the Georgetown football team (1-4, 0-0 Patriot League), a bye week could not have come at a better time. The Hoyas continued their dismal play this past Saturday with an embarrassing loss to Princeton (1-1, 0-0 Ivy League) 50-22 in front of a sold-out crowd for Homecoming weekend. The defeat marks the third straight game, all of them losses, in which the Georgetown defense has allowed 43 points or more to an opponent. Saturday’s game holds the record for most points allowed at home under Kelly’s tenure, which started in 2006.
“We are trying to get the right combination,” said Kelly after the game. “Right now, we are hurting as far as injuries are concerned. We got to get the guys back healthy and get some more consistency, and then I think we will get better. We are going to take a good look at what we’re doing this week and try and get it restarted again.”
Despite the return of senior linebacker Dustin Wharton and junior linebacker Nick Alfieri to the defensive lineup, the Hoyas struggled to stop a dynamic Princeton offense, which accumulated 542 yards of total offense including 326 yards rushing, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. The Tigers employed a two-quarterback system with juniors Connor Michelsen and Quinn Epperly both taking snaps, which kept the defense on its feet. Epperly rushed for four touchdowns and Michelsen completed 19 of 28 passes for 189 yards with one touchdown pass.
“They do some good things with them,” Kelly said. “We saw the film from last week. They like to throw with them. They are good athletes. They are dual threat type quarterbacks who can both throw, so there’s the run-pass threat. It makes it difficult for the defense.”
The Tigers got off to an impressive start, scoring on the first possession of the game as Epperly scored on a direct snap from one yard out to give the Tigers an 8-0 lead, after a two-point conversion. The Hoyas quickly responded, however, as senior running back Nick Campanella’s two yard touchdown run made it 8-6 with 8:41 remaining in the first quarter.
On the ensuing play from scrimmage, sophomore defensive back Cameron Gamble recovered a Princeton fumble and returned it 14 yards for the touchdown to give the Hoyas a 12-8 lead, after failing to convert again on the two point conversion. After the miscue, the Tigers never looked back. Other than a 23-yard field goal from Georgetown senior kicker Matt MacZura midway through the second quarter, the Tigers dominated play for the rest of the half. Epperly added two more touchdown runs, from one yard and seven yards out. Senior running back Brian Mills ran 53 yards untouched for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 29-15 lead entering halftime.
The same storyline took hold in the second half as the Tigers rolled to an easy victory. Epperly opened up second half scoring, rushing for a 59 yard touchdown run on fourth down that effectively silenced the crowd and emptied the stadium, giving the Tigers a commanding 36-15 lead early in the third quarter. A 19-yard touchdown pass from Michelsen to junior wide receiver Connor Kelley and a three yard touchdown run from senior wide receiver Roman Wilson added salt to Georgetown’s wound. Nick Campanella’s second touchdown of the game, a one yard run midway through the third quarter, accounted for the entirety of Georgetown’s scoring in the second half.
Senior quarterback Isaiah Kempf, who completed 17 of 34 passes for 161 yards with an interception, was benched late in the third quarter due to an undisclosed injury. Sophomore quarterback Cameron MacPherson completed the rest of the game under center for the Hoyas. Injuries continue to mount up for the team, adding to this season’s woes.
“I feel for the kids. I don’t want the kids to get hurt,” Kelly said. “They work their tails off here 12 months out of the year and they only have 11 opportunities, so when they get hurt I feel for them.”
One of the few positives for the Hoyas was the play of junior defensive end Richard Shankle. With a career high 11 tackles and one sack, Shankle earned Patriot League weekly honorable mention honors for his stellar play.
Despite two tough contests against Ivy League foes, the schedule does not get any easier for the Hoyas. After their bye week, the Hoyas will open their Patriot League schedule against No. 12 Fordham (5-0, 0-0 Patriot League), on Oct. 12 at Multi-Sport Field at 1p.m.
