William & Mary at Villanova, Mr. C's Official Game Thread

[Mr. C]

It is a muggy, but beautiful day on the Main Line as we close in on another meat-grinder game in the CAA. This should be a good indication on how good these two teams are and who might emerge as one of the favorites in the CAA race.

William & Mary is 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the CAA, while Villanova has righted the ship with two straight wins over good Stony Brook and Penn programs to go to 2-2 and 1-0. The Tribe had a narrow loss to West Virginia to start the season.

We are about 15 minutes from game time.

[Mr. C]

Villanova is quite banged up physically, particularly on the offensive line. The play of QB John Robertson and how much pressure the Tribe defensive line gets on him will like be keys to this game.

[Mr. C]

As always, feel free to post questions and comments on the game. It is always a lot more fun that way.

[Mr. C]

As always, good food is plentiful in the Villanova press box. Some nice lasagna, Caesar salad, roast beef, turkey and ham sandwiches are among the selections.

I also love the fact that Villanova always has the Fridge filled with Minute Maid Lemonade.

[IBleedYellow]

What do you do for a living C? Press box must be nice. :D

[Mr. C]

What do you do for a living C? Press box must be nice. :D
Mr. C covers FCS on a national basis for College Sports Journal and others.

[PhillyApp1]

No Pizzi's Pizza ?
Nothing like a greesey Pizza with a beer!

[Mr. C]

Villanova won the coin toss, deferred to the second half and is preparing to kickoff to the Tribe.

[Mr. C]

No Pizzi's Pizza ?
Nothing like a greesey Pizza with a beer!
Not at Villanova. Always have some nice Italian fare up. Last week against Penn it was stuffed shells.

[Mr. C]

Great kickoff bounced near the sideline and through the end zone for a touchback and W&M had a bubble screen for 5 on first down and another Michael Graham completion for 6 on second down. 1st and 10 at the W&M 36, followed by two runs by Mikal Abdul-Saboor for two yards.

[Mr. C]

Low snap from shotgun formation and good coverage as Graham's pass attempt goes off the hands of a WR on third down. Punt time.

[Mr. C]

Poppy Livers returns to the VU 27 on the punt return.

[PhillyApp1]

Good Luck Nova
I remember when Andy Talley was young football coach at Nova and jay Wright was a grad asst.
App losing to Nova killed me, still hurts ;-) after all the bragging i had done over the last 17 years in NC.

[Mr. C]

Trips left, rollout pass from Robertson to Price for 8 yards. JR keeps for a run of 2 and a 1st down at the 37.

Price is playing with a couple of broken vertibra, incidently.

9-yard pass on 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Monangai spins off a tackler for a 1st down, but JR stumbles on 1st down and loses 7 to the VU 42. 2nd and 17, Robertson is picked off by OLB Eric Green, who returns to the VU 32.

[Mr. C]

Jarrell Cooper runs wide for 5. 2nd and 5. Pass break up at the goal line by Joe Sarnese on McBride. 3rd and 5. TE pass to Revell for the 1st down on a blitz at the VU 21.

[Mr. C]

Cooper runs off-tackle for 4, with Lewis on the stop.

[Mr. C]

Ballard catch at the VU 23. 3rd and short.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor runs straight ahead to just inside the 10

[Mr. C]

1st and goal, Abdul-Saboor smashes to the 8.

[Mr. C]

Play pass to the back of the end zone and Graham just misses TE Revell. Good coverage. 3rd and 8.

[Mr. C]

Nice crossing route for Ballard and Graham hits him for the TD. Love watching the Jimmye Laycock passing game.

William & Mary 7, Villanova 0, 6:09 left in the first period

9 plays, 32 yards, 4:01 on the drive.

[Mr. C]

Touchback on the kick and a false start on VU. 1st and 15 from the 20. Livers with a 1st down catch at the VU 42 after a short catch by Clay Horne.

[VUCats02]

So glad I purchased Nova Nation All Access for it not to work...

[Mr. C]

A pass completion and a Monangai run for a 1st down at the W&M 48.

[Mr. C]

Hot read pass from Robertson to TE Pettway at the W&M 42.

[Mr. C]

Drop by Kevin Gulyas who heard footsteps before a hit, but JR finds Pettway crossing to the sideline at the W&M 35 for the 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Nicely executed QB draw and Robertson picks his way to the 22 on the 13-yard run.

