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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Redshirt-freshman cornerback
B.W. Webb intercepted three passes, including a 50-yard pick-six late in the fourth quarter, as the 14th-ranked William and Mary football team earned a 26-14 victory at Virginia in both teams' season opener on Friday evening.
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The victory was the Tribe's first against an FBS opponent (formerly Division I-A) since defeating Temple, 45-38, in 1998.
W&M's defensive effort was outstanding all night long, as it caused seven turnovers and held the Cavaliers scoreless in the second half. Additionally, the Tribe limited Virginia to just 269 yards of total offense and 12 first downs, with just 79 yards and four first downs coming in the second half. The College also dominated the time of possession, winning the battle by more than 11 minutes (35:36-24:24).
In addition to Webb's outstanding collegiate debut, a number of other Tribe players on the defensive side posted good performances. Sophomore linebacker
Jake Trantin finished with a game-high 11 tackles (7 solo) to go with three tackles for a loss, a sack and a fumble recovery, while senior All-American defensive end
Adrian Tracy recorded 10 tackles (8 solo). Junior linebacker
Evan Francks also came up big with a pair of fumble recoveries and two tackles for a loss.
A native of the Charlottesville area, senior quarterback
R.J. Archer threw for 184 yards with a touchdown, while rushing for 46 yards on nine attempts. Led by senior wideout
D.J. McAulay's five catches for 51 yards, seven Tribe players totaled at least two receptions.
After a three-and-out on the Tribe's opening possession, the Cavaliers utilized a short field to record the contest's initial score on a quick three-play drive. Quarterback Vic Hall then gave Virginia the early 7-0 advantage when he scampered 34 yards down the right sideline with 12:15 showing on the clock.
W&M later knotted the score at 7-7 with 4:57 remaining in the opening quarter when Archer found senior tight end
Rob Varno with a 5-yard touchdown pass. Highlighting the seven-play, 81-yard drive that lasted 2:43 was a 48-yard strike from Archer to redshirt freshman receiver
Ryan Moody down the middle of the field that put the College on the Cavs' 5-yard line. Archer was incredibly efficient engineering the drive, completing 4-of-5 passes for 65 yards.
The Tribe looked as if might take its first lead of the contest early in the second quarter, but senior place-kicker
Brian Pate's 42-yard field goal attempt from the left hash was blocked. W&M's drive began when Webb earned his first career interception, picking off Jameel Sewell and returning it 18 yards to give the Tribe excellent starting field position.
Virginia retook the lead midway through the second quarter, 14-7, when Sewell capped off a 10-play, 84-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run.
W&M answered UVA's scoring drive by moving the ball deep into the Cavalier's territory, but it ended without points when Pate's 43-yard field goal attempt struck the left upright. The drive was ignited on the opening play when Archer found McAulay on a 27-yard pass on the left sideline.
The Tribe retook possession just 1:02 later on Virginia's 45-yard line when Webb intercepted Sewell for his second pick of the half. Five plays later, Pate converted a 40-yard field goal to cut the margin to 14-10 with 3:21 remaining in the half.
Just 36 seconds later, the Tribe caused its third turnover of the half when Francks recovered a fumble on Virginia's 39-yard line. Although W&M moved to the Cavaliers' 20, Pate missed a 42-yard field goal from the right hash wide to the left with 1:12 showing on the clock.
Shortly thereafter, the Tribe took advantage of UVA's fourth turnover of the half when Trantin recovered a fumble on a bad snap at the Virginia 46 with 48 seconds showing. Pate later capped off an eight-play, 37-yard drive with a 26-yard field goal as time expired to get the Tribe within one, 14-13, at the intermission.
In addition to causing four turnovers in the opening half, W&M dominated the time of possession, 18:59-11:01, and out-gained the Cavaliers, 229-190. Individually, Archer put up impressive numbers, completing 18-of-32 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. McAulay also had an impressive initial stanza with four receptions for 47 yards.
After redshirt freshman
Dante Cooke recovered a muffed punt by Hall at Virginia's 9-yard line, Pate gave the Tribe its first lead of the contest, 16-14, when he booted in a 20-yard field goal from the right hash with 5:35 left in the third quarter.
The Tribe's defensive unit remained tough and came up with a huge stop on a fourth-and-one at midfield with 9:48 left when senior defensive end
Sean Lissemore stopped quarterback Marc Verica for no gain.
Francks' second fumble recovery of the night, coming on UVA's 36-yard line with 5:46 showing, helped set up another score for the Green and Gold. A 23-yard run by Archer on the first play of the drive helped set a 24-yard field goal by Pate, his fourth of the night, with 3:50 to play.
W&M then sealed the triumph on Virginia's ensuing drive when Webb intercepted Sewell and raced 50 yards down the Tribe sideline for touchdown to give the College a 26-14 cushion and its first victory against Virginia since 1986.
The Tribe will return to action again next weekend when it hosts Central Connecticut State in its home opener at Zable Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Box Score
Post-game Quotes
William & Mary Head Coach Jimmye Laycock
Opening remarks:
"I feel like we can be a pretty good team. During the preseason, we pushed them pretty hard and held them to a higher standard. They worked at it really hard, and they got the payoff tonight by playing extremely well. I thought after we got by those first few opening plays, where we were maybe a little jittery, we settled down and showed poise. We played extremely smart on both sides of the ball. This is a tremendous win for us."
On the William & Mary offense:
"We can't worry about [missed opportunities]. We had some posts open that we didn't connect on, and you don't know how many plays you will have like that. We came in with more of a limited offense tonight. We took some shots that we didn't hit, but we kept plugging away."
On the William & Mary defense:
"Our defense really settled in and played well. Our coaches did a good job of putting them in the right spot, and we made the big plays. I have a lot of confidence in our defense."
On senior quarterback R.J. Archer playing in his hometown:
"I was a little worried about the emotional factor. R.J. is pretty cool and almost nonchalant. Tonight he was very poised. I was extremely impressed."
William & Mary Player Quotes
Senior Defensive End Adrian Tracy
On being ready for the game:
"Our coach has prepared us very well. We were mentally tough and well conditioned. Coach said we were in the right place at the right time."
Senior Quarterback R.J. Archer
On being from the Charlottesville area:
"I don't think it's sunk in too much yet. I told these guys on defense, I mean, they played their hearts out tonight and really I think they won the game for us. I'm tired of going against them in practice, I really didn't care who it was, I just wanted to come out here and play someone else. They're, as you see tonight, the toughest team to go against. Yeah, it really hasn't sunk in too much yet. It's the first game still and I hope we can build on this and make it a nice season."
On whether he had pre-game jitters:
"I was more nervous before the Villanova game last year, opening at home in front of all the fans that like me a lot. Coming in here, I just... I don't know why, maybe just the same thing, it hasn't sunk in yet, but I just went out there and had a blast."
Freshman Defensive Back B.W. Webb
On starting his career with this win:
"It's kind of like a dream almost. Everything happened at the right time."
On his interception:
"Coach always told me to know my techniques and watch the other guy... and the guy came right into my area."
"I was really excited. My first touchdown, I can't even explain it. So much emotion."
Sophomore Linebacker Jake Trantin
On containing UVa's quarterbacks:
"We knew they could make plays, but they did a really good job containing the quarterback. For the most part we contained him pretty well."
