Tigers 41-34 win is Cronin's 200th

Two-plus decades, thousands of young men, and nearly 77 percent of the time coming out with the same result a win. Saturday afternoon Georgetown College football coach Bill Cronin became just the 93rd collegiate football coach to tally 200 wins. A dart from Zach Dampier to Jake Johnson as time expired on the first half gave the Tigers (1-2) a two score cushion over St. Andrews University. Both continued to trade blows in the second half, but the deficit was too much for the Knights (0-3) to overcome.

Cronin is 200-58 all-time at Georgetown. He is not alone in this milestone as assistant coach Marty Park has been there the whole way and others have been a part of a lot of them. Park was a player for the first three seasons, helping the Tigers to two national tournament appearances and one national title.

Georgetown has collected two national championship rings, went to four straight national championship games and won numerous conference titles under the direction of Cronin who needed just 22-plus seasons to accomplish the milestone moment.

One stripe in that pride of success, his singular focus to not dwell on the past, live in the glory, but have a laser beam aim at the game at hand. Despite having a rocky start this season and even dealing with an injury to starting quarterback Hunter Krause, Georgetown did not miss a beat against a very solid SAU team.

Krause went out early in the second quarter, but Dampier stepped in to throw for 245 yards with three touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. It was his composure and pinpoint toss to Johnson that squashed St. Andrews chance of snatching momentum headed into the locker room.

The Knights used a seven play, 77-yard drive capped by a 16-yard rushing touchdown to pull within seven, 20-13, with just 47 seconds left. Dampier's legs kept the drive alive and stopped the clock by getting out of bounds at the visitor's 43-yard line. Back-to-back incompletions made it third and 10 with little time left. He placed it in the only spot Johnson could get it, over the shoulder as he stepped into the end zone. Tyler Dummer made it 27-13 headed to the break.

Johnson had six catches for 107 receiving yards with two touchdowns. While Ellis Dunn and Shawn Gilliam added one receiving touchdown a piece. Dampier rushed 12 yards and a score.

Colin Smith and Derek Wellman helped to provide a spark from special teams. Smith blocked a punt and Wellman scooped it up in the end zone for another Georgetown touchdown. Starr Thompson continues to be a force on defense, leading with 10 tackles Saturday.

The Tigers are back in action 7 pm Saturday at Campbellsville University.