By: Luca Gomez
Both William & Mary (0-1) and UMaine (0-1) will be looking to bounce back from road losses in their opening games last weekend. But how will they do it? Here are three key matchups on both sides of the ball to keep an eye on.
Matchup One: Most Favorable for the Tribe
UMaine QB Carter Peevy vs. W&M CB Jalen Jones
UMaine quarterback Carter Peevy went 13-of-31 for 132 yards with no touchdowns and one interception against Liberty last week. The Black Bears had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but Liberty responded with three quick touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
That said, UMaine’s loss came against a tough FBS opponent that went 8-3 last year. Peevy will look to improve his numbers this week, but he’ll be tested by FCS All-American cornerback Jalen Jones. Against Furman, Jones recorded four tackles and two pass breakups while rarely being targeted. The Tribe defense allowed only 16 points in that game, with seven coming off a pick-6.
This week, watch for Peevy to try to rebound—but doing so against Jones and a stingy Tribe secondary won’t be easy.
Matchup Two: Area Primed to Improve for the Tribe
W&M QB Tyler Hughes vs. UMaine Secondary
Quarterback Tyler Hughes had a rocky start last week, throwing a costly pick-6 on the opening drive. But he settled in, finishing 19-of-31 for 208 yards with one interception. On the ground, he led the team with 57 rushing yards and added a touchdown.
Hughes should have opportunities against a UMaine defense that surrendered three passing touchdowns and one rushing score to Liberty’s quarterback. Still, this unit isn’t to be underestimated—they held Liberty in check for much of the game, aside from a 38-yard, 17-second touchdown drive just before halftime that came off a turnover.
Look for Hughes and the Tribe passing attack to use this matchup to iron out early-season wrinkles.
Matchup Three: Dawg vs. Dawg
UMaine RB Sincere Baines vs. W&M LB Jaden Boring
Junior running back Sincere Baines was UMaine’s brightest spot in Week 1, rushing for 118 yards on 11 carries, including a spectacular 77-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. That score kept the Black Bears competitive until the fourth, when Liberty finally pulled away.
On the other side, Tribe linebacker Jaden Boring made his presence felt in his first career start. He was everywhere—racking up tackles, registering his first career sack, and even breaking up a pass (though he likely wishes it had been a pick). William & Mary’s rush defense was dominant against Furman, holding them to just 58 yards on 34 attempts.
This matchup will be a physical one: Baines looking to break free in the open field, and Boring looking to shut him down in the backfield.
Let’s Go Tribe!
Photos Courtesy of Tribe Athletics
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