Fighting a two-headed monster isn’t easy. Just ask the Hoya defense.
On Saturday, Georgetown (0-10, 0-5 Patriot League) was thoroughly dismantled by the businesslike Richmond offense. The defending FCS National Champions executed well in both the passing and rushing departments, en route to tallying a total of seven touchdowns. The Spiders’ 49-10 victory was Richmond’s first-ever win at Georgetown, thus avenging Georgetown’s 84-0 defeat of the Spiders over a century ago.
Throughout the course of the game, Head Coach Kevin Kelly and the Blue and Gray coaching staff had no answer for the well-oiled Richmond machine.
“When you can run the football, and then throw like they do . it’s very difficult to stop,” Kelly said.
Early on, the Hoyas gave the Spiders a lot of help, as the Blue and Gray turned the ball over three times in the first quarter. On the very first play from scrimmage, Richmond forced a Georgetown fumble, giving the Spiders the ball on the Hoyas’ 25-yard line. From there, Richmond’s formidable ground attack pounded away at the Georgetown defenders and got the Spiders into the end zone, scoring on a bruising 2-yard fullback handoff, giving the visitors a lead they would not relinquish. After taking advantage of an interception and another fumble recovery, Richmond emerged from the first quarter with a 21-0 advantage.
“When three turnovers turn into three touchdowns – that’s not good,” Kelly said.
Turnovers have plagued the winless Hoyas all season, who enter the final game of the season with a – 8 turnover differential.
“You lose the turnover battle, you’re not going to win many games,” Kelly added.
While it looked as if the game was going to spiral out of control after just one quarter of play, the Hoyas proved to be resilient. On their first drive of the second quarter, sophomore quarterback Scott Darby found freshman wide-out Brandon Floyd deep downfield for a 32-yard gain to move the Hoya offense to the Richmond 5-yard line. A few plays later, junior running back Phillip Oladeiji reached the end zone to put the Hoyas on the board. Later in the quarter, the Hoyas took advantage of two Richmond personal fouls to get themselves into scoring position yet again.
Though they were unable to return to the end zone, a successful field goal attempt from senior kicker Jose-Pablo Buerba cut the Richmond lead to 21-10. Although the defense gave up a touchdown in the waning moments of the half, the Blue and Gray outscored the Spiders in the second quarter, giving them some semblance of momentum heading into halftime.
Unfortunately for the Hoya faithful, the momentum proved to be extremely short-lived. On the opening kickoff of the third quarter, Richmond sophomore Tremayne Graham returned the ball 94 yards for a touchdown, extending the Richmond lead to 35-10.
Though Georgetown did not turn the ball over in the second half, the offense stagnated, managing only two first-downs in the entire half. On the other side of the ball, fatigue proved to be a factor, as Richmond controlled the clock for most of the game. Worn down by both the relentless smash-mouth running style and the sound passing game of Richmond, the Georgetown defense proved to be more porous in the later stages of the game, allowing two more scores to a Spider offense that was at that point largely made up of reserves.
The loss is Georgetown’s 10th this season. Dating back to last season, the Hoyas have lost 11 consecutive games.
Despite the lack of success this year, the Hoyas have found a way to remain focused.
“They’ve been doing that all year,” Kelly said, commenting on his squad’s impressive work ethic. “Unfortunately they aren’t reaping any rewards, and that’s what’s disappointing.”
Next Saturday the Hoyas will look to avoid becoming the first team in program history to finish the season winless, as they play host to the Fordham Rams. Additionally, the Blue and Gray will say goodbye to all of their senior players, so the emotion and hype surrounding the game should be heightened even more.
“It’s a special week, because there are 22 seniors who put their heart and soul into this program,” Kelly said.
Among the notable players who will be leaving the Georgetown program include defensive backs Chris Rau and Travis Mack, defensive lineman Chudi Obianwu, offensive linemen Dan Matheny and Richard Hussey and slot receiver Robert Lane, the first offensive player to wear the prestigious 35 jersey in honor of alumnus Joe Eacobacci, who was killed in the Sept. 11th attacks.
Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Multi-Sport Facility on Saturday.
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