Fordham Football entered Washington, D.C. on Saturday for a Patriot League clash with Georgetown University as overwhelming favorites.
Fordham was fresh off a 44-0 shutout win over Stonehill College a week prior, the same Stonehill team that topped the Hoyas 23-20 in mid-September.
Sports books had the Rams as 16.5 point favorites over the Hoyas, but as we see all the time in sports, the odds makers don’t decide who wins. Behind three touchdowns from quarterback Tyler Knoop, Georgetown defeated Fordham 28-24 and sent the Rams to a 0-1 start in Patriot League play.
It was a truly historic win for Georgetown on their homecoming weekend. Fordham came into the game ranked #15 in the FCS Coaches Poll, making this Georgetown’s first win against a ranked opponent since they entered Division I football in 1993.
Sophomore quarterback CJ Montes was not at his best for Fordham, completing just 46% of his passes on the day for 189 yards. The University of New Mexico transfer did add three scores, but he was not nearly as effective as previous efforts against Wagner College and the University of Buffalo.
Fordham started slow against the Hoyas, something they’ve often done this season even in their victories. The Rams’ opening drive of the game stalled thanks in large part to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from junior running back Julius Loughridge, which knocked them back 15 yards and forced a punt.
Knoop led the Hoyas right down the field on their first drive, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown to Isaiah Grimes. The extra point couldn’t be converted because of a low snap, making the score 6-0 Georgetown midway through the first quarter.
Fordham struck back right away on a 24-yard touchdown from Montes to graduate student receiver Garrett Cody after an excellent kick return from sophomore Mason Hatfield set the Rams up in plus territory.
In the second quarter, Georgetown once again found themselves deep in Fordham territory. The Rams’ defense stepped up inside their own five-yard line, and senior defensive back Nahil Perkins made an excellent play to intercept a pass from Knoop in the endzone.
That only momentarily delayed the Hoyas offense. Montes and Fordham went three-and-out on their next drive, handing the ball right back to Knoop. The senior hit Joshua Stakely for a 17-yard touchdown, putting the Hoyas ahead 14-7 after a successful two-point conversion.
Despite another interception from Knoop later in the quarter, a missed 40-yard field goal from senior Brandon Peskin ensured the Hoyas entered halftime with a seven-point lead.
It was a sluggish first half from Fordham, with just 82 yards of total offense compared to 221 yards for Georgetown. If the Rams were asleep at the wheel in the first half, they still were when things got going in the second.
On Georgetown’s third play of the half, Hoyas running back Naieem Kearney broke a 70-yard touchdown run to put the hosts up by two scores. Now down 21-7 and unable to create much on offense, Fordham were in desperate need of a spark.
Thankfully, the offense finally woke up in the third quarter and were able to move the ball in a similar manner as they have all season long. Montes found senior Mekai Felton for a 22-yard touchdown on Fordham’s next drive, getting them back within seven.
The defense then held on fourth down in their own territory to get Montes and company the ball back with three minutes to go in the third. That drive eventually stalled early in the fourth, but a 26-yard field goal from Peskin cut Georgetown’s lead down to 21-17.
With eight minutes to go, Fordham’s offense got the ball back on the Georgetown 47-yard line following a punt. The Rams ate up a large chunk of the clock as Montes led them down the field, culminating in a seven-yard touchdown throw to Cody with just under four minutes left.
Fordham now had a narrow 24-21 lead. But there was still plenty of time for Knoop and Georgetown to pull off some heroics.
That’s exactly what the Hoyas did. Aided by a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty, Georgetown moved the ball into a first-and-goal situation with under two minutes left. On third-and-goal, Knoop made a beautiful throw to the back left corner of the endzone, connecting with a diving Brock Biestek for the go-ahead score with just 57 seconds left.
Montes and Fordham moved the ball near midfield, but they were in need of a touchdown down by four. With four seconds left on fourth down, a desperation Hail Mary heave from Montes was knocked away by Georgetown in the endzone securing the 28-24 win for the Hoyas.
As a team that came into the season with Patriot League title aspirations, this loss particularly stings for Fordham. They were not supposed to lose this game. Starting 0-1 in conference play was certainly not a part of the script, especially considering how well Fordham were playing coming into the game, and how Georgetown struggled against the same Stonehill team that the Rams defeated so handily.
Fordham will need to bounce back this coming weekend with another Patriot League Clash against Lehigh University at Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field. It’s homecoming weekend at Fordham, so the Rams will hope their home support is loud and proud as they seek their first conference win of the season. Fordham against Lehigh is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday and can be streamed live on ESPN+ or listened to on WFUV 90.7 FM.
