No. 5 Tribe’s Winning Streak Snapped with 28-17 Loss at No. 2 Villanova

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10/03/09 7:30PM

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The fifth-ranked William and Mary football team had its four-game season-opening winning streak snapped with a 28-17 loss at No. 2 Villanova on Saturday afternoon.

Despite the loss, W&M’s 4-1 record still marks the program’s best start since 1994.

The College dominated total yards, 472-283, and controlled the time of possession by more than five minutes. However, W&M committed a pair of turnovers and only scored one touchdown in its five trips into the red zone. The total yardage was especially lopsided in the second half when the Tribe outgained the Wildcats, 252-81.

Senior quarterback R.J. Archer completed 33-of-55 passes for a career-high 354 yards with one touchdown. The 33 completions equaled a school record while the 55 attempts established a new program mark. Additionally, the 354 yards ranks as the 15th-best performance in school history. Junior wide receiver Chase Hill registered eight catches for 87 yards with a touchdown, while senior wideout D.J. McAulay posted seven receptions for 100 yards. Sophomore running back Jonathan Grimes rushed for a game-high 95 yards on 17 carries to go with seven catches for 51 yards.

In addition to limiting VU to nearly 100 yards less than its average entering the contest, the Tribe registered five sacks and eight tackles for a loss. Individually, senior tackle Sean Lissemore finished with eight tackles (seven solo) and a pair of sacks, while sophomore end Ravi Pradhanang also tallied two sacks. Senior All-American defensive end Adrian Tracy also posted a sack.

Villanova struck first on the contest’s first play from scrimmage when quarterback Chris Whitney delivered a 57-yard touchdown strike to wideout Brandyn Harvey deep down the middle of the field on a flea flicker.

After taking over on downs at its own 41-yard line midway through the opening quarter, W&M marched inside the Wildcats’ 10 but had the drive halted when Archer was intercepted in the end zone by Marquis Kirkland.

Villanova added another touchdown on its ensuing possession when wide receiver Matt Szczur scored on a 5-yard touchdown run that capped off a nine-play, 80-yard drive. The score put VU ahead, 14-0, with 14:54 remaining in the second quarter. The Wildcats looked as if they would have to punt from their own 26 early in the possession, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after a third-down stop kept the drive alive.

W&M put it first points on the board when senior Brian Pate connected on a 44-yard field goal from the right hash with 6:08 remaining in the half. A 53-yard pass deep down the middle of the field from Archer to McAulay on the drive’s opening play helped set up the score.

After recovering a Tribe fumble, Villanova moved the ball 29 yards in just three play plays to go ahead, 21-3, when running back Angelo Babbaro scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 1:53 remaining in the half.

The College responded, however, when Pate kicked a 28-yard field goal as time expired to cut the margin to 21-6 at the half. A 20-yard run by Grimes put W&M in the red zone and helped set up the score.

W&M held a 220-202 advantage in total yards at the half, but were hurt by a pair of turnovers and 40 yards of penalties. Individually, Grimes led all ball carriers with 68 yards on nine carries (7.6 yards per rush), while McAulay and Hill both had four catches for 73 and 46 yards, respectively.

The Green and Gold opened the second half with a time-consuming 15-play, 48-yard drive that lasted 7:32 and ended with a 29-yard field goal by Pate to narrow the gap to 21-9. Keeping the scoring drive alive was a key 2-yard run by Grimes on a fourth-and-1 at the Wildcats’ 40-yard line.

Villanova answered with a 10-play, 85-yard touchdown drive of its own that finished with a 4-yard run by Szczur, pushing the margin to 28-9 late in the third quarter.

W&M drove into the red zone with about 11 minutes remaining in the contest but turned the ball over on downs. Facing a fourth-and-8 from the 19, Archer’s pass intended for McAulay in the left side of the end zone sailed high.

The Tribe registered its final score on a leaping 3-yard touchdown catch by Hill in the back left side of the end zone with 4:18 remaining. Archer then converted the two-point conversion with a pass to Varno. Highlighting the drive was a 15-yard strike from Archer to McAulay on a fourth-and-13 near midfield.

The College was unable to recover the ensuing onside kick, and Villanova held on to its lead in the waning minutes to preserve the victory.

The Tribe will return to action when it plays at Northeastern next Saturday.

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