BY: LUCA GOMEZ
I said last week that William & Mary would run out into Zable Stadium with something to prove after a disastrous loss to Virginia—and boy, did they ever. Now sitting at 2–2, the Tribe head on the road to take on Villanova (1–2) in the Pennsylvania hills. W&M will look to build on the momentum from last week’s conference win in Williamsburg, while the Wildcats aim to secure their first CAA victory at home.
How might this matchup shape up? Here are three areas to watch:
Matchup #1: Most Favorable for the Tribe
W&M WR Deven Thompson vs. Villanova Pass Defense
Senior wideout Deven Thompson didn’t have his biggest game against Charleston Southern—just one catch for 10 yards—and that’s exactly why he’s worth highlighting here. Quarterback Tyler Hughes threw for 296 yards and four touchdowns, so it felt odd that the Tribe’s top receiver wasn’t heavily involved while the rest of the passing attack thrived.
Expect Thompson to come out motivated to remind everyone he’s the Tribe’s No. 1 option. Villanova’s defense has already allowed 710 receiving yards to wideouts in just three games. With Thompson leading the team in catches (10), yards (204), and touchdowns (2), don’t be surprised if he adds to all those totals on Saturday.
Matchup #2: Area to Improve for the Tribe
W&M D-Line vs. Villanova Backfield
The biggest concern for W&M continues to be the run defense. But with a larger sample size, another issue is starting to show: limited pressure from the defensive line. Only four of the team’s six sacks this season have come from the D-Line. While that isn’t terrible on its own, paired with the struggles against the run, the unit hasn’t looked like the FCS nightmare it’s been in past years.
Villanova’s backfield hasn’t been as dominant as advertised. Running back David Avit, a preseason Walter Payton Award watchlist pick, has just 237 rushing yards through three games—though he did flash his talent with a strong performance last week. For the Tribe to take control in conference play, their defensive line needs to step up, both in stuffing the run and generating consistent pressure.
Matchup #3: Dawg vs. Dawg
W&M QB Tyler Hughes vs. Villanova LB Shane Hartzell
Quarterback Tyler Hughes isn’t being highlighted here just for his arm—though his numbers (726 yards, 8 touchdowns, 1 interception) speak for themselves. What makes him such a unique challenge for Villanova is his dual-threat ability.
So far, the Wildcats have faced minimal rushing production from opposing quarterbacks—just 30 total yards on 8 carries all season. Hughes alone has rushed for 187 yards and a touchdown (46.8 yards per game), surpassing what Villanova has allowed in total.
On the other side, the Wildcats have their own star in senior linebacker Shane Hartzell. Already with 24 tackles this season, Hartzell was a preseason candidate for the best defensive player in FCS football. When plays break down and Hughes takes off with his legs, his one-on-one battles with Hartzell could be the most compelling matchup of the afternoon.
Photos Courtesy of Tribe Athletics
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