James Conway Sets NCAA Division I Career Tackles Record

Washington, D.C. – The government shutdown ended this week. However, the remnants of the shutdown seemed to still be around on Saturday as the Fordham and Georgetown offenses were shut down. Unfortunately for the Rams the Hoyas were able to muster a little more offense than the visitors, blanking Fordham 14-0 at Coper Field.
 
With the loss, Fordham falls to 1-10 overall, 1-6 in the Patriot League, while Georgetown improves to 6-5 overall, 3-3 in the League.
 
Fordham grad student linebacker James Conway made nine tackles to bring his carer total to 585, setting a new NCAA Division I record, surpassing the former mark of 577 set by Troy's Carlton Martial.
 
The nine tackles also bring Conway's season total to 149, setting a Fordham single season record, breaking the old mark of 145 set by Mark Blazejewski in 1991.
 
Sophomore defensive back Drew Minich led the Fordham tackles with eleven stops, including one for loss, while senior defensive lineman Peter Chalhoub added six tackles, including two for loss and one sack.
 
Offensively, junior quarterback Gunnar Smith completed 23 of 37 passes for 207 yards with five of those passes going to junior wide receiver Nodin Tracy for 65 yards.
 
How it Happened
• The Hoyas took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter on an eleven-yard touchdown pass
 
• Georgetown went up 14-0 in the second quarter after the Rams had blocked a field goal attempt. But Fordham was called for roughing the kicker, giving the Hoyas a first down.
 
• The Rams were driving on the final possession of the game, moving from their own eleven to the Georgetown eight but couldn't get another play off as time expired.
 
Notes
• Tripp Holly took a snap in the second quarter, the first quarterback not named Gunnar Smith to take a snap for the Rams.
 
• Fordham gave up just 14 points in five Georgetown trips to the red zone.

• Fordham held Georgetown to converting on just two of 15 third downs.
 
• The Rams blocked two fowled goal attempts but eth second was called back due to a penalty.
 
• It was the first time Fordham has been shutout since a loss to Colgate in 2018.

By the Numbers
11 – Tackles for loss by the Rams.
 
43.4 – Dominic Sansone's punting average, with a long punt of 55 yards.
 
149 – Tackles this season by James Conway, a new school single season record.
 
585 – Career tackles for James Conway, an NCAA Division I record (the NCAA has been tracking tackles since 2000).
 
What's next?
• The Rams close out their 2025 schedule with a trip to North Andover, Mass., to face the Merrimack College Warriors at Duane Stadium on Saturday, November 15, at 12:00 p.m.
 
• It will be the second meeting between Fordham and Merrimack on the gridiron.
 
• The Warriors took the first meeting, 19-3, on November 23 last year as Ayden Pereira completed 12 of 15 passes for 131 yards and also ran for 136 yards in the season finale for both teams.
 
Portions of this story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.