Red-zone misses sink W&M
Cavaliers snap an 8-game skid; Tribe fails to convert on 3 trips inside the 20
William & Mary’s defense kept it in position for a second consecutive win over a Football Bowl Subdivision team, but the offense came up short on several scoring opportunities and the Tribe fell 27-13 to Virginia on Saturday at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.
Though the victory is the first of the season for the Cavaliers (1-5), snapping an eight-game skid dating back to last season, it is their sixth straight in this series and their pedigree showed in a 453-219 total yards advantage. Nonetheless, had the Tribe (4-2), which led 13-3 in the second quarter, not been denied three times in the red zone — twice controversially — they might have added another FBS notch to their belts after beating Charlotte a year ago.
“I’ll say right here, right now, that I’m very proud of our football team,” Tribe coach Mike London said. “When you’re going toe-totoe with an FCS/ACC opponent, and you’re leading at some points, then come out in the third and fourth quarters are still going back and forth, I thought our players played very well.”
Outside linebacker John Pius played like the FCS All-American and player of the year candidate he is with eight tackles that included 2 ½ sacks, three tackles for loss and a 58-yard return of forced fumble by Cavaliers quarterback Tony Muskett that set up the Tribe’s only touchdown. But Muskett kept his cool against what has been the best defense in the Football Championship Subdivision this season, completing 17 of 26 passes for 258 yards and a pair of touchdowns to ignite the UVA victory.