Harvard vs. Georgetown: Five Things to Look Out For

The Harvard football team does not lose to non-conference opponents. The Crimson has beaten every non-Ivy League team it has faced since dropping its season opener at Holy Cross in 2011. That was long enough ago that not a single member of the current squad was there to suffer defeat.

Following a victory over Brown in last week’s Ivy League opener, the team prepares to square off on Friday night against yet another out-of-conference foe: fellow unbeaten Georgetown. Before besting Brown 32-22 last weekend, the Crimson beat Rhode Island in its home opener.

“We took another important step in a series of steps we have to take to become a really good football team.” said Head Coach Tim Murphy about the Brown game. “Specifically, it was going on the road... and showing we can beat a very solid football team.”

There are a few matchups to consider before Harvard (2-0, 1-0) hosts the Hoyas (3-0) this weekend, specifically the Crimson’s offense clashing with Georgetown’s defense, the era of new quarterbacks, and the dichotomy of new vs. old in tomorrow’s coaching battle.

HARVARD RUSHING ATTACK VS. GEORGETOWN FRONT SEVEN

Through two games this year, the Crimson has averaged 216.5 yards per game on the ground, delegating duties primarily to junior running back Semar Smith and senior quarterback Joe Viviano. What’s more: Of Harvard’s 11 touchdowns during this young season, eight of them have come via the rush, with Smith and Viviano chipping in three a piece.

“I have faith in my [offensive line],” Smith said. “[Viviano] definitely opens up a lot more for us because defenses have to respect the quarterback run.”

The Hoyas, on the other hand, have managed to stymie the opposition’s rushing attack through three contests this season, allowing a 103.7 YPG and only 3.1 yards per carry. Additionally, Georgetown has allowed just two rushing touchdowns on the year.

Much of the Hoyas’ success against opposing rushers can be attributed to senior defensive lineman Hunter Kiselick and sophomore linebacker J’V’on Butler, both standout members of the Georgetown front seven. Kiselick leads all Hoyas in tackles for loss with four, while Butler has recorded a team-high 25 tackles.

Whichever team controls the ground game will likely have advantages in possession, clock management, and playbook flexibility in Friday night’s showdown.

GEORGETOWN SECONDARY VS. HARVARD RECEIVING THREAT

In three contests so far this season, the Hoyas have received substantial contributions from multiple members of the secondary en route to recording 10 pass break-ups, 14 pass deflections, and four interceptions for 89 return-yards. Facilitating Georgetown’s stalwart pass defense are junior safety David Akere and sophomore defensive back Blaise Brown. Akere, a returning starter from 2015, recorded a career-high 13 tackles and forced a fumble in Harvard’s 45-0 rout of the Hoyas last season. Brown, a veteran of nine games as a freshman, is looking to build on his strong start to the year, having already recorded 14 tackles.

Harvard, however, has a two-headed receiving weapon to counter the Georgetown secondary: reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year Justice Shelton-Mosley and senior halfback Anthony Firkser. Both members of the Crimson air-attack have totaled upwards of 200 yards in just two games thus far, with Firkser contributing two touchdowns as well.

“We watched a lot of [the Georgetown secondary] on film,” Firkser noted. “We saw how they play and what their tendencies are like.”

STARTING QUARTERBACK DUEL

Friday night’s game will showcase two relatively inexperienced seniors under center. Harvard right-hander Joe Viviano had never thrown a collegiate pass until this season, while Hoyas quarterback Tim Barnes has sparse exposure from past seasons, namely five appearances as a junior.

Nevertheless, both players have risen to the occasion this season, leading their respective teams to perfect starts. Viviano, averaging 247.5 yards per game through the air, has connected for three passing touchdowns and boasts a 65.1 percent completion rate. The Crimson field general also has an untainted stat-line with zero interceptions on the year. Compared to Viviano, Barnes has found the end zone twice as many times through the air despite averaging 182.3 passing yards per game and converting only 59.1 percent of his attempts. Opposing defenses have picked off the Hoyas quarterback twice in the process.

JUSTIN HARRELL VS. SEAN AHERN

Crimson captain Sean Ahern prepares to go head-to-head with the Hoyas top receiving threat, junior wideout Justin Harrell. Harvard’s premiere defensive back and reigning All-Ivy League First Team selection has jumped out to a great start, playing the same football that earned him last year’s accolades. Ahern has recorded nine tackles, including two for loss, and forced one fumble already this season. The Cincinnati native is coming off an impressive year on special teams as well in which he ranked first in the Ivy League and 13th in the country with two blocked kicks.

On the other hand, Harrell has been quarterback Tim Barnes’ go-to option through three games this season, tallying 19 receptions for 155 yards. The pride of New Orleans did not see game action last season due to injury but contributed in 10 games the season prior.

“I wouldn’t look too hard at the… one-on-one matchups,” Ahern said. “Our defensive mentality is team defense—assignment football….They have great skill guys at receiver, but at the same time, it’s a team defense”

HEAD COACH SHOWDOWN

Entering his 23rd year at the helm of Harvard football, Crimson head coach Tim Murphy is the all-time winningest coach in program history and ranks second in wins among Ivy League coaches since the League’s inception in 1956. Nine Ivy League titles and three unbeaten seasons – not to mention a 17-5 record in “The Game”—define Murphy’s dominant tenure.

Coach Murphy, a six-time New England Coach of the Year selection, will face a formidable opponent on the other sideline tomorrow night, as his Crimson squares off against Coach Rob Sgarlata’s Hoyas. Sgarlata, a Hoya in his own right (c/o 1994), is relatively new to the head coaching gig compared to Murphy. Despite serving on the Georgetown football staff for 18 seasons, only recently was he named his program’s 31st bench boss in 2014. Motivation and character seem to be Sgarlata’s strong points, and he seems committed to the development of the student-athlete. Over thirty of his players were selected to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll for the 2014-2015 season.