Looking to bounce back from a disappointing 48-14 loss to Holy Cross, Georgetown football edged out Bucknell 29-21 in a tight match on Saturday, Oct. 23, scoring the final 16 points of the game off of two touchdowns in the final six minutes.

The win marked Georgetown’s (2-4, 1-2 Patriot) first road victory over Bucknell (1-6, 0-3 Patriot) since 2015. Both teams came into the matchup searching for their second victory and first Patriot League win of the season. Georgetown junior quarterback Pierce Holley’s 251 passing yards helped power the Hoyas’ victory.

Georgetown received the opening kickoff and got off to its quickest start of the season. 25 seconds into the game, Holley connected with senior wide receiver Cameron Crayton for a 70-yard touchdown on his first pass. Sophomore kicker Conor Hunt easily completed the extra point attempt, giving the Hoyas an early 7-0 lead.

Yet Georgetown could not sustain the lead for long. In his first career start, Bucknell quarterback Ethan Grady came out strong, recording his first career touchdown pass to wide receiver Dominic Lyles on a 31-yard toss with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter. Defense dominated the rest of the quarter, as both the Hoyas and the Bison forced and recovered fumbles, taking advantage of the rainy weather and slippery ball.

Georgetown scored first in the second quarter, as Hunt made a 31-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead with 10:23 remaining in the second quarter. The Hoyas had the opportunity to score a touchdown, but Bucknell safety Mason Taylor broke up a pass in the endzone. 

The Bison put together a solid eight-play, 78-yard drive to retake the lead 14-10 after Grady again found Lyles for a 24-yard touchdown. The play came on a first down with 6:21 left in the second quarter, and the risky play call paid off. 

Georgetown pushed down the field on a last-minute drive before halftime. The Hoyas spiked the ball with one second left on the clock and brought the field goal unit out. Despite receiving a high snap, the placeholder put the football in position for Hunt, who connected on the 24-yard kick. At the half, Georgetown trailed by one point, 14-13.

Bucknell received the ball and capitalized on an impressive first drive. Grady found Lyles, who ran a speedy route to create separation from the cornerback, for a 34-yard touchdown pass that increased the Bison’s lead to 21-13.

The Hoyas did not lose motivation and showed their grit, marching down to Bucknell’s four-yard line before ending the drive with a field goal. Though a defensive pass interference call granted Georgetown a first down and multiple opportunities within the red zone to score a touchdown, the Hoyas had to settle for three points.

On the next drive, the Hoyas’ defense stepped up. With just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter, graduate defensive back Jonathan Honoré came up with a big interception on Georgetown’s ten-yard line, helping to keep the Hoyas in the game.

With just over five minutes of play remaining, Georgetown retook the lead 22-21 for the second time when Holley completed a five-play, 52-yard drive with an eight-yard rushing touchdown, his first of the season. Senior running back Herman Moultrie III rushed for a 33-yard touchdown, extending the Hoyas’ lead to eight points. 

The Bison hoped to tie the game on their final drive, but with 2:12 remaining, Georgetown junior defensive back Jovone Campbell intercepted Grady near midfield. The Hoyas ran out the clock and secured their first Patriot League win of the season. 

The Georgetown offense finally had a strong showing, complementing a solid defense to win the game, and rushing for more yards against Bucknell than in all their previous matchups combined. Moultrie recorded 84 of the Hoyas’ 225 rush yards, while Crayton continued to lead Georgetown’s passing attack with six receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown.

Georgetown football hopes to continue its momentum and pick up another Patriot League win at Cooper Field on Saturday, Oct. 30, when the Hoyas are set to face off against the Lafayette College Leopards (2-5, 1-1 Patriot). Georgetown has won its past two games against Lafayette and will look to continue that streak with its third-straight win over the Leopards.