The Georgetown College football team is heading into the NAIA national title game undefeated for the second straight season — but it's looking for a different result this time.

        The Tigers once again will face Northwestern Oklaho ma State in the title game Saturday. Last year, Georgetown jumped ahead to a 20-0 halftime lead before losing 34-26. Coach Bill Cronin has tried to instill in his team the attitude to prevent that sort of breakdown Saturday.

        “Each game there are 70 some plays on each side of the ball, and you have to play all 70 to the best of your ability,” he said. “When you play against a championship program, you have to play every single down. Last year they beat us physically up front, and we've got to be more prepared for that challenge.”

        Opponents have been challenged to just stay close when facing Georgetown this season. The Tigers are steamrolling the opposition by an average score of 47-15.

        The offense has been running smoothly despite losing starting running back Kyle Bobblitt to a quad contusion midway through the season.

        Freshman Nick Ayers, a Glen Este graduate, stepped into the role and has been a pleasant surprise. He's aver aging 70 yards rushing per game and 6.4 yards a carry. He also has shown a nose for the end zone, scoring 11 touchdowns despite being Bobblitt's backup for four of the 11 games he has played.

        “He's been a great addition to our football team,” Cronin said. “Not only is he a tough runner, but he's a really smart kid.”

        While Ayers was a surprise, quarterback Eddie Eviston (Newport Central Catholic) had a mountain of expectations to live up to, and thus far he has. Eviston was 1999's NAIA Player of the Year and came back to finish second on this year's squad in rushing while averaging 250 yards passing a game. He has thrown 30 touchdown passes.

        If Georgetown is to reverse last year's final result, Eviston will have to carry the team.

        “He can just make plays,” Ayers said. “He can get away from any tackler, and I think his best skill is his ability to improvise. And he makes the rest of us look good too, so that helps.”

        Eviston has spread the wealth, hitting nine different receivers for touchdowns. Cody Brown and Kenan McWhorter have been the favored targets, catching 11 and 10 touchdowns respectively.

        But despite an excellent season thus far, Georgetown players are not yet satisfied.

        “We want to win it and we're not going to settle for anything less,” Ayers said. “We believe that we can, and our coaches believe that we can, so that's our only focus right now.”

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