The Georgetown University football team (1-0) started their season off with a bang, dominating the Davidson College Wildcats (0-1) 51-14 on the road Saturday, Aug. 30.
The Wildcats won the coin toss and elected to kick to the Hoyas to start the game. On the second play of the game, sophomore running back Savion Hart broke free for a 69-yard touchdown run with a successful extra point, making the score 7-0.
Davidson was unable to answer and punted their first drive of the game after a delay of game and false start stalled their opening drive. The Wildcats yet again gave the ball away on their next drive after a failed fourth down conversion near midfield.
Georgetown capitalized, scoring on a fourth down of their own, with Hart rushing for a 27-yard touchdown on 4th and 1. Following Hart’s second touchdown and a good extra point from sophomore kicker Thomas Anderson, Georgetown led by 14 with a little over 3 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
With about a minute left in the first quarter, Davidson found the endzone for the first time in the game with a 55-yard passing touchdown from quarterback Coulter Cleland to receiver Brody Reina.
The Savion Hart show continued the following drive as senior quarterback Dez Thomas II found Hart down the field for a 73-yard receiving touchdown, making that 3 total touchdowns for the day for Hart in just the first quarter. Senior quarterback Danny Lauter kept the scoring going in the second quarter by finding senior receiver Jimmy Kibble in the endzone for a 41-yard touchdown, putting the Hoyas up 27-7 with the extra point.
Head Coach Rob Sgarlata said the improvements in sophomore running back Savion Hart’s game came from his work ethic and performance in the weight room.
“I would take a little less credit for it,” Sgarlata told The Hoya. “He works extremely hard. He’s an extremely hard worker on and off the field.”
“He’s definitely one of our top guys in the weight room,” Sgarlata said. “He trains with our strongest guys. So you know, you have one of the running backs at the defensive and offensive line rack working with those guys and competing with them as far as the strength program goes.”
The Hoyas were able to pull away toward the end of the first half with a commanding score of 38-7, thanks to junior running back Bryce Cox scoring on the following two drives and a made field goal.
The Wildcats were able to score their only other touchdown of the game with 14 seconds left in the half from a quarterback run for a touchdown from Cleland, raising the score to 38-14.
Georgetown entered the third quarter showcasing the same commanding energy they had on display in the first half. Lauter found yet another receiver in the endzone to increase the Hoya’s lead to 44-14 early in the second half. Georgetown adjusted their strategy to start running out the clock, and the Hoyas succeeded in not allowing Davidson to score for the entirety of the second half.
On top of their impressive offensive performance that put over 50 points on the board, Georgetown’s defense was commanding as well. The Hoyas’ defense racked up four sacks and forced an interception while holding the Wildcats to four third down conversions on 15 attempts.
Coach Sgarlata said while he celebrates successes, each opponent brings its own challenges and the majority of each week is spent preparing, not celebrating.
“From a standpoint of being happy about the win, you celebrated on the bus, on the way home and Sunday as you’re preparing, and then once you get to Monday, you turn the page,” Sgarlata said.
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Hoyas return to action on Sept. 6 at Cooper Field as they host Wagner College (0-1) in their home opener.
