yard touchdown drive late in the first quarter, aided by a late hit by junior LB Patrick Boyle into the Georgetown bench that extended the Crusaders' drive. GU ended the first quarter on a three and out, and following a defensive interception to stall a Holy Cross drive at the Georgetown 35, the G-men turned in a second three and out. On its next series, however, Nolan took advantage of the wind, with passes to Zack Wilke and Brandon Durham to advance inside the HC 20. A Following a penalty, Nolan found WR Justin Hill with a 29 yard pass to the one yard line, and took it over on the following play, 14-14, with 5:20 to halftime. The Hoyas held Holy Cross in check over the next three Crusader series, forcing three straight punts. The Hoyas looked to be taking advantage of the wind at its back in its final series of the half, with Nolan completing passes to Wilke and Elliott Owusu to close inside the HC 25, but three offensive penalties pushed the Hoyas back and forced an unwieldy 52 yard attempt from PK Matt MacZura which fell short at the end of the first half. Georgetown maintained the wind direction entering the third quarter and took early advantage, with Nolan found Wilke in stride with a 49 yard pass to the HC 25. The Hoyas advanced to the Crusader 10, and cashed in for a 29 yard MacZura field goal, 17-14, its first lead in a third quarter since mid-September. Holy Cross simply could not move against the Hoyas and against the wind, failing to post a first down in its fifth straight series since the second quarter. Georgetown marched 10 plays to the HC 23, and on the 39 yard field goal attempt appeared to be faked and Georgetown lost three yards in the process.
Holy Cross wasted no time to come back, with an eight play drive that advanced to the Georgetown 12 entering the final minute. Pujals threw a touchdown to freshman Jake Wieczorek with :47 left, 28-21, but Georgetown alertly recovered the onsides kick at midfield and ran out the clock. The stat of the game was rush defense--a Georgetown club that averaged just under 200 rushing yards all season allowed Holy Cross just 59. And as the defense rose, the offense followed suit, giving the class of 2014 a win in their last game for the Blue and Gray and some good feelings for a Georgetown program facing a steeper climb while the rest of the Patriot League moves to 30 scholarships next season. Game statistics:
GEORGETOWN HOLY CROSS
First downs 20 19
Rushed-yards 46-212 30-59
Passing yards 227 238
Sacked-yards lost 4-23 2-14
Passes 19-32-0 23-39-2
Punts 5-30.4 6-41.3
Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 9-65 6-62
Time of possession 33:34 26:26
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