WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University football team will open its 2018 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 when it travels to Poughkeepsie, New York for a matchup against Marist College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Tenney Stadium. Links to live stats and a video stream will be available at GUHoyas.com.
 
Georgetown enters its fifth season under Head Coach Rob Sgarlata in 2018. The Hoyas are 7-11 in season openers since 2001, and are looking for their third-straight win in an opener under Sgarlata. Last fall, Georgetown defeated Campbell, 16-10, in the season to win its first road opener since 2012.   
 
The Hoyas return 13 starters (7 offense/6 defense) from 2017, including 83 percent of its scoring, and three of their top five tacklers from a season ago. Among GU's returners are junior defensive lineman Khristian Tate (Warner Robins, Ga. / Covenant Academy) and sophomore linebacker Ahmad Wilson (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Gateway), who were selected to the 2018 Patriot League Football Preseason All-League Team. Tate, who was also selected to the preseason team in 2017, has earned All-Patriot League postseason honors in each of his first two seasons on the Hilltop. Wilson joined Tate on the All-Patriot League First Team last year as a special teams non-specialist and earned the preseason honor at the same position.
 
Saturday will be the 21st meeting between the Hoyas and Red Foxes, with Georgetown leading the all-time series, 15-5. The Blue & Gray has won the past three matchups in Poughkeepse, including the last meeting in 2016, 20-17. The Red Foxes won last year's contest, 14-12, on the Hilltop. Michael Dereus had four catches for 72 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown reception, and Brandon Williams had three receptions for 43 yards.
 
The Hoyas are no stranger to the Pioneer Football League (PFL), having gone 13-4 against opponents from the PFL over the past 10 years. Georgetown is 5-2 against the PFL under Sgarlata.
 
Marist finished 4-7 last season, averaging 21 ppg, while allowing its opponents to score 30 ppg. The Red Foxes return their leading rusher, Marcellus Calhoun, who ran for 570 yards last season, and top receiver, Juston Christian, who caught 60 passes for 1,096 yards in 2017.
 
Following Saturday's game, the Hoyas will host Campbell University on Saturday, September 8 for their home opener at Cooper Field. Kickoff is schedule for 12:30 p.m. and the game can be seen on GUHoyas.com via the Patriot League Network