11/1/2003
Box Score
BRONX, N.Y. ? Kirwin Watson rushed 34 times for 200 yards and a Patriot League and school record five touchdowns to lead No. 22 Fordham University (7-2, 2-2) to a 34-10 Patriot League win over Georgetown University (3-6, 1-4) on Jack Coffey Field. Watson's five rushing touchdowns ties the Patriot League and Fordham single game record.
The Fordham defense held the Hoyas to just 79 rushing yards while sacking Georgetown quarterbacks six times. The Rams' defense also held the Hoyas to converting just one of 15 third downs, that coming late in the fourth quarter.
The game was scoreless until Fordham's second possession when the Rams drove 83 yards on seven plays, with 71 of the yards coming on the ground. Watson capped the drive with a 22-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 Fordham lead with 5:59 left in the first.
The lead was short-lived as the Hoyas took over on their own 36 following the kickoff and quarterback Alondzo Turner (Fr., Capitol Heights, Md. /Bladensburg ) found Walter Bowser (Sr., St. Paul, Minn. /Cretin-Derham Hall) wide open over the middle for a 64-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at seven 15 seconds later. Early in the second, the Rams took over on their own 23 following a punt. An incomplete pass and two rushes by Watson put the ball on the Fordham 34 where quarterback Kevin Eakin found Javarus Dudley with a 63-yard completion down to the Georgetown three. Two plays later, Watson scored from the two for a 14-7 Fordham lead with 12:17 left in the second.
After the Fordham defense held the Hoyas to a three-and-out, the Rams appeared to be stopped after just three plays. But Georgetown was called for a roughing the kicker penalty on a Fordham punt that gave the Rams a first down on the Hoyas' 39. Dudley then picked up 26 yards on a rush and Eakin connected with James Caffarello for a nine yard gain before Watson took care of the last four yards for his third score of the day and a 21-7 Fordham lead with 8:07 remaining in the half.
The Hoyas would come back, driving to the Fordham nine on their next possession where the drive stalled and Michael Gillman (So., Miami, Fla. /Killian) kicked a 26-yard field goal to cut the Georgetown deficit to 21-10 with 3:12 to go before the half.
The score would remain 21-10 until the fourth quarter when Fordham would take over on the Georgetown 45 following a punt. Watson covered the 45 on the first play from scrimmage to give the Rams a 28-10 lead with 9:46 left in the game.
Fordham would then stop the Hoyas on a fourth down and ten play from the Fordham 36 and then go on a seven-play, 56-yard drive with Watson covering all 56 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown run with 3:21 left, for the 34-7 lead.
Luke McArdle (Sr., Boxford, Mass / Masconomet Regional (Phillips Academy)), who entered the game leading the NCAA Division I-AA in all-purpose yards, caught seven passes for 74 yards, returned five punts for 48 yards and two kickoffs for 40 yards. Marcus Slayton (So., Cleveland, Ohio / Benedictine) led the Hoyas on the ground with 14 carries for 65 yards while Turner completed six of 12 passes for 117 yards and the touchdown.
Next up for the Hoyas will be a home affair against Patriot League foe, Towson, on Saturday, November 8th, at 12:30 p.m.
