No. 5 Tribe Defeats James Madison, 24-3, on Homecoming

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10/24/09 4:30PM

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Sophomore running back Jonathan Grimes rushed for a career-high 158 yards and scored a touchdown to help the fifth-ranked William and Mary football team earn a 24-3 victory against James Madison in front of a sold-out crowd at Zable Stadium on Homecoming Saturday.

With the victory, W&M improves to 6-1 overall and equals the program’s best record through seven games since 1998. Additionally, the Tribe moves to 3-1 in conference play for the second straight season. The triumph also secures the program of its 20th winning season in head coach Jimmye Laycock’s 30 years on campus.

While the Tribe piled up 258 yards on the ground, senior quarterback R.J. Archer also came up big with a pair of touchdown passes and completed 15-of-22 passes. Senior tight end Rob Varno led the College with five catches for 46 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore tight end Alex Gottlieb recorded a pair of catches for 41 yards and hauled in his first career touchdown. Junior running back Courtland Marriner finished the afternoon with 62 yards rushing on 15 carries.

W&M’s defensive unit continued its stellar play and limited the Dukes (2-5, 0-4) to just 216 total yards while registering 11 tackles for a loss. The College was especially tough against JMU’s passing attack and allowed just 66 yards through the air. Additionally, JMU’s three points were the fewest allowed by the Tribe this season.

Individually, junior linebacker Evan Francks recorded a game-high 11 tackles – equaling a career high he established two weeks ago at Northeastern – and recovered a fumble. Senior All-America defensive end Adrian Tracy registered 8 stops with 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss, as he increased his conference totals to 7.0 sacks and 11.0 TFL through four league games.

After forcing JMU to three-and-outs on two of its first three possessions, W&M got on the scoreboard first when Archer rolled out to the right side and found Varno open on a 9-yard touchdown strike with 3:26 left in the opening quarter. Varno’s score capped off a quick 3-play, 69-yard drive that lasted just 1:15 and was highlighted by an electric 61-yard run down the Tribe sideline by Grimes.

The Dukes answered the Green and Gold’s touchdown with a 9-play, 40-yard drive that culminated with a career-long 44-yard field goal by Dixon Wright early in the second quarter.

While neither team was able to generate much offense for much of the remainder of the half, the Tribe increased its lead to 10-3 when senior place-kicker Brian Pate made a 34-yard field goal as time expired to push the lead to 10-3 at halftime. The successful kick capped off a 10-play, 70-yard drive that lasted just 1:26. Archer had rushes of 12 and 19 yards to help key the drive, while a pass interference call on JMU moved the ball to the 17-yard line to set up the field goal.

W&M outgained the Dukes 172-91 in the first half and held JMU to just 25 yards passing. Additionally, the Tribe limited JMU to just 2.1 yards per carry (31 rushes for 66 yards). Conversely, the College totaled 120 yards rushing on 15 carries for an average of 8.0 yards per attempt.

The Tribe extended its lead to 17-3 late in the third quarter when Archer found Gottlieb wide open in the left side of the end zone from 18 yards out to give the Delray Beach, Fla., native his first career touchdown reception.

W&M dominated the third quarter and outgained the Dukes, 116-25.

After sophomore defensive end Marcus Hyde recovered a fumble caused by senior end C.J. Herbert at the W&M 41-yard line, the Tribe marched 59 yards in eight plays and pushed across the final score when Grimes scampered into the end zone from 9 yards out with 5:45 remaining.

The Tribe will return to action next weekend when it plays at Rhode Island.

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