Columbia 19 Georgetown 10
Why Columbia Won
The Lions defense was much improved, albeit against a less dangerous opponent, and made a number of key plays when really needed. The offense was just good enough to preserve a victory, and was at its best during a 92-yard TD drive for the first score of the game.
Why Georgetown Lost
The Hoyas simply could not get a passing game going, as veteran starting QB Danny Lauter missed the entire contest. The Hoyas defense played well enough not to lose the game, but could not step it up enough to win it on their own.
Key Turning Points
-Georgetown began its second possession of the game with the ball at the CU 40 because of the first of two badly botched kicks by Lion Punter Tommy Sleeman. But on 4th and 2 from the Columbia 32, LB Jack Smiechowski stopped Hoya QB Dez Thomas for just a one-yard gain, and the Lions dodged a bullet.
-Another botched punt put Georgetown at the Columbia 45 on the Hoyas’ next possession. This time, the Lions forced a three-and-out after DE Justin Townsend sacked Thomas for a nine-yard loss to the GU 47 and the game remained scoreless.
-After that sack and a Hoya punt, Columbia took over at its own eight yard line and 7:04 left in the 1st quarter. The Lions then put together an 11-play, 92-yard drive that culminated in a beautiful TD grab by WR Hutch Crow. That score gave Columbia the lead it would never give up.
-On Lafayette’s ensuing possession, LB Charlie Newton intercepted a tipped Thomas pass and returned it to the GU 45. Columbia used six plays to score another TD, and after a missed PAT by Hugo Merry, the Lions were up 13-0.
-With 9:26 left in the 3rd quarter and Columbia up 16-3, Columbia forced the Hoyas to punt from their 37. But CU’s Quinn Herlihy hit the Georgetown punter to hand the ball right back to GU at the Lion 48. The Hoyas used nine plays to gain those 48 yards, including a completed pass on 4th and 6 to keep the drive going, and a 21-yard TD run by RB Jayden Sumpter that featured a few broken tackles. With 5:27 left in the 3rd, it was now 16-10 and Georgetown was suddenly withing striking distance.
-The key segment of the game came on GU’s next possession, which began with 2:24 left in the 3rd at the Hoya 44 because of a good 22-yard punt return by Hassan Mahasin. A brutal targeting penalty on Newton energized the Hoya drive, and another penalty set Georgetown up with a 1st and goal at the Lion 2. What followed was an impressive goal line stand comprised of a no gain run on 1st down, an off-target incomplete pass by Thomas on 2nd down, a brilliantly broken up pass by DB Caleb Solomon on 3rd down, and a deflected pass by DB Carter McCray on 4th down that Hoya star receiver Jimmy Kibble could not haul in, and Columbia’s lead was secure.
-Georgetown got the ball back at its own 26 with 8:40 left in the game and the score still 16-10. But on 3rd and 13 from the Hoya 33, Smiechowski intercepted Thomas and returned it 24 yards to the GU 20, setting up Columbia’s eventual game-icing FG.
Columbia Positives
-The Lion defense held Georgetown to just 13 1st downs and 211 total yards. The D also notched three interceptions, and two sacks.
-While they did have to settle for two short field goals, Columbia did score all four times it cracked the Georgetown red zone.
-After a quiet season opener, Lion star DE J.T. Townsend had two sacks and another tackle for a loss.
-A pair of Columbia DB’s have emerged as a possible stars. Sophomore Caleb Solomon defended the pass and the run well. and even notched a tackle for a loss. Junior Terrell Battle had six tackles and broke up a pass.
Columbia Negatives
-The Lions offense seemed mostly disjointed, and could not run or pass consistently against a generally weak Georgetown defense. QB Chase Goodwin was inconsistent and still seems rusty.
-The running into the kicker and targeting penalties could have easily led to total disaster for Columbia.
-The targeting call against Newton will cost the Lions his services for the first half of this Friday night’s game at Princeton.
Columbia MVP
-After this defensive performance a defensive player has to be the MVP. and that MVP is leading tackler Jack Smiechowski, who also had two interceptions.
