Before the Hoyas (1-2 overall, 0-1 PL) take the football field in upstate New York against Colgate this Saturday, the question will be: Who deserves to start at quarterback?
The Hoyas’ coaching staff has stressed a desire to find one quarterback and stick with him.
“We haven’t reached our goal,” Head Coach Bob Benson said. “And we are not happy about it.”
Keith Allan, a sophomore, started in last week’s loss to Duquesne, and the previous week’s loss to Lafayette. Allan has 11 completions in 28 attempts with four interceptions and no touchdowns.
Last season’s starter, senior Andrew Crawford, started the first game against woeful St. Francis. In his start, Crawford 11-20 for 100 yards and a touchdown. Last season against Colgate, Crawford was 11-20 for 136 yards and two touchdowns in Georgetown’s heartbreaking one point loss. Crawford’s past success against Colgate make him more of a consideration to start this week.
Nick Cangelosi, a sophomore transfer from UNC, has had few opportunities to prove himself this season. The only action he has seen was a brief stint last week against Duquesne.
“It’s not possible as of Wednesday to name a starter,” Benson said.
Colgate, on the other hand, has had trouble filling spots on the defensive side, losing some of the punch that carried them to the Patriot League title last season. Two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Tem Lukabu graduated and the team has lost three quarters of last season’s defense to both graduation and injury.
“We are banged up and playing particularly in consistently,” Head Coach Dick Biddle said. “We were fortunate to win last year’s game in the last second, and Georgetown should have increased confidence going into this weekend.”
The Raiders’ inconsistency was evident last week when the Raiders’ defense barely held on to defeat an overmatched Dartmouth team by two points. Colgate was lead by senior safety Geoff Bean who had 11 tackles and broke up two passes.
Colgate is focusing on preparing his defense no matter what the Georgetown quarterback situation is.
“They have a very good running back in junior Kim Sarin, and that is our concern,” Biddle said. “Whoever the quarterback is, it won’t change the Georgetown offense drastically.”
Georgetown’s offensive bright spot this season has been Sarin who has run for 334 yards and a touchdown in three games this season. He is averaging an impressive five yards per carry in an offense that has had trouble moving the ball at all.
The Raiders, on the other hand, have a high-powered offense led by their own running back, senior Jamaal Branch, who is considered a heavy favorite to repeat as the recipient of the Walter Payton Award, an annual award given to the I-AA player of the year. Last season he was named first team All-America by The Sports Network, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Football Gazette.
“Jamaal is not likely to have the same season he had last year-that was a stellar season,” Biddle said. “He is our main player and we need to get him the ball.
Although Colgate lost their season opener at UMass, it has 13 straight home wins. The Hoyas have their work cut out for them this week if they wish to end the two streaks: Colgate’s and their own. But, if last season’s game was any indicator of what this matchup can produce, fans should prepare for a thriller.
“We believe we can beat them,” Benson said. “We need to play a balanced game to be successful.”
