No. 20 William & Mary backs up big season-opening win, treats large student section to comfortable win over Campbell
Having generated a huge buzz on campus this week following its first win over a Football Bowl Subdivision team in 13 years, William & Mary’s team returned to a “White Out” — a packed section of students wearing white shirts for the home opener Saturday at Zable Stadium.
The Tribe treated the faithful to a 37-21 nonconference win over Campbell that was, a few moments early in the second half aside, achieved as comfortably as the final score would indicate.
It solidified the No. 20 Tribe’s place in the Football Championship Subdivision top 25 it entered this week in the wake of its 41-24 win Sept. 2 at FBS Charlotte.
Entertainment for the fans included a pair of trick plays that produced huge dividends for an offense that followed its spectacular 559-yard performance at Charlotte with a solid 392 yards against the Camels. The Tribe (2-0), which netted 303 yards on the ground in Charlotte, was again prolific with 271.
Bend but (mostly) don’t break, would best describe the defense’s effort against the Camels (1-1) and their dynamic quarterback, Hajj-Malik Williams. Williams ran for 91 yards and two TDs, and passed for 186 and a score.
But he was slowed by not only the Tribe stars up front like linebacker John Pius (team-high six tackles, one sack), but was abused by the emergence of yet another defensive star — cornerback Jalen Jones. Jones, a redshirt freshman from Deep Creek High, had a 33-yard touchdown return among his three interceptions.
“Not close at all,” Jones said, when asked if he’d ever had a game as good. “I was definitely nervous because I had big shoes to fill (for Ryan Poole, injured against Charlotte), but (Poole) prepared me for everything.”
The Tribe hit the Camels immediately with two surprises, first opting to receive the opening kickoff rather than defer to the second half. On the first play from scrimmage, the Tribe pulled off a double-reverse flea-flicker, with receiver DreSean Kendrick pitching the ball back to quarterback Darius Wilson.
That left tight end Lachlan Pitts wide open, and his 34-yard reception from Wilson led to Ethan Chang’s 30-yard field goal that gave the Tribe a quick 3-0 lead.
Wilson completions of 13 yards each to a sliding Kendrick and to Caylin Newton ignited a 58-yard touchdown drive later in the first quarter. Donavyn Lester followed a huge hole created by left tackle Charles Grant and left guard Bart Francois to a 2-yard touchdown, and the Tribe led 10-0 in the first quarter.
Jones’ first interception of a Williams pass in the second quarter preceded yet another 58-yard TD drive. The nine-play march featured contributions of all three quarterbacks as Newton passed for 5 yards to Pitts and Hollis Mathis carried for 5 yards.
Grant and Francois again opened a huge hole for Lester, who kept the drive moving with a 22-yard run on fourth-and-1. Wilson finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Colton Turner, and the Tribe led 17-0 with 4:40 to play in the first half.
“Christian Taylor, our offensive (coordinator), is doing a great job of putting packages together that accentuate players’ skill sets,” Tribe coach Mike London said.
The Camels fought back as Williams passed to favorite target tight end Julian Hill (seven catches, 95 yards) for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 17-7 at half. Williams’ 7-yard touchdown run after Newton fumbled a punt cut the Tribe’s lead to 17-14 early in the third quarter.
The Tribe was unfazed. W&M drove 75 yards on 14 plays and scored on Malachi Imoh’s 20-yard touchdown burst. Then Jones jumped a receiver’s route at the sideline, picked off a Williams pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown to give the Tribe a 31-14 lead.
“I saw that route so many times on (video),” Jones said. “I knew I’d be tested a lot, but I think I handled it pretty well.”
The Tribe punctuated the evening the way it began, with a trick play, Imoh running 56 yards for a touchdown on a reverse.