[Mr. C]

Trips left and VU clears things out for a completion of 8 to Mike Burke.

[Mr. C]

Monangai hard running to the 11 for the 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Robertson escapes a blitz up the middle but is contained and dropped at the 13 for a 2-yard loss.

[Mr. C]

Tunnel screen to Livers is set up nicely and gets to the 9. 3rd and 8.

[Mr. C]

Robertson lofts a pass to the end zone too far for an open Livers. 4th down and Mark Hamilton is on for a 26-yard FG. It goes wide left, but penalty flags are down.

[Mr. C]

Offsides William & Mary, 4th and 3. Hamilton gets another try from 21 and makes this one.

William & Mary 7, Villanova 3, 0:31 left in the first period


14 plays, 71 yards, 5:38 on the drive.

[Mr. C]

After a touchback, Graham scrambles to the W&M 30 on the final play of the first period.

William & Mary 7
Villanova 3

[Mr. C]

2nd and 5, False start on Tre McBride. 2nd and 10 from the 25.

[Mr. C]

Stretch play for Abdul-Saboor is well played by McCurry for a loss of 2. 3rd and 12.

[Mr. C]

Screen pass to Abdul-Saboor goes to the 35 for a 1st down.

[Mr. C]

VU's 4-man front is containing the run and stops W&M for 1 yard. Harmon on the tackle. McBride catches a pass at the VU 39 after Trey Johnson falls down in coverage.

[Mr. C]

Play action, Graham scrambles for 6 and a late hit is called near the W&M sideline on Joey Harmon.

[Mr. C]

1st down at the VU 19. Reverse to McBride goes to the 6 where James makes the saving tackle. 1st and goal.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor churns to the 3.

[Mr. C]

Nice read of the play fake with FB Darnell Laws coming out of the backfield and Cox with the sack at the 8.

[Mr. C]

Time out for W&M. 1st of the half with 10:07 left. Biggest play of the half coming up for both teams.

[Mr. C]

3rd and goal from the 8 and Steve Cluley's wildcat run goes for 4. 21-yard FG by John Carpenter is good. Almost blocked from the edge.

William & Mary 10, Villanova 3

11 plays, 71 yards, 6:09 on the drive

[Mr. C]

So glad I purchased Nova Nation All Access for it not to work...
Feeling the same on the Fordham-Lehigh game link and UNH-Towson streams that are not working right now.

[Mr. C]

Monangai runs to the edge for 2 after a touchback.

[wmmii]

What is story on Graham from late hit, trainers are looking at him.

[Mr. C]

Gary Underwood out of the backfield for a catch to the VU 31. 3rd and 4. Robertson scrambles, but is contained at the 34. 4th and 1. Hamilton on to punt with 7:49 left in the half.

[Mr. C]

What is story on Graham from late hit, trainers are looking at him.
Don't know, Graham was back in until the wildcat formation play after the time out.

[Mr. C]

A 39-yard punt bounced to the W&M 27 and a run on 1st down netted 5 yards. 6 yard gain gives the Tribe a 1st down at the 38.

[Mr. C]

Cluley's bootleg pass is intercepted by Villanova and returned to the W&M 40.

[Mr. C]

An open Price at the 25 is missed by Robertson.

[wmmii]

Steve Cluley's playing Q as the backup with Graham out for now. First College game as redshirted freshmen

[Mr. C]

Apparently, Graham is injured, don't know what he hurt, or if he is done for the game.

[Mr. C]

Bad series from Robertson, whose passes were all over the place after VU got good field position. The punt snap came in on a bounce and Hamilton was licky there was no pressure. He shanked one for 17-yards to the W&M 20.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor with a run to the 33 for a 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor rushes to the 39 for 6.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor sweeps to the 41. 3rd and 2.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor starts in motion and Cluley hits him for the 1st down at the VU 38.

[Mr. C]

Run inside for Cooper is stuffed for zero.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor up the middle to the 34. 3rd and 6. Time out W&M with 2:07 left in the half.

[Mr. C]

Cluley passes to Cooper, but Cherry hits him at the 36 for a loss of 2. 4th and 8 and W&M will go for it.

[Mr. C]

Delay of game on W&M, which will now punt the ball on 4th and 13 form the VU 41. 1:13 left.

