Coming off a confident win over Lafayette College, the Georgetown University football team watched their momentum run out in a close loss to Colgate University Oct. 19.
The Hoyas (4-3, 1-1 Patriot League) trailed for almost the entire game but nearly managed a comeback, before falling to the Colgate Raiders (2-5, 1-1 Patriot League) 38-28. Despite the loss, the Hoyas had a strong passing game with junior quarterback Danny Lauter throwing for a season-high 4 touchdowns and 3 different receivers finding the end zone.
On the Hoyas’ opening drive, after the Colgate defense gifted 35 yards of penalties to Georgetown, Lauter reached junior receiver Jimmy Kibble for an 18-yard touchdown. Senior kicker Patrick Ryan kicked the extra point to put the Hoyas ahead by 7.
The Raiders quickly responded with a touchdown of their own. They were able to continuously run the ball without much fight from the lackluster Georgetown defense, an evident theme of the game. Colgate’s opening drive included a 32-yard run play from running back Zach Osborne, their longest run of the game, before running back Brendan Cassamajor ran in a 1-yard touchdown. The Raiders also made the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.
Georgetown was unable to continue their strong offensive start and ended up punting on their next 3 possessions, before Colgate took a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter with their only passing touchdown.
The Hoyas improved during the second quarter. Georgetown’s rush defense mounted somewhat of a stand, holding Colgate scoreless in the quarter, before the Hoyas tied the game late in the second quarter with a 5-yard passing touchdown from quarterback Lauter to senior receiver Cam Pygatt. This touchdown came after a series of strong runs from first-year running back Savion Hart, who led the team in rushing yards with 84 yards on 8 carries.
On the final play of the first half, Lauter threw his first interception of the game, but the Raiders were unable to return it before time expired. Still, the Raiders recovered, scoring rushing touchdowns on their first 3 possessions of the second half. But Lauter matched the Raiders’ production, finding the end zone twice with passes to junior receiver Nicholas Dunneman and Kibble.
Following these back and forth touchdowns between the Hoyas and Raiders, the score was 28-35 in favor of Colgate with 9:22 left. The Raiders pushed down the field yet again, but the Georgetown defense forced them to settle for a field goal. Lauter then pushed his own team down the field 73 yards but turned over the ball on the 2-yard line with his second interception of the game.
Though the Hoyas quickly got the ball back after the turnover, Lauter was unable to connect with his receivers and turned the ball over on downs. Colgate kneeled to end the game, handing the Hoyas their first conference loss of the season.
Head Coach Rob Sgarlata said the team will work on its run defense before its upcoming conference games.
“I think our kids, especially inside on the defensive line, played well,” Sgarlata told The Hoya. “We didn’t fit a couple things correctly, which will get addressed tomorrow in meetings and throughout practice.”
“We just have to keep leaning into what we’ve been teaching since day one, with great running fits and having a lot of guys running the football,” Sgarlata said.
The Hoyas will be in action next against Bucknell (3-4, 1-0 Patriot League) Oct. 26 at Cooper Field.
