After facing two consecutive top-15 opponents in UCLA and Notre Dame, Saturday’s contest against William & Mary was supposed to be easy — especially after Virginia showed promise last week in a near upset against the Fighting Irish.
But the Tribe, an FCS opponent, came to play. William & Mary jumped out to a 7-0 lead at just 2:03. After an interception of junior quarterback Matt Johns, the Tribe kicked a field goal to take a 17-7 advantage early in the second quarter. And with 1:31 remaining in the fourth, the Tribe had a chance to convert a fourth down on Virginia’s 30-yard line.
However, at the final whistle, it was coach Mike London’s Cavaliers that emerged victorious, 35-29. Saturday was not quite the 40-3 thrashing Virginia (1-2) put on the Tribe (1-1) in their last meeting in 2011, or even the 45-13 romping of Richmond, another FCS team, last season. But the Cavaliers were simply relieved to finally add the first tally to this season’s win column.
“It was a good victory for us,” London said. “We hadn’t had that in a while. We could walk around all sullen and downtrodden, but that’s a good football team we played.”
A week after surrendering 460 yards to Notre Dame, the Cavalier defense still looked sluggish against the less-talented Tribe.
William & Mary junior quarterback Steve Cluley orchestrated a five-play, 75-yard drive to get on the scoreboard first, and then marched right back down and tossed a 37-yard touchdown on 4th and 3.
“We just came out flat,” Johns said. “I don’t know if that’s because of last week or what it was.”
Still, Johns and the Virginia offense were impressive. Johns capped a 16-play, 84-yard drive that lasted 9:13, the second-longest drive in terms of time in Cavalier history, with a play action touchdown pass to junior fullback Connor Wingo-Reeves to even the game at seven.
Then following a Johns interception, Virginia went 75 yards in just two rushing plays — a 36-yard scamper from junior running back Taquan Mizzell, tying his career long, and a 39-yard touchdown rumble by freshman running back Jordan Ellis on his first career carry.
“[Offensive coordinator Steve] Fairchild and [running backs] coach [Chris] Beatty are doing a good job of calling great plays and putting us in great position to make plays,” Mizzell said.
The Tribe booted in a field goal to take a 20-14 lead, but Virginia’s offense continued to roll. On the ensuing drive, Johns went deep for 43 yards to freshman wide receiver David Eldridge. On the very next play, senior wide receiver Canaan Severin snagged a 26-yard touchdown reception, reminiscent of his one-handed grab a year ago against Miami.
Virginia took a 21-20 lead into halftime. Johns finished the half 13-16 for 160 yards.
The Cavaliers seemed to have all of the momentum at the start of the third quarter. William & Mary’s first two possessions ended with sacks by sophomore linebacker Micah Kiser and senior defensive tackle David Dean, respectively.
Virginia, meanwhile, was putting up explosive plays.
Mizzell took a screen pass 80 yards for a touchdown, and then after the Cavalier defense forced a three and out, senior cornerback Maurice Canady returned a punt for a 74-yard score. It was Virginia’s first punt return touchdown since 2004, when running back Alvin Pearman took one the distance against Temple.
“At that point, you’re up two scores,” senior guard Ross Burbank said. “You put one more on the board and that’s when you really start taking time off the clock and looking to end the game.”
The 41,881 in attendance at Scott Stadium soon filtered out. But William & Mary, down just two possessions, had other ideas.
Although the Tribe turned the ball over on downs after an 18-play drive lasting 9:03, William & Mary forced a Virginia three and out and blocked junior Nicolas Conte’s punt for a safety.
On the ensuing possession, Cluley found sophomore wide receiver DeVonte Dedmon for his second touchdown reception of the game, cutting the Virginia lead to 35-29.
After Virginia went three and out, the Tribe had one last chance. But after a strip-sack by Kiser put the Tribe in a 2nd and 19 down and distance, William & Mary turned the ball over on downs.
Johns finished the game 17-23 for 263 yards and three touchdowns along with two interceptions. Mizzell led all receivers with 123 yards on five receptions — his second 100-yard receiving game in three weeks.
Virginia gained 373 yards of total offense. William & Mary accumulated 371.
“We won a football game today, and that’s important,” London said. “That’s important for this team and the program. It wasn’t pretty. There were some good things about it, and obviously there were some things that weren’t so good. Now the next opportunity to play and perform again is against a highly rated, highly touted team on Friday night.”
Virginia will next face Boise State Friday night in Scott Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.
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