Shorthanded Tribe’s playoff hopes all but disappear with loss

ALBANY, N.Y. — William & Mary’s FCS playoff hopes might have taken a fatal blow Saturday as the No. 24 Tribe lost 24-8 to No. 23 Albany.

Griffin Woodell rushed for 100 yards, Aamir Hall returned an interception for a touchdown and the Great Danes (7-3, 5-1 Coastal Athletic Association) were in control almost all the way against the Tribe (5-4, 3-3).

The game summed up the Tribe’s recent woes, which have included four losses in its past five games. It came after a 4-0 start and an 11-victory season in 2022.

W&M already was missing standout running back Bronson Yoder because of injury. Malachi Imoh, who carried much of the load in his absence, went out injured in Saturday’s second quarter, leaving much of the rushing responsibility to Martin Lucas.

Albany preserved its shutout by stopping Lucas on fourth-andgoal from inside the 1-yard line. He finished with 16 yards on 10 rushes, and Imoh had 23 yards on six carries.

Tribe quarterback Darius Wilson was 14 of 21 for 171 yards, but threw two interceptions, including a costly pick-six by Hall that gave the Great Danes a 17-0 lead. He had minus-2 yards on 14 carries, including sacks.

The Great Danes started with a 74-yard, three-play touchdown drive. After an incompletion on first down, Reese Poffenbarger had consecutive completions of 37 yards, the second of which was a touchdown to Brevin Easton.

Hall’s 45-yard interception return made it 17-0 late in the second quarter, and Albany extended its lead to 24-0 on Woodell’s 15-yard run in the fourth.

The Tribe scored on Wilson’s 20-yard run and two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter.

Poffenbarger was 12-of-22 passing for 205 yards, and Easton caught four passes for 90 yards. Albany outgained William & Mary 348-216 in total yards.

W&M’s Hollis Mathis posted a career-high five catches for 78 yards, while freshman Leonte Oulahi made two receptions for 48 yards.

Defensively, Kevin Jarrell totaled a team-high nine tackles, and Malcolm Spencer also came up big with an interception in the end zone.