WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary football team was edged by Georgetown, 28-27, on Homecoming at Zable Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
W&M (3-5, 1-4) scored 13 unanswered points in the second half to take a 27-21 lead late in the fourth quarter, but Georgetown (3-4, 3-2) quarterback Gavin Beard connected with wide receiver Hassan Mahasin for a 10-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal with 38 seconds remaining to secure the win.
Things looked good early for the Green & Gold, as running back
Andrew King raced for a 68-yard touchdown on the game's first play from scrimmage.
Running back
Jah'Kei Chavis accounted for W&M's other first-half touchdown, scoring on a 4-yard run with 3:43 remaining in the second quarter to tie the game at 14-14.
Although the Hoyas opened the third quarter with a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that culminated with an 8-yard pass from Beard to tight end Isaiah Grimes, W&M answered on its ensuing possession with a 52-yard scoring strike from quarterback
Winston Watkins to wide receiver
Khylil Johnson.
The Tribe reclaimed the lead early in the fourth quarter on a 32-yard field goal by
Max Lipinski before Lipinski added a 22-yard kick with 5:05 remaining to extend the advantage to 27-21.
Georgetown advanced into the red zone on its next possession, but W&M forced a turnover on downs when defensive lineman
Brady Echols broke up Beard's fourth-and-7 pass attempt at the Tribe's 20-yard line with 1:52 remaining.
However, Georgetown's defense forced a three-and-out, giving the Hoyas another opportunity. They capitalized with a seven-play, 48-yard touchdown drive to take the lead in the closing seconds.
Watkins was intercepted by Damon Narcisse near midfield on the first play of the Tribe's final possession.
W&M rushed for a season-high 203 yards, as King totaled 96 yards on 11 carries while Chavis added 66 yards on 19 carries.
Johnson paced the receiving corps with three catches for 70 yards, including his 52-yard touchdown. He also recorded a career-high 190 all-purpose yards
Defensively, linebacker
Christopher Higgins led the Tribe with 10 tackles and a pass breakup, while linebacker
Stephon Hicks added nine tackles and a strip sack that was recovered by defensive lineman
Nathaniel McDonald.
Safety
Bryce Barnes also delivered a key defensive play in the second quarter, intercepting a pass in the end zone to halt a Georgetown scoring opportunity.
Beard led the Hoyas offensively and completed 21-of-36 passes for 265 yards with four touchdowns, while Jonathan Alexander posted four receptions for 124 yards with a touchdown.
The Tribe will return to action when it plays at Colgate next Saturday at 1 p.m.
