After upset victory, Georgetown football faces another must-win to extend playoff streak
Georgetown head coach Chuck Griffin argues with an official during the game against Rouse at John Gupton Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Cedar Park, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman)
Georgetown head coach Chuck Griffin knew his team was getting close.
After rallying for a 13-12 win Oct. 8 over Killeen Shoemaker that kept their playoff hopes alive, then playing Weiss – the No. 1 team in the American-Statesman’s Class 5A power poll – tight in a 28-21 loss one week later, Griffin thought the Eagles were on the brink of a breakthrough.
He was right.
In a result that raised eyebrows around the region, if not the state, Georgetown beat 5-2 A&M Consolidated 41-38 in College Station two weeks ago to set up what has turned into a play-in home game Friday against Killeen for the fourth playoff spot out of District 12-5A Division I. Win, and the Eagles (5-4, 4-3) are in. Lose, and they’re out.
"While we have a lot of seniors, we didn’t have a lot of returning starters, so it was an inexperienced team coming in," Griffin said. "(Dave Campbell’s Texas Football writer) Matt Stepp said this was the toughest district top to bottom in the state, so it took a bit to adjust to playing at this level."
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Rebuilt Eagles focus on running, playing defense
Georgetown isn’t some Cinderella story. The Eagles have made the playoffs 11 years in a row and have only lost in the first round twice since 2017. But after losing 15 starters, including three current FBS players on offense, this season was going to have a different look. Scoring more than 40 points consistently spurred by big plays wasn’t going to be an option, even with a third-year starting quarterback in Kaleb McDougle.
So the Eagles have controlled the clock with a running back-by-committee approach; Zech Guyton, Weston Steward and Nathan Lyock have combined for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns.
That’s something that has also helped the defense, which has been on the field for less than 45 plays in two of Georgetown’s last three games.
"We’ve made some adjustments to the passing game, are lining up right and trying to get nine guys to the football," Griffin said. "We had to find what works for us and for this team, and our kids are just playing better and playing well."
Georgetown won the game it had to win
Improvement is one thing, but winning games against the district’s best teams is another. The Eagles entered the A&M Consolidated game as a bit of an afterthought as the Tigers were fighting for the district title and ranked in the top 15 by Dave Campbell’s this preseason.
Yet Georgetown prevailed.
"There was doubt we were hearing from the outside and stuff like that, but everyone bought in and realized that we know we can do it," said Guyton, who also plays linebacker. "And we got it done."
Now there’s the chance for the Eagles to guarantee themselves a winning record and extend their playoff streak, and Guyton noted it’s important to keep the current seniors playing as long as possible.
"Getting to know them through this year and last year, you gain this connection that you don’t want to lose when football season ends," he said. "So you’ll do anything to win."
In a way, Georgetown is already in the playoffs with the stakes of Friday’s game. But there will be no gold ball – what winners of playoff games receive – given out, and Griffin said it’s meaningful to experience the real postseason.
"We feel like we’re one of the more consistent programs in Central Texas year in and year out, and I think the playoff streak kind of proves that," he said. "So getting back in the playoffs would be huge. And that’s what it’s all about is trying to go win gold balls and playoff football games."
This article originally published at After upset victory, Georgetown football faces another must-win to extend playoff streak.
Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.