WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary football team earned an impressive 34-7 victory against Charleston Southern at Zable Stadium on Saturday evening, as the win marked the 100th triumph of Head Coach
Mike London's career.
Although the contest was tied at 7-7 late in the second quarter, W&M (2-2) closed the game with four unanswered touchdowns to secure the lopsided non-conference win.
Quarterback
Tyler Hughes led the effort offensively by completing 22-of-33 passes for 296 yards and four touchdowns, while he also rushed for 51 yards.
Tight end
Jackson Blee also came up big offensively with three catches for 77 yards and a pair of touchdowns – highlighted by a 63-yard strike midway through the third quarter that put W&M ahead, 27-7.
In addition to being Blee's first career touchdowns, wide receivers
Joseph Johnson and
Alfred Honesty also recorded their first career scores. Honesty's 9-yard touchdown catch gave W&M an early 7-0 lead, while Johnson's 15-yard grab late in the fourth quarter punctuated the victory.
Running back
Rashad Raymond led the ground attack and rushed for 75 yards on 21 carries, which included a 1-yard touchdown run as the second quarter clock expired to give the Tribe a 14-7 halftime advantage.
Defensively, linebacker
Luke Banbury totaled a team-high 12 tackles with a forced fumble and a TFL, while linebacker
Jaden Boring posted seven stops with a forced fumble.
Defensive linemen
Ty Gordon and
Cameryn Heath both registered sacks, while cornerback
Trevon Cannon and defensive lineman
Nathaniel McDonald recovered fumbles – marking the 14th consecutive game in which the Tribe has forced a turnover.
W&M outgained CSU, 447-249, which included a 296-86 advantage through the air. The Tribe also piled up 27 first downs, while limiting the Buccaneers to just 10.
The Tribe converted 14-of-21 third downs and held CSU to just 3-of-11, as it dominated the time of possession, 36:04-23:56. Additionally, W&M did not commit a turnover for the third straight game.
Running back Hakeem Watter led CSU offensively with 119 rushing yards on 13 carries, highlighted by a 63-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.
The Buccaneers were led defensively by linebacker Steve Zayachkowdky's game-high 19 tackles.
The Tribe will return to action when it resumes its CAA slate at Villanova next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
