#17 WILLIAM AND MARY 22, DELAWARE STATE 15
WILLIAMSBURG – On an evening that saw William and Mary honor their late former coach and College Football Hall of Famer Lou Holtz, the Tribe football team was less than hospitable to a Delaware State team that was making its first appearance at Zable Stadium. Using a sixteen-point first quarter as its impetus, the hosts utilized a stout defense to recover three fumbles in the first half and survive a late scare by the visitors to beat the Hornets 22-15.
“At some point, this defense is going to have to play lights out,” coach Mike London commented afterwards. In spite of the team being outgained 366 to 187, the Tribe defense continuously made big plays as needed.
Trailing by just seven points with 2:06 remaining in the game, Delaware State received the ball at their 33 in possession of two of their timeouts. Quarterback Noah Brannock, who transferred from William and Mary to Delaware State after last season, rushed up the middle for a 12-yard gain and first down as the two-minute warning stopped the game. A six-yard completion to Terrence Rone put the ball over midfield as the Hornets called time-out.
It was as far as they would go. Sophomore defensive end Nathaniel McDonald (Atlantic Shores), sacked Brannock on the next play, and then followed with a pass break-up to set up a fourth-and-six pass, which was broken up by Brendan Robinson, sending the Tribe offense back on the field for a victory formation.
“That is a very good team,” London said of Delaware State. “They take the attitude of their coach (former NFL receiver DeSean Jackson) and it shows. They are fast and athletic.”
On the Tribe’s opening drive, a sixty-three yard bomb from Winston Watkins to Khylil Johnson set up a 25-yard field goal from last week’s kicking hero, Max Lipinski, to give the Tribe an early 3-0 push.
The visiting Hornets, who gained 518 yards last week, while scoring 41 points in a win over Stony Brook, did not look like offensive juggernauts out of the gate. To make matters worse, after garnering just 11 yards on five plays with their opening drive, their second drive stalled and the ensuing punt was muffed in the end zone and almost blocked, before dribbling to the Hornet 19-yard line.
Andrew King took immediate advantage of the error on the drive’s second play, busting through his offensive line for a 14-yard score, pushing the Tribe lead to ten midway through the opening quarter. King (15 carries, 75 yards) was dominant in the first quarter with 46 yards on six carries, and added a second rushing score on the next drive, this time on a three-yard lateral to the right. The extra point attempt failed, putting the score at 16-0, a lead which held until halftime.
Speaking of his team’s offense, King said, “We moved (the ball) the way we needed to.”
The defense, who had given up 427 yards and 31 points, while recording no sacks against Villanova last week, was also primed in the early going. A tackle for loss by linebacker Clayton Dobler was followed by the Tribe’s first sack of the season by standout defensive end Davin Dzidzienyo. Several plays later, lineman Ty Gordon forced and recovered a fumble to give William and Mary possession at the Hornet 45. Dzidzienyo would later recover a fumble early in the second quarter as McDonald was credited with decking starting Hornet QB Ui Ale (15 of 31, 138 yards, two interceptions) for the force. In all, Delaware State turned over the ball six times.
The turnovers were crucial. In spite of the 63-yard reception by Johnson, the hosts gained just 101 yards in the first half, making the double-digit lead a dubious one.
In the second half, Xavier Dillard squashed a fledgling drive, intercepting Ale and returning the ball 67 yards. Two more interceptions, by Trevon Cannon and David Roulley, helped to stall the Hornet offense.
The schedule doesn’t get any easier as the Tribe travels to #10 Lehigh for a matchup on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Delaware State (1-1) 0, 0, 0, 15 – 15
W&M (2-0) 16, 0, 3, 3 – 22
DSU W&M
First Downs 26, 10
Rushes-Yards 33-174, 39-89
Passing Yards 192, 98
Comp.-Att.-Int. 21-42-3, 7-15-0
Pen-Yards 11-94, 9-87
Punts-Avg 3-28.3, 6-40.7
Fumb.-Lost 3-3, 1-1
Possession 33:27, 26:33
1st Qtr.
W&M - Max Lipinski 25 FG - 10:22
W&M - Andrew King 14 run (Max Lipinski kick) 7:52
W&M - King 3 run (kick failed) 5:44
3rd Qtr.
W&M - Lipinski 32 FG 9:00
4th Qtr.
W&M - Lipinski 51 FG 12:20
DSU - Noah Brannock 11 run (Jaron Kelley run) 9:59
DSU - Brannock 2 run (Patrick Fisher-Butler kick) 3:04
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