Starks' 2 pick-sixes power Georgetown to NAIA Semifinals

4th-ranked Georgetown has advanced to the NAIA FCS Semifinals for the 1st time since 2011 after a 31-21 win over #6 Indiana Wesleyan at Toyota Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Defense ruled much of the 1st half as neither team was able to make much headway. Gehrig Slunaker was intercepted on Georgetown's opening possession, setting IWU up at the GC 43. Using a mix of run and pass, the Wildcats got to the Georgetown 21, but were turned away on a 4th-&-1 QB sneak attempt from Xander Stokes. After an exchange of 3-and-outs, Georgetown began to progress with the ball. A 10-play, 53-yard drive reached the IWU 21-yard line. From there, Drew Rader's 38-yard FG attempt sailed wide left, keeping the game scoreless.

IWU turned in a similar drive that carried into the 2nd quarter. On a 3rd down from the GC 22, QB Xander Stokes was sacked by Romarion Warner for a loss of 11, back to the 33. The Wildcats sent on their field goal unit, and Josh Clifton's try from 50 hit the crossbar and fell short. Georgetown's next drive reached the IWU 38 before Slunaker was sacked, forcing another punt. After the Tigers forced an IWU punt, Georgetown took over at the Wildcats' 47. Darius Neal then made his presence felt with 10 yards on the 1st 3 plays of the series. 2 plays later, Neal broke free down the right sideline for a 26-yard run to the IWU 11. Neal later converted a 4th-and-1 from the IWU 2. From the 1, Gehrig Slunaker called his own number and plunged forward for the first score of the game. Drew Rader's extra point gave GC a 7-0 with 2:34 to go in the half.

It began a stunning sequence of events that benefited Georgetown. On IWU's first play from scrimmage, Xander Stokes' pass was tipped and intercepted by Georgetown's Davon Starks, who returned the ball 33 yards for a pick-6, giving Georgetown 14 points in only 11 seconds. Indiana Wesleyan still had 2:15 left in the half to try for points. On a 2nd down from the Wildcats' 41, Stokes was sacked and stripped by Colton Cornish in the backfield. Isaac Young picked it up for the Tigers and rumbled to the IWU 16-yard line. 3 plays later, Gehrig Slunaker found Aaron Maggard over the middle for an 11-yard touchdown to put Georgetown ahead 21-0 in a span of 2 minutes, 20 seconds. The Wildcats final drive ended before it could start as Stokes was sacked by Lawson Vaughn to close a half in which the Tigers allowed just 52 total yards.

IWU started the 3rd quarter with the ball at midfield after a solid kickoff return. The Wildcats marched all 50 yards in just 8 plays to get on the board. Georgetown took the ball back and after a 12-yard run on 3rd down from Gehrig Slunaker, the ball stood at the IWU 44-yard line. On the next play, IWU jumped offsides, giving the Tigers a free play. Slunaker launched pass down the right side for JC Shegog, who make a one-handed grab around the defender, who was flagged for pass interference. The incredible grab put Georgetown at the IWU 5. Georgetown thought it had a touchdown 4 plays later, but the Tigers were called for offensive pass interference, which stalled the drive. Drew Rader nailed a 26-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 24-7 lead with just under 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.

On Indiana Wesleyan's first play on the ensuing drive, QB Xander Stokes threw right but Davon Starks stepped in front of the pass and returned it to the house for his 2nd pick-6 of the game, giving GC a 31-7 lead. Starks tied teammate Jayson Hayes on the school-record list with his second pick-6 in the same game. IWU would not quit as the Wildcats returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, cutting the GC lead back to 17. The Wildcats kept the momentum via an interception on the next Tiger drive, setting IWU up at the Georgetown 49. The Tigers' defense held strong again and forced IWU into a 3-&-out.

Georgetown turned its attention to the clock on its next drive. The Tigers took the ball with 1:32 left in the 3rd and proceed to chew 7 minutes, 58 seconds off the clock on a 12-play, 51-yard drive. While it ultimately ended in a punt, the drive did everything else needed. Drew Rader's kick pinned the Wildcats on their own 5 to start with just 8:34 remaining in the game. On a 3rd-&-8 from the IWU 29, Xander Stokes was forced to scramble and launched a ball downfield that was caught by Caden Currie for a pickup of 46 to the Tigers' 25. IWU picked up 3 more yards and then sent on Josh Clifton for a 39-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14. Clifton's kick sailed wide left, dealing a huge blow to the Wildcats in their bid for the comeback. After a GC drive that worked the clock down under 3 minutes to go, Indiana Wesleyan quickly assembled a 9-play, 77-yard touchdown drive to get within 31-21 with 1:49 left in the game.

The onside kick attempt from IWU was brought in by Georgetown's Matt Miller and the Tigers were able to run out the clock and secure a berth in the semifinals for the first time in 12 years.

Darius Neal was named the offensive player of the game after finishing with 132 yards on 30 carries. Davon Starks was the clear choice for defensive player of the game with the two pick-sixes. Gehrig Slunaker finished his day 15-22 for 126 yards with 2 TDs (1 rush) and 2 INT. JC Shegog led the Tiger receivers with 4 catches for 59 yards. Starks, Jacob Brass, and Chad Holleran all tied for a team-high 7 tackles. The defensive line tallied 4 sacks on the day.

Georgetown now awaits an announcement from the NAIA on its semifinal opponent and location. The game will be played on Saturday, December 9th.