WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – For the second consecutive week, the William & Mary football team posted a resilient effort in a hard-fought conference matchup that was not decided until the final seconds, but it was edged by No. 5/8 Villanova, 35-28, at Zable Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
After a 1-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Smith to DeeWil Barlee with 1:59 remaining gave Villanova (6-0, 3-0) a seven-point lead, W&M (2-4, 0-2) drove to the Wildcats' 30-yard line on its ensuing possession before turning the ball over on downs with 0:33 remaining.
 
W&M opened the game with a 12-play 77-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a 12-yard strike from quarterback Kilton Anderson to wideout Kane Everson.
 
Although Villanova responded with 21 unanswered points, the Tribe countered with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to wideout Zach Burdick late in the second quarter and a 2-yard touchdown run by Bronson Yoder late in the third quarter to knot the score.
 
While Villanova regained the lead, 28-21, with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Jaaron Hayek early in the fourth quarter, W&M evened the count again with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to Everson on its ensuing possession.  
 
VU recorded the game-winning score on its following drive, which covered 75 yards on 16 plays and lasted 7:57.
 
 
Tribe Standouts
Anderson completed 25 of 33 passes for 245 yards with three touchdowns, while Everson posted a career-high 11 catches for 131 yards and two scores.
 
Burdick also came up big in the passing game with five receptions for 68 yards with a score.
 
Donavyn Lester led the rushing attack with 43 yards on 10 carries.
 
Cornerback Corey Parker and safety Gage Herdman led W&M with 10 tackles apiece, while Parker added a forced fumble that was recovered by linebacker Arman Jones.
 
Inside the Numbers
Villanova outgained the Tribe 441-349, but the Tribe held a narrow advantage through the air (257-250).
 
While W&M scored touchdowns on all four of its trips into the red zone, Villanova found the end zone on four of its five opportunities inside the 20-yard line.
 
Additionally, the Wildcats converted 11 of 17 on third downs and all three of their fourth down attempts.
 
VU missed a pair of field goal attempts (41, 34), both of which came in the first half, while W&M did not attempt a field goal.
 
The Opposition
Smith completed 21 of 34 passes for 250 yards with three touchdowns, while Hayek posted six receptions for 82 yards with two scores.
 
Justin Covington (10-53) and Barlee (10-52) led Villanova's ground attack and each added a touchdown.
 
Defensively, Forrest Rhyne totaled a game-high 15 tackles with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFL and a forced fumble.
 
Notes
The game marked the second consecutive week in which W&M had an opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds but turned the ball over on downs … W&M is averaging 31.8 points per game versus FCS opponents this season … During the last two weeks, Everson has totaled 18 catches for 252 yards with three touchdowns …The game marked the seventh time in the last eight meetings between W&M-Villanova that the contest was decided by a touchdown or less … Despite the loss, W&M controls the all-time series, 18-16-1, and owns an 11-5-1 advantage in Williamsburg.
 
Up Next
After an open week, the Tribe will return to action when it hosts No. 2 James Madison for Homecoming at Zable Stadium on Oct. 19 at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are available by clicking here or by calling the Tribe Ticket Office at 757-221-3340.