Coming off of last week’s loss to Colgate, the Georgetown football team (1-3 overall, 0-2 PL) hopes to notch its first Patriot League win of the year against Bucknell (2-1 overall, 0-0 PL) on Harbin Field Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Hoyas were shutout 33-0 at Colgate last Saturday, dropping their second game in Patriot League competition. Georgetown was held to just 149 yards of total offense. They have only scored 13 points in their last three games and have scored no touchdowns in their Patriot League contests.
Georgetown Head Coach Bob Benson will focus on using a revamped offensive line to bolster the running game to get the Hoyas’ offense back on track.
“We are going to focus up front,” Benson said. “[Senior] offensive linemen Jon Cummings and Ryan Goethals are healthy now.”
An ankle injury to junior running back Kim Sarin has added to the recent offensive slump. Sarin leads the team with 334 yards rushing but only had eight carries for 22 yards in the Colgate game. His replacement, junior running back Marcus Slayton, had 41 yards rushing in the first half but was sidelined with an injury of his own in the third quarter. First-year running back Emir Davis finished the day as Georgetown’s leading rusher with 49 yards on 13 carries.
Sarin is expected to be back to full strength for this week’s game.
“Today is the best my ankle has felt since I injured it, I feel healthy,” Sarin said.
The quarterback position also continues to be problematic for the Hoyas. Sophomore Keith Allan was limited to five completions on 15 passing attempts with two interceptions and no touchdowns. Senior Andrew Crawford fared no better in his brief appearance.
Bucknell, like most onlookers, is preparing to see either quarterback in Saturday’s game.
“I am a little uneasy going into Saturday,” Bucknell Head Coach Tim Landis said. “I wouldn’t be shocked if we saw something different. Any time there is a new offense there is a time of adjustment. They are going to break out anytime; I just don’t want it to be against us.”
Georgetown has reason to worry about an offensive breakout from Bucknell as well. The Bison are coming off what Landis described as “Bucknell’s most complete effort in his 15-year tenure,” a 42-13 victory at home against Columbia University.
Bucknell senior quarterback Daris Wilson has rushed for 262 yards in the past two weeks, and he ranks second in the Patriot League both in rushing and total yards. Against Columbia, he completed all three of his passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
Although the Bison lost junior fullback Blamah Sarnor to a knee injury, their production has remained stellar. Bucknell used eight different ball-carriers for a total of 408 yards, with an average of 6.4 yards per carry against Columbia. Bucknell runs a spread-option offense that allows them to play multiple running backs at one time.
The Hoyas will look to neutralize Wilson and his running back entourage with their defensive anchor, junior defensive end Michael Ononibaku. His seven sacks rank him second in the Patriot League. Ononibaku is supported by fellow defensive end, sophomore Alex Buzbee, who has had an impressive second season for the Hoyas thus far.
“Our defense matches up well against theirs,” Benson said. “We have speed and athleticism as our strengths.”
While the Hoyas’ defense will be expected to shut down a Bucknell offense that’s full of momentum, the primary theme will be Georgetown’s offensive plight.
“We are changing some passing schemes to open up the field, and we look good,” Sarin said. “This game is going to be a turning point.”
Needing to rest their defense and put points on the board, the Hoyas’ fate again rests with their ability to drive the ball and get into the end zone.
