By the end of August, week-one opponents in college football know each other intimately. Months of film study, game-planning and conditioning ensure that by the start of a new season, teams will be as close to full strength as possible. Yet the first game of a new year brings with it uncertainties and questions that will only be answered as the schedule wears on.For the Hoyas, their most difficult challenge of the season will come immediately when they open their season in Massachusetts against Holy Cross.”We look at it as a challenge,” Head Coach Kevin Kelly said. “It’s really a `blind game.’ Sometimes it’s better to play in the first game that way, because we don’t know what to expect. But the guys are looking forward to it.”Expectations are high for the Holy Cross, which was the pre-season pick to win the Patriot League title this year, but Kelly did not seem concerned with the Crusaders’ place at the top of the poll.”It gives us a little more incentive,” he said. “The only reason we’re ranked seventh [in the Patriot League] is because we haven’t done anything yet. We don’t deserve to be ranked higher because we haven’t played yet.”Neither team will have many new faces on, as Holy Cross returns 15 starters and Georgetown brings back 19. Last year’s matchup, which the Crusaders won 38-14, will be on the minds of all of the Hoyas, especially junior middle linebacker and co-captain Nick Parrish. In last year’s loss, Parrish had a spectacular game, scoring both Georgetown touchdowns on interceptions returns. The first interception he ran back 95 yards for the score, and the second he took back 31 yards for six more points on the scoreboard.”Last year was a different game, a different year, a different team,” Kelly said. “We had a few wrinkles last year that we’ve gotten sorted out this year.”One of those wrinkles was the lopsided time of possession that Holy Cross enjoyed, as the Crusaders controlled the ball for more than 40 minutes, with the Hoyas in possession for under 20 minutes.The Georgetown offensive attack will also be more balanced this season, as offensive coordinator Jim Miceli will aim to utilize the Hoyas’ depth at running back and slot receiver to generate long drives and big plays.”We’re going to be running several tempos on offense,” Kelly said. “We’ll just take what the [Holy Cross] defense gives us. But we’re very confident running our offense.”The biggest battle will be occurring in the trenches. Holy Cross returns four starting offensive linemen, while Georgetown brings back all five of its big men. In addition to experience, both lines have proven that they can keep the opposing defense out of the backfield. Holy Cross allowed 16 sacks last year in 11 games, while Georgetown allowed just 13 in 10 games, although the Hoyas did not throw the ball nearly as much as the Crusaders in 2008.The explosive Holy Cross offense averaged almost 35 points per game last season, with over 450 yards of offense per game, 75 percent of which were gained through the air. This year’s Crusader game plan should be no different.Because of Holy Cross’ ability to move the football with its passing game, the Hoyas’ secondary must be at the top of its game for the defense to have a chance to limit drives. The unit features a couple of outstanding returning safeties, including senior co-captain Chris Rau and senior preseason all-Patriot League pick senior Travis Mack. Expect both team leaders to be forces against both the pass and the run. Additional returning defensive backs that will be factors are junior Frank DiTommaso, sophomore Jayah Kaisamba and junior Paul Sant’Ambrogio.With more experienced starting units on both sides of the ball, Georgetown should improve on a two-win season, but it will need an extraordinary effort coupled with a lackluster performance from the Crusaders to pull off an upset.Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Fitton Field in Worcester, Mass.”