Virginia Cavaliers Dominate William & Mary Tribe in 55-16 Rout (9-13-25)
By: Xavier Jones
Headline Photo Credit: Arturo Jones-LMS Network
The Virginia Cavaliers unleashed a ferocious ground attack en route to a commanding 55-16 victory over the William & Mary Tribe in a lopsided in-state matchup at Scott Stadium. In a game that highlighted Virginia’s offensive firepower and defensive resilience, the Cavaliers improved to 2-1 on the season while handing the Tribe their first loss, dropping them to 1-1.
Virginia, coming off a mixed start to the year, asserted dominance early and never looked back, racking up 723 total yards against William & Mary’s 263. The Cavaliers’ rushing game was particularly devastating, amassing 402 yards on the ground, showcasing a balanced attack that featured big plays and sustained drives. Harrison Waylee emerged as the star of the show, bulldozing his way to 151 yards on just 10 carries, including three touchdowns that spanned from short-yardage to a jaw-dropping 97-yard sprint.
The game kicked off with Virginia setting the tone in the first quarter. On their opening drive, the Cavaliers marched 75 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 23-yard touchdown run by wide receiver Kameron Courtney, who finished with 90 total yards. The extra point made it 7-0 at the 10:46 mark. Undeterred, William & Mary responded with a solid defensive stand, but Virginia struck again on their next possession, grinding out 79 yards in 10 plays for a 1-yard touchdown plunge by running back J’Mari Taylor, extending the lead to 14-0 with 5:23 left in the quarter.
The second quarter turned into a Virginia clinic, as the Cavaliers poured on four more touchdowns to build an insurmountable 42-7 halftime advantage. The onslaught began with an 8-play, 78-yard drive ending in a 4-yard touchdown run by Xavier Brown at 13:18. Harrison Waylee then took center stage, scoring on a 2-yard run following a 7-play, 73-yard march at 9:27. Quarterback Chandler Morris connected with John Rogers for a 3-yard touchdown pass on a quick 5-play, 34-yard drive at 6:01, before Waylee capped the half with an 8-yard touchdown scamper after a 5-play, 80-yard drive at 1:59. William & Mary managed their first score of the game in the second quarter, courtesy of a highlight reel 79-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Hughes to wide receiver Deven Thompson, who hauled in five catches for 108 yards and the score. The Tribe’s extra point by Keegan Shackford narrowed the gap momentarily to 35-7, but it was too little, too late against Virginia’s relentless offense.
The third quarter belonged entirely to Virginia’s big-play ability. Waylee broke free for his 97-yard touchdown run on the Cavaliers’ opening possession of the half, a 1-play explosion that pushed the lead to 49-7 at 11:31. Later, kicker Will Bettridge added a 24-yard field goal after a 9-play, 71-yard drive at 6:46, making it 52-7. William & Mary clawed back slightly with a 6-yard touchdown run by quarterback Noah Brannock, who went 8-of-17 for 111 passing yards in the game, trimming the deficit to 52-14 at 2:13.
In the fourth quarter, Virginia tacked on a 31-yard field goal by Bettridge at 12:58 following an 8-play, 38-yard drive, extending the margin to 55-14. William & Mary salvaged a late safety at 7:59 after a Virginia mishap resulted in a 23-yard run during a short drive, accounting for the final 55-16 tally. Statistically, Virginia controlled every facet of the game. They held a commanding 37:29 to 22:31 edge in time of possession and averaged 8.3 yards per play compared to William & Mary’s 5.4. In the air, Virginia’s quarterbacks orchestrated 321 passing yards between the three, while the Tribe’s passers combined for 204. Defensively, the Cavaliers forced one turnover and limited William & Mary to just 59 rushing yards on 24 attempts, a stark contrast to their own 402 on 52 carries.
Standout performers for Virginia included Waylee, whose three scores and explosive runs earned him game-ball honors in unofficial post-game buzz. For William & Mary, Thompson’s big-catch ability and Brannock’s dual-threat play provided fleeting moments of hope, but the FCS-level Tribe couldn’t match the ACC program’s depth and speed. This blowout win serves as a statement for Virginia head coach Tony Elliott, who emphasized post-game the importance of establishing a strong home-field advantage at Scott Stadium. The Cavaliers now look ahead to tougher conference challenges, buoyed by an offense that ran wild and a defense that bent but rarely broke. For William & Mary, the loss underscores the gap between CAA competition and Power Four foes, but their resilience in the second half offers positives heading into league play.
