Tigers' season ends with Semifinal loss to Northwestern

Georgetown Football's incredible playoff run came to an end in the NAIA FCS Semifinals with a 35-10 loss to top-ranked Northwestern. Georgetown finishes the 2023 campaign with a record of 10-2.

Northwestern's defense and 3rd down conversions proved to be the difference on a cold, windy day in Orange City, Iowa. Georgetown took the opening possession and managed just 2 yards before having to punt after a 3-&-out. Northwestern took possession on its own 47 and executed its own 3-&-out, but theirs put 7 points on the board. Running Back Konner McQuillan carried the ball all 3 plays, including the last, which went for a 38-yard score to put the Red Raiders up, 7-0, just 3:23 into the ballgame.

Georgetown responded with a nice drive of its own. Mixing the running of Darius Neal and Reese Johnson and timely Gehrig Slunaker passing, the Tigers were able to move to the NWC 21. On a 4th-&-7 and dealing with a strong wind, Georgetown turned down a would-be 38-yard field goal try by Drew Rader, but a Slunaker scramble came up 2 yards short and NWC took over. Georgetown forced a quick punt by the Red Raiders, but the Tigers run game could not get going on the next drive as Darius Neal was held to 1 yard on 3 carries and Georgetown punted once again.

As the game moved into the 2nd quarter, the Red Raiders began to mix up their offense, all centered around the run-pass option. Near midfield on a 1st & 20, NWC QB, Jalyn Gramstad dropped back to throw but was picked off by John Carter Myers, setting the Tigers up at the NWC 43-yard line. 2 runs from Reese Johnson and a 12-yard completion from Slunaker to Aaron Maggard put the Tigers at the 20. The Red Raiders defense tightened up, and this time, Georgetown went for the field goal, which was good from Drew Rader from 39 yards out. Georgetown now trailed, 7-3, midway through the 2nd. Northwestern responded with a drive that summed up the entire game. Starting on its own 25, the Red Raiders marched on a 15-play drive that took 7:25 off the clock, along with 4 3rd down conversions. The drive was capped off with a 6-yard TD pass that gave Northwestern a 14-3 halftime lead.

Northwestern took the 2nd half opening possession and converted on 2 more 3rd downs. The dagger for the Tiger defense was a 34-yard pass play on a 3rd & 10 that moved the ball to the GC 25. 4 plays later, McQuillan ran in from 6 yards out. Northwestern pulled off the 2-for-1 scenario and now assumed a 21-3 lead before the Tigers touched the ball in the 3rd.

Georgetown began to vary its offense up on its first drive. On 3rd-&-6, Gehrig Slunaker took off for a 10-yard run to move the chains to the GC 44. On the very next play, Slunaker hit Chandler Godby on a throwback screen. Godby raced up the left sideline for a 45-yard gain to the NWC 11. The Tigers went back to the ground game as the combo of Neal and Johnson moved the ball to the 1 before Slunaker called his own number on a sneak for the score. After the PAT, Georgetown trailed, 21-10, with just over 3 minutes left in the 3rd. It would prove to be the Tigers' last threat.

Northwestern took the ball and slowly bled the clock into the 4th quarter. A mix of run and pass kept Georgetown off-balance as the Red Raiders methodically advanced forward to the Tigers' 35. The Red Raiders then went for the home run and hit it as Gramstad found Michael Storey for a 35-yard TD pass, capping off a 10-play, 83-yard drive that ate over 6 minutes off the clock. It gave Northwestern a 28-10 run with just 11:49 to go. 

The Tigers made a go of things on the next drive with the big play being a 43-yard pass from Slunaker to Jeremy Adams that moved the ball to the NWC 34. Georgetown would get no closer as Slunaker was sacked on 3rd down and could not find an open receiver on 4th-&-12, turning the ball over on downs. The Red Raiders took the ball back and ground out another double-digit play drive that took 6 minutes off the clock and saw 3 more 3rd down conversions. The final blow came on a 3rd-&-12 from the Georgetown 18 when Gramstad hit Storey over the middle for an 18-yard score, giving the Red Raiders a 35-10 lead with just over 3 minutes left. Georgetown's final drive of the season ended with an interception and NWC kneeled down to end the Tigers' season.

Northwestern entered the geme #1 in the country in 3rd down conversions at 57%. On this day, the Red Raiders were nearly perfect, going an astounding 12-13 on 3rd down. As such, the Tigers' defense could not get off the field and catch a breather. The run game also struggled for Georgetown on this day as Darius Neal tallied just 28 yards on 15 carries. Reese Johnson led the Tigers with 37 yards on the ground. Gehrig Slunaker finished the day 11-18 passing for 146 yards with the rushing TD and INT. Jacob Brass led the defense with 14 tackles.

Despite the loss, the 2023 season proved one for the ages and will be remembered in Tiger lore for many years to come.

(Photo Courtesy: NWC Athletic Communications)