Tribe Hold Off Scrappy Delaware St. Squad 22-15 (9-5-26)
Tribe Hold Off Scrappy Delaware St. Squad 22-15 (9-5-26)
By: Robb Johnson
Headline Photo Credit: Robb Johnson-LMS Network
The William and Mary Tribe invited the Delaware State Hornets into Zable Stadium for a 6 PM kick time on Saturday evening. This was the first-ever meeting between the teams, Hornets head coach DeSean Jackson who is only 38-years-old already has the program on a great trajectory. However on Saturday despite being down 22-0 and making it interesting in the fourth quarter the Hornets’ six turnovers were too much to overcome falling to the Tribe 22-15.
The more than eight thousand saw a swarming defense early and often by the Tribe putting pressure on Hornets quarterbacks Ui Ale and Noah Brannock with the quarterbacks combining to go 21-42 for 192 yards and three interceptions. Ale the starter was responsible for two of three of those interceptions and both fumbles, making him responsible for four of the six team turnovers.
The Tribe scored an early field goal thanks to a 63-yard hookup between quarterback Winston Watkins and wide receiver Khylil Johnson who had 83 of Watkins’ 95 yards passing on the day. Despite the long play the Hornets’ defense prevented a touchdown leading to a 25-yard field goal by Max Lipinski with 10:22 to go in the first quarter, the Tribe led 3-0
The Hornets’ punt was blocked on their next possession leaving the ball at the 19-yard line. The Tribe took advantage this time getting a 14-yard run from Andrew King with 7:52 left in the first quarter.
The Hornets turned the ball over again leading to another King touchdown run, this run was from 21 yards out giving the Tribe a 16-0 lead with 1:21 to go in the first quarter. The Hornets’ issues on the night were not ball control, they controlled the ball for 33:27 compared to the Tribe at 26:33. The Hornets had 26 first downs to the Tribes 10, along with, outgaining the Tribe 366 to 187.
The miscues included missing a field goal late in the second quarter, which doomed the chances of the upset-minded Hornets. Despite scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter by Brannock on the ground, the Tribe’s defense and ability to play mistake football only turning the ball over once helped contribute to their 2-0 start.
The Tribe will need to open their offense up a little more as they head to conference favorite Lehigh next Saturday, before returning home on September nineteenth against winless Fordham.
