WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Sept.
8, 2012) - The William and Mary football team fell to Lafayette, 17-14, in
its home opener on Saturday evening at Zable Stadium.
Much of the contest was played in steady rain, as lightning
forced an hour and twenty-minute delay late in the first quarter.
While the inclement weather hampered both teams' offensive
production, Lafayette (1-0) outgained the Tribe (0-2), 301-197, and controlled
the time of possession by nearly 14 minutes (36:58-23:02).
Sophomore wide receiver Tre McBride highlighted the Tribe's
individual efforts offensively, as he totaled a game-high five receptions for
91 yards with two touchdowns. Defensively, sophomore linebacker Airek Green
posted a game-high 10 tackles with a TFL, while redshirt freshman linebacker
Luke Rhodes tallied nine stops and 1.5 TFL.
Lafayette got on the scoreboard first when tailback Vaughn
Hebron found the end zone on a 14-yard touchdown scamper with 1:36 remaining in
the opening quarter.
Following the lightning delay, W&M evened the score late
in the second quarter with a 28-yard touchdown strike from junior quarterback
Michael Graham to McBride with 2:11 showing on the clock. The score came just
three plays after sophomore defensive end Stephen Sinnott sacked Lafayette
quarterback Andrew Shoop, forcing a fumble that he recovered at the Leopards'
34-yard line.
Lafayette marched to W&M's 14-yard line on its ensuing
possession, but placekicker Ethan Swerdlow missed a 31-yard field goal attempt
with 0:02 remaining in the half.
LC reclaimed the lead, 14-7, on an 18-yard touchdown pass
from Shoop to wideout Mike Duncan with 3:30 left in the third quarter. The
nine-play, 48-yard drive began after a Tribe fumble near midfield and was keyed
by a fourth-and-8 conversion at W&M's 32-yard line.
A 34-yard field goal by Swerdlow with 11:50 remaining in the
fourth quarter increased the margin to 17-7.
With time winding down, sophomore quarterback Raphael Ortiz
led the Tribe on an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that lasted just 1:34
and culminated with a 32-yard touchdown pass to McBride with 1:48 remaining.
The sophomore wide receiver came up big during the quick scoring drive, as he
totaled three catches for 57 yards.
Lafayette recovered the ensuing onside kick and was able to
run out the clock.
The Tribe will begin its conference slate when it plays at
Towson next Saturday.
