The U.S. News and World Report and Atlantic Monthly college rankings may regard Cornell higher than Georgetown, but the Hoyas football team made a powerful statement of athletic superiority on Saturday, routing the Big Red squad 42-20.
In only the second victory over an Ivy League opponent in school history, (their last was a 1916 win over Dartmouth) Georgetown dominated throughout the game. “We played hard and we played with enthusiasm,” said Head Coach Bob Benson.
In the process, senior wide receiver Luke McArdle set school records for career all-purpose yards and punt return yardage, leading a potent offense that struck quickly and often. “I didn’t know that I was that close to them, but it was nice to know I got them afterwards,” McArdle said. “Really, it was much more important that we beat Cornell.”
The Hoyas offense rode hard-fought runs by senior running back Marcus Slayton on both a fourth-down conversion and 35-yard rush to earn the game’s first score. Slayton dodged three Cornell defenders in the backfield and ran through powerful blocks from his offensive line on his touchdown run. Slayton continued to have success throughout the game, adding a second touchdown in the second quarter, and gaining 113 yards on the day.
Cornell showed fight in the first half, responding with a touchdown on their next drive when wide receiver Carlos Hill caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback D.J. Busch with 4:38 left in the first quarter. The Big Red took their only lead of the contest shortly thereafter on a 27-yard field goal from place kicker Trevor MacMeekin early in the second quarter.
The lead would not last long, however, as the Hoyas defense recovered a fumble on the next Cornell drive, and first-year quarterback Alondzo Turner put Georgetown ahead with a one-yard sneak into the end zone. The Hoyas built their lead with two more tallies in the half, both touchdowns set up by spectacular punt returns by McArdle. The first, a Georgetown-record 88-yard return, set up Slayton’s two-yard rushing score. The second return, a 56-yarder with 1:44 left in the half, led to a nine-yard scoring strike from junior quarterback Andrew Crawford to wide receiver Walter Bowser.
“Our special teams were big on Saturday,” McArdle said. “On the first return we set up a wall on the right side, and I had a big seam down the sidelines. Once I found that seam I just ran for it.”
After the kickoff, the Hoyas were able to go into the locker room with a 28-10 halftime lead, their largest midpoint lead of the season.
The Hoyas defense delivered a crushing blow on Cornell’s first drive of the second half, forcing an early fumble in Big Red territory. Turner entered the game for his second drive, and led the team to another quick score with his second one-yard touchdown run of the game. The Patriot League rewarded the first-year by naming him its rookie of the week for the second consecutive week. “We’re blending in the two quarterbacks to cause problems for opposing defenses,” Benson said. “Turner’s been a special player for us.”
Cornell was able to find the end zone on an eight-yard touchdown run by Andre Hardaway, and added a 21-yard field after forcing a Georgetown fumble to cut their deficit to 35-20 entering the final quarter. The Hoyas snuffed out any Cornell optimism in the quarter’s opening minute, however, when McArdle scored on a 37-yard pass from Crawford, expanding the lead to 42-20.
“Drew and I seem to catch one every week with this one play action play,” McArdle said. “After we’ve been pounding the ball in the running game, I just come off a cut block on a play and get the safeties to bite, and then he hits me on an out route. It’s worked real well this year.”
“[McArdle] wants the football every play, and he’s one of the strongest players on the team, and he uses that to his advantage to really play well for us,” Benson said.
The remainder of the game rested on the defense, and it shut down the Cornell attack. The defense stiffened in the red zone, holding Cornell to four-of-six scoring chances within the 20-yard line. In contrast, Georgetown capitalized on all five of their red-zone opportunities, and scoring execution proved to be the most important difference in the game.
“We made big plays on special teams and got good field position because of that and our defense,” Benson said. “We capitalized on that field position, and that was big.”
The Hoyas will return to their Patriot League schedule on Saturday when they host a showdown with conference rival Lehigh on Harbin Field. With the Mountain Hawks tied for first place in the conference, Georgetown knows it will have their work cut out for them.
“Lehigh’s the complete package. Big up front, fast, well coached, they’re just an excellent team,” Benson said. “We’re going to have to bring our A-game. But we’re not intimidated by last year’s [69-0] loss. We’ve come a long way since that season opener last year.”
“They’re going to be the biggest challenge of the year. They’ve got a great coach and they’re a great team.” McArdle said. Asked if the team was excited and ready for the contest, his one word showed the confidence in the Hoyas’ locker room: “Definitely.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
