Football hangs 76 on KCU in Season Opener

Georgetown Football looked for a statement to kickoff the 2023 season. In front of a packed Toyota Stadium, the Tigers delivered its best scoring effort in 11 years with a 76-0 romp of Kentucky Christian. The 76 points are the most Georgetown has scored since putting up 77 on Bluefield to kick off the 2012 season.

After a quick KCU 3-and-out, the Tigers began their opening drive on their own 48. The first big play of the day came when QB Gehrig Slunaker connected with JC Shegog down the right sideline for a 36-yard gain to put GC at the KCU 11. 3 plays later, Darius Neal capped the drive with a 1-yard plunge to get the scoring party started.

With the offense finding rhythm early, the defense got in on the fun on the very next possession. On a 2nd-and-13, Payton Standifer picked off a pass over the middle and took it 32 yards for the touchdown. It turned out to be the play that opened the flood gates on a sweltering day in Georgetown.

After another KCU 3-and-out, Dillon Warren returned the punt 35 yards, setting the offense up at the KCU 27-yard line. 2 plays into the drive, Darius Neal found space up the gut and took it the distance on a 16-yard score. With the 20-0 lead, the defense forced another 3-and-out. With KCU punting, a high snap led to Brycen Huddleston charging up the middle to block the kick. The ball bounded into the end zone and was recovered by Matt Miller for the touchdown. With 5:16 left in the 1st, it was 27-0, Tigers.

On the ensuing KCU drive, the Knights were again intercepted, this time by senior linebacker, Chad Holleran. With a new number this year and added speed, Holleran took the pick 36 yards for another touchdown. Georgetown led 34-0 after the 1st quarter.

Gehrig Slunaker (2 yards) and Darius Neal (39 yards) each ran touchdowns in during the 2nd quarter to push the Tigers lead to 48-0 at the half.

Early in the 3rd, the Tigers turned to their depth to keep the momentum rolling. Reese Johnson took his 1st carry of the day 48 yards inside the KCU 20. He would tote the rock 4 more times for 22 yards and a touchdown on the drive. On the next GC possession, Montrell Page took his turn in the backfield and on play 1, ran 29 yards to put GC on the KCU 8. On the next play, Caleb Jacob (now in at quarterback) scrambled right and found Jacob Iames in the end zone, padding the Tiger lead to 62-0 after 3. Nathan Conley and Justin Walsh took turns scoring from out of the backfield in the 4th quarter. Conley rumbled in from 2 yards out, while Walsh took a swing pass from QB Ryan Mattingly in from 21 yards out to cap an incredible scoring day.

Georgetown dominated in every way possible. The Tigers outgained KCU 438-80 and churned out 25 first downs, to just 2 for KCU. Georgetown finished the day averaging 8.1 yards per play, compared to just 1.6 for the Knights.

Georgetown stays home next Saturday for a battle with former-MSC rival, Pikeville. Kickoff at Toyota Stadium is set for 1:30pm.