By: Jackson Shuman
In William & Mary’s first road CAA game, the Tribe ultimately came up short in a 31–24 loss to No. 22 Villanova, falling to 2–3 on the season. Despite holding the lead at halftime and producing a clean offensive performance, a special-teams blunder and continued struggles against the run proved too much to overcome in the second half.
Even in defeat, the Tribe showed plenty of promise against a Villanova squad that looks poised to contend at the top of the CAA. Here’s a breakdown of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from Saturday’s game:
The Good
Third-Down Offense
A major bright spot was the Tribe’s success on third down, converting 9 of 15 attempts. Before last week, W&M ranked near the bottom of the country in this category. Over the last two games, though, the Tribe have gone 23-for-36 (64%), a huge jump from the 27% conversion rate they posted in the first three weeks.
This turnaround points to a maturing attack gaining confidence. Junior quarterback Tyler Hughes orchestrated multiple extended drives, making clutch throws and using his legs to move the chains. If the Tribe can maintain this level of third-down efficiency, more wins are likely to follow.
No Turnovers
For the third straight game, the offense protected the football. Hughes threw for 233 yards and rushed for 63, rarely putting the ball in danger. The running back committee contributed solidly as well, avoiding fumbles and picking up tough yards in short-yardage spots. Ball security is becoming a hallmark of this unit and was a big reason the Tribe stayed within striking distance throughout the contest.
The Bad
Special-Teams Breakdown (Again)
As in the Furman loss, the game’s biggest momentum swing came via special teams—once again not in William & Mary’s favor. To open the third quarter, Villanova’s Ja’briel Mace returned the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, immediately erasing the Tribe’s halftime lead. That play ignited a 17–0 Villanova run and put W&M in catch-up mode the rest of the night.
Special-teams miscues have now cost the Tribe dearly in two winnable games, a frustrating blemish for an otherwise disciplined team.
The Ugly
Defense Gashed on the Ground
No stat loomed larger than the 232 rushing yards Villanova piled up, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. The Wildcats’ backs repeatedly broke through the front seven, with David Avit doing the most damage: 133 yards and three touchdowns.
The Tribe now rank 110th nationally in rushing yards allowed, a trend that will have to be corrected if they want to compete with the CAA’s best.
Player of the Game
Tyler Hughes
Though the Tribe came up short, quarterback Tyler Hughes once again carried the offense. He threw for 233 yards, delivered big third-down completions, and stayed poised under pressure. On the ground, he added 63 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard fourth-quarter drive that kept hope alive late.
[Tyler Hughes ran for two scores in Saturday’s defeat. Photo by Bob Keroack]
Moving Forward
It’s tough to win football games when you lose the line of scrimmage on both sides. Saturday’s matchup exposed that reality, as the Tribe struggled to generate a consistent rushing attack and gave up chunk plays to Villanova’s backfield.
Still, there’s reason for optimism: the offense is finding its rhythm, third-down conversions are trending upward, and turnovers have been eliminated. If the Tribe can start winning battles in the trenches, the rest of the pieces are already in place.
October football is here, and with a return to Zable Stadium, the opportunity to regroup and make noise in the CAA starts now.
Next Week
William & Mary takes on North Carolina A&T at Zable Stadium. We hope to see you there!
Go Tribe!
Photos Courtesy of Tribe Athletics
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