All things must come to an end, and for the Georgetown football team, that is a good thing. Over the weekend, the Hoyas snapped a 12-game losing streak that dated all the way back to Nov. 2008, defeating Davidson College 20-10 in their Saturday season opener. With this victory, the Hoyas have already surpassed their win total from last season.
After averaging only 9.6 points per game last year, Georgetown’s offense kicked off the season with a bang. Junior quarterback Scott Darby led the Hoyas’ retooled offense, throwing for 130 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 66 yards and a touchdown.
The offense has taken flight under the command of newly appointed Offensive Coordinator David Patenaude.
“I think the addition of coach Patenaude has benefited the offense. … Each player now has a better understanding of his responsibility,” Darby said. “Schematically, when guys are running around with a solid idea of what they need to do individually, the offense as a whole flourishes.”
Not to be outdone, the defense stood tall, allowing only 10 points and forcing two Davidson turnovers.
Senior Georgetown linebacker Patrick O’Donnell intercepted a pass by Davidson quarterback Matt Heavener toward the end of the first quarter. The interception resulted in a great field position for the offense, who took advantage of the Wildcats’ error. On the ensuing possession, Darby would cap off a two-play 41-yard quick strike, with a touchdown scamper from 3 yards out to give the Hoyas an early 7-0 lead.
The Hoyas never looked back, going on to notch a well-deserved road victory. Head coach Kevin Kelly underlined the importance of the fast start, which gave the Hoyas the momentum and confidence they needed to win the game.
“We started out real well. …[We] did a nice job with some defensive stops and ran the football well,” Kelly said. “I was pleased with the way we handled the success of the game and adversity.”
The success on the field can be attributed to the morale in the locker room. With a lot of upperclassmen on the field, the team’s leadership has become stronger.
“There has always been good chemistry within the team but now everyone seems to be buying into what we are all trying to accomplish,” O’Donnell said. “Nick Parrish and Dan Semler are two great captains who everyone from the freshmen to seniors all can look to when we need a little extra push in practice and in games.”
While it is just one win in the standings, the victory certainly goes a long way to provide some relief for this embattled team. Despite the long hours the players and coaches put in, it is still difficult to win when the University spends less money on the program than every other Patriot League team.
“It’s a lot of hard work, so I’m happy for the players, especially guys that have been here,” Kelly said.“A lot of people talk about how they haven’t won football here, how they’re losers, and it’s nice to see their hard work pay off.”
As the team readies itself to face Patriot League foe Lafayette this coming Saturday, they are looking to build off a win, for the first time in a long while.
“I think the keys to moving forward are combining our momentum from a strong start with an acknowledgment of the areas in which we can improve, and carry those two things into our week two preparations and a strong showing at Lafayette,” Darby said.
While the prestige of the Georgetown football program certainly pales in comparison to the tradition of Hoya hoops, one thing the football program can say with pride is that they have more wins against Davidson since 2008 than the basketball team does. The gridiron Hoyas certainly haven’t captured the hearts of the student population, but maybe they can create a little buzz for themselves with some more wins. After all, America loves an underdog.
Nice writing; your mother sent me the link.
I didn’t realize GU had a football team.
You made it interesting to read about them, and I liked your use of quotes.
Good Luck this year
Love
Uncle Joe