Tigers push Alabama A&M to the limit

Georgetown took a big step up in competition on Saturday night as the Tigers made the jump to the NCAA FCS level to take on Alabama A&M. The Tigers may have been thought of as underdogs by some but left everyone impressed with their talent and fight, despite a 24-16 defeat.

Alabama A&M won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half, so Georgetown started the night with the ball and went right to work against a Bulldog defense that gave up just 7 points last week against Kentucky State. Darius Neal and Jamarcus Robinson combined for 53 yards on the first 5 plays from scrimmage. The final 23 came on a run from Neal to move the ball to the Bulldogs' 24. The drive stalled at the 23, but Georgetown came away with nothing as a Drew Rader 40-yard field goal attempt sailed wide. AA&M took over and thanks to plays of 20 and 34 yards were able to move into scoring range. This time, it was Georgetown's defense that held up, but the Bulldogs were able to convert a 27-yard field goal to go up 3-0 with just under 6 minutes to go in the 1st.

Georgetown's next drive showed everyone in Huntsville that this was going to be a fight all night. Darius Neal started the drive with 2 runs for 7 yards. On 3rd & 3, Gehrig Slunaker hit Jamarcus Robinson on the edge for 34 yards to the Bulldog 34. 2 plays later, the tandem hooked up on a pass down the left seam for a 31-yard touchdown. The extra point gave Georgetown a 7-3 lead after the Tigers needed just 5 plays to go 75 yards for the points.

The lead would remain there after the 1st, but Alabama A&M's final play of the quarter was a 34-yard pass to put the ball on the Georgetown 11 to start the 2nd. On the 2nd play of the quarter, running back Donovan Eaglin sprinted up the middle for an 11-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 10-7 lead. The Tigers came right back. On the 2nd play of the ensuing drive, Georgetown dialed up a screen for Maison Hibbard, who took the pass 28 yards to the GC 46. 3 plays later, Gehrig Slunaker found Dillon Warren for 13 yards, followed by a 15-yard connection to Matt Miller to put the ball at the Bulldog 23. The drive stalled at the 18, but Drew Rader's field goal try from 35 yards hit the upright and bounced back onto the field. On the Bulldogs' 2nd play of their drive, QB Cornelious Brown broke loose down the right side for a 38-yard run to the Tiger 42. On the next play, Brown looked short for a pass but the ball was popped in the air and grabbed by Georgetown's Justin Richardson on the GC 42. Georgetown went nowhere on the drive, but Drew Rader laid out a perfect punt that pinned the Bulldogs back on their own 2 for the next drive.

The outside speed advantage showed up for the Bulldogs as they needed just 4 plays to move into Georgetown territory. The drive moved to the Georgetown 9, where the Tigers D held and forced another field goal try. Austin McCready's 26-yarder was blocked at the line, picked up by Georgetown's Javyn Martin and returned to the AA&M 41. Georgetown ultimately punted and the Bulldogs could do nothing with it as the game went to halftime with the Tigers trailing just 10-7.

Alabama A&M started the 2nd half with the ball, picked up 1 first down but the drive ended in a punt. Georgetown's 1st drive looked like a routine 3-&-out, but on the punt, the ball bounced on the turf and hit the hand of the Bulldog returner. The Tigers' Ryan Burke fell on the football at the Bulldogs 37-yard line to give Georgetown new life. Darius Neal started the drive with a run for 9 to get inside the 30. The drive reached the 22-yard line. From there, the Tigers called on Nate Craft to put points on the board. The junior kicker obliged with a smooth conversion on the 39-yarder to tie the game at 10 with 8 minutes left in the 3rd.

The Bulldogs made a quarterback change at halftime and the move paid off on the next drive. New signal-caller Aveon Smith showed versatility with his arm and legs to move the Bulldogs down the field. He completed 3 of 4 passes on the drive for 30 yards and ran 4 times for 34 yards. The final 31 came on a 3rd & 7 as Smith took off up the middle and outran the Tiger defense to the end zone for the touchdown. Georgetown refused to go away. On a 3rd & 12, Gehrig Slunaker found Clayton Davis on a 23-yard strike to the Tigers' 37. The Tigers' QB liked the result enough to look for Davis down the middle on the very next play. Davis took the pass and raced 56 more yards to the Alabama A&M 7. The drive stalled, but Nate Craft connected from 33 yards out to cut the deficit to 17-13 as the game turned to the 4th quarter.

The Bulldogs went right to work against the Tigers' defense. AA&M needed just 6 plays to race 75 yards down the field for a touchdown and a 24-13 lead with 12:48 to go in the 4th. Georgetown's next 2 possessions were quick punts, giving the Bulldogs the chance to run the clock down. After a 4th down stop, Georgetown took the ball with just 2:48 to go on its own 35. The Tigers were able to move down the field and ultimately convert on a 36-yard field goal from Nate Craft with 25 seconds left to get within 24-16. The Tigers' last hope came down to an onside kick, but Alabama A&M recovered the kick before it could go the required 10 yards to seal the final score.

Gehrig Slunaker finished the day 19-34 for 276 yards and the early TD pass to Jamarcus Robinson. Darius Neal led the rushing attack with 70 yards on 22 carries. Robinson led the receiving core with 85 yards on 5 catches. Dillon Warren hauled in 5 catches for 48 yards. Defensively, the Tigers were led by 11 tackles from Jayson Hayes and 10 tackles each from Chad Holleran and Clayton Melcher. Justin Richardson tallied an interception and 2 pass breakups. Tyler Snell also broke up 2 passes.

The Tigers will now take a bye week and prepare for the September 28th home opener against Reinhardt. Kickoff at Toyota Stadium is set for 1:30pm.