Entering last week’s meeting with Lafayette, Georgetown football knew it would need every last inch to steal a victory from the cream of the Patriot League crop. But the Hoyas’ fourth-quarter drive fell just yards short, and Georgetown came away with a loss.
This weekend against Duquesne, Georgetown hopes to gain that extra yard.
Last Saturday, with one minute and 27 seconds remaining, Georgetown saw its chances of a fourth-quarter comeback dashed on a fourth-and-4 from the Lafayette 42-yard line. After moving the ball 45 yards in just under five minutes, quarterback Nick Cangelosi – as well as Georgetown’s aspirations for an upset – was sacked by two Lafayette defenders.
A week after nearly knocking off the defending Patriot League champions, Georgetown (2-3, 1-2 Patriot) plays non-league foe Duquesne (2-2, 0-0 MAAC) looking to get back on track.
Hailing from the Hoyas’ former league, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Dukes come into this week’s game carrying a two-game losing streak. Both games, however, were against tough Ivy League opponents.
Georgetown can be sure that Duquesne will be a challenging opponent. The team is led by two-time all-American defenders Josh Antinopoulos and Harry Carter. Antinopoulos, a senior defensive lineman, has racked up six sacks on the young season. He is second on the team with 30 tackles.
Carter, a senior middle linebacker, leads the squad with 34 tackles. He also has a sack to his name. Both have quite a bit of experience, as Antinopoulos has started 25 consecutive games, while Carter has started a team-high 34 straight times.
Quarterback Scott Knapp, a freshman who redshirted his first year, leads the Dukes’ offense. Knapp, a sturdy 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, has 885 yards passing and six touchdown strikes on the year. He has also thrown six interceptions. Knapp is hardly the rushing threat that Cangelosi is, having amassed minus-16 rushing yards on the season.
Duquesne’s ground attack is led by junior Jeremy cCullough. The slight tailback (5-foot-9, 190 lbs.) has averaged 60 rushing yards a contest this year. As a team the Dukes rush for a pedestrian 93.5 yards a game, yet their defense has been able to hold opponents to 13 fewer rushing yards per game.
The kicking game has been a noticeable strength for Duquesne. Place kicker Mark Troyan is perfect on the year, putting the ball through the uprights six consecutive times, including a season-long field goal of 40 yards just a week ago. Punter David Kovalcik, however, has averaged just 31.9 yards per punt this season. If Kovalcik continues to struggle, Georgetown can expect the better starting field position that they sorely need.
Indeed, for the Georgetown offense to improve – they have scored a total of 45 points in 2005 – the Hoya defense and special teams will have to help the offense get better starting field position. Against Lafayette, Georgetown had a pair of 40-yard drives that failed to produce points.
Also against Lafayette, senior running back Marcus Slayton had his best game of the year by far, rushing for 120 yards. Slayton’s breakout performance brought a smile to the face of Coach Benson.
“Marcus Slayton had a great game on Saturday,” Georgetown’s veteran coach said. “[However], we must continue to find other key individuals who can help us make plays and move the ball. It will be nice to have [sophomore] Jasper Ihezie and [senior] Steve Ekechuku back at wide receiver. In addition, it will be nice to have Nick [Cangelosi] healthy.”
The Hoya defense will also have to improve, Benson said. Though stingy of late, the defense has allowed 117 points on the year. Defensive ends Michael Ononibaku, a senior, and Alex Buzbee, a junior, have been strong all season long, but the Hoya secondary is still without an interception. Despite limiting a tough Lafayette team to a touchdown and two field goals, the Hoya defense let the Leopards move the ball more than 30 yards on four other drives.
The defense will need to tighten up if the offense is to have any hope of playing on a shorter field.
“We must continue to work to get our offense better field position to work with. Our defense needs to force more turnovers,” Benson said.
Despite the need for improvement in most facets of the game, Benson is still upbeat.
“The message has been that we are a good football team that works hard and plays hard,” he said. “[We need to] stay together and good things will come. We have two come-from-behind wins and were close against the defending Patriot League Champs. I like our team. We show heart and great effort.”
For the Hoyas to move up in the standings, they will need to translate this heart and effort into victories.
“Earning the ultimate respect of Patriot League teams will only come through victory and wins,” Benson said. “Playing people close is nice but does not earn respect.”
Before jumping back into the Patriot League fray, the Hoyas would love to add a victory – and some earned respect – to their resume.
