W&M TRIBE FOOTBALL
GAME NOTES Winning the Turnover Battle is Key In the Tribe’s three wins against Elon, it owned a +6 turnover margin and committed just one turnover. Conversely, W&M has thrown four interceptions in its losses and has a -3 turnover margin in those setbacks. Home Openers W&M has posted a 29-11 record in home openers since 1980. Additionally, the Tribe has won 10 of its last 12 home openers, winning by an average margin of 22.1 points in the victories (+221). The lone losses during that span are Lafayette (2012) and Colgate (2018). Tough Defense at Zable Stadium W&M’s defense has been outstanding in home games since the start of the 2009 season and is allowing just 18.8 points per game at Zable Stadium during the stretch. During the stretch of 59 games, W&M has posted six shutouts. W&M owns a 38-21 record at home during that span. W&M Debuts A total of 10 true freshmen made their collegiate debuts in the season opener at Richmond, the most to ever play in season opener in school history. The group included: DreSean Kendrick, Imari Smith, Malachi Imoh, Alex Washington, Quinn Osborne, John Kearney, Ethan Chang, John Pius, Charles Grant, and Tyler Rose.
Six of those newcomers were on the defensive side. The group also included three players on offense and one specialist. Last season, W&M set a school record with 11 true freshman earning playing time. Protecting the Football W&M did not commit a turnover in its season opener at Richmond, marking the first time since 2018 that it did not throw an intercep-tion or lose a fumble in a game. Additionally, it marked W&M’s first turnover-free season opener since 2007, which also came against a conference opponent (Delaware). Protecting the Quarterback Despite being without two projected starters on the offensive line, W&M allowed just once sack in the season opener against Richmond. Strong Start Although W&M returns just three starters on defense from a year ago, the unit posted an outstanding debut in the season opener at Richmond. In addition to limiting UR to just 310 total yards, it allowed just 141 yards through the air. Captains Serving as team captains this season are senior linebacker Tyler Crist, senior quarterback Ted Hefter, senior defensive end Carl Fowler and junior defensive end Carl Fowler. All four were selected by a vote of their teammates. Three of the four came to W&M as walk-ons (Fowler).
2
2021 CAA Football Standings SOUTH Richmond James Madison William & Mary Elon
CAA Overall 2-0 2-0 1-0 3-0 0-1 0-1 0-2 1-3
NORTH Delaware Rhode Island UAlbany Villanova Maine New Hampshire Stony Brook
CAA Overall 2-0 2-0 1-0 1-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-1 0-1 0-2 0-2
Around CAA Football This Week March 20 Maine at Stony Brook Rhode Island at UAlbany Elon at William & Mary Delaware at New Hampshire Richmond at James Madison
Time Noon 1 p.m. 4 p.m. PPD PPD
Last Week’s CAA Football Results Rhode Island def. Villanova, 40-37 Delaware def. Stony Brook, 31-3 Maine def. UAlbany, 38-34 Richmond def. Elon, 38-14
Today’s Officials Referee . . . . . . . . . . . Anthony Hayes Umpire . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan Kirk H. Line Judge . . . . . . . . . Eli Stratton Line Judge . . . . . . . . . . . Patrick Kepp Side Judge . . . . . . . . . . Eric Monroe Field Judge. . . . . . . . . .Kevin Violette Back Judge . . . . . . . . Jim Downey III Replay Official . . . . . . Damian Norris