[Mr. C]

Clock issues cost 10 seconds on the clock and now it is running down.

[Mr. C]

Livers fair catch of a high, hanging kick at the 15. 36 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Villanova will down the ball. Halftime.

William & Mary 10
Villanova 3

The natives are restless.

[Mr. C]

1st Half Stats

William & Mary 34 plays, 162 yards, 71 rushing, 91 passing

Villanova 26 plays, 97 yards, 18 rushing, 79 passing

William & Mary
Abdul-Saboor 11 carries, 35 yards
Graham 7-of-10 passing for 66 yards, 1 TD
Cluley 3-of-4 passing (all safe routes) for 25 yards, 1 interception

Villanova
Robertson 11-of-16, 79 yards passing, 1 interception
5 carries for 16 yards rushing

Monangai 4 carries, 12 yards

[Mr. C]

No report from the William & Mary folks on Michael Graham's injury (they were actually a bit surly when I asked, surprising for W&M personnel). I doubt he will be back.

[Mr. C]

William & Mary's play-calling got very conservative after Cluley came in, even more so after the interception. Look for a lot of runs and short passes to continue in the second half.

[Mr. C]

Ready for the second half. W&M kicking off to VU.

[Mr. C]

Another touchback. VU starts at the 25.

[Mr. C]

Zone read keep for Robertson nets 1. 2nd and 9. Double slot. JR keeps but is contained by Eric Green at the 27. 3rd and 8.

[Mr. C]

Double slot again, Robertson fumbles and W&M recovers. Tyler Claytor with the recovery at the VU 27. Shades of Fordham all over for VU.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor slashes to the 22. Harmon stops him. 2nd and 5.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor gets to the second level with some nice moves and races to the 8 on the 14-yard gain. 1st and goal.

[Mr. C]

Dive off the jet sweep fake for Abdul-Saboor to the 8 again.

[Mr. C]

Cluley tries to hit McBride over the middle, at the goal line, but overthrows him. 3rd and goal from the 8.

[Mr. C]

Cluley isn't on the same page with his receivers and almost throws a pick between 2 VU defenders. 4th down and Carpenter is on to kick from 24 yards out. Good despite a low snap.

[Mr. C]

William & Mary 13
Villanova 3

11:41 left in the third period

6 plays, 20 yards, 1:57 on the drive

[Mr. C]

Big zone read run for Monangai on 1st down for 54 yards to the W&M 21.

[Mr. C]

2nd longest career run for Monangai, who goes for 8 more on the next play to the W&M 13.

[Mr. C]

Austin Medley breaks tackles at the line and sprints into the end zone for a TD from 13 yards out.

William & Mary 13, Villanova 10, 10:33 left in the third period.

[Mr. C]

3 plays, 75 yards, 1:08 on the drive for Villanova

Game on

[Mr. C]

Another touchback for W&M, which will start again at the 25.

[Mr. C]

Bootleg run for Cluley to the W&M 32 as the Wildcat crowd shouts for holding.

[Nova09]

Yes! Just 2 safeties away from the appropriate W&M score in this stadium :D

[Mr. C]

Another bootleg pass with Cluley rolling to the left and hitting McBride for 8. 1st down at the 40. Inside zone for Cooper to the 43.

[Mr. C]

Big hit by VU on a W&M run to the 47. Third and 3 for W&M. Cluley's rollout to the right is well-covered and he throws out of bounds. Time for a punt. 8:19 left in the third.

[Mr. C]

If Villanova comes back and wins this one, the defense will be the reason why. 28 yard high punt to the VU 24.

[Mr. C]

Monangai goes outside on the zone to the W&M 42, but the Zebras detect holding. 1st down at the VU 16.

[Mr. C]

Bubble screen to Gulyas goes to the 24. 2nd and 14.

[Mr. C]

Robertson hangs up a pass to Livers that is picked off ... but is ruled out of bounds near midfield.

[Mr. C]

Screen to Austin Medley goes to the 27. 4th down for VU. 6:44 left. Hamilton in to punt.

[Mr. C]

Nice punt for Hamilton near the W&M sideline is downed at the W&M 34.

[wmmii]

W&M announcer says the incomplete pass on second down was a interception but was call out of bounds

[Mr. C]

McBride stumbles and falls down on a play pass and the ball is almost picked off. 2nd down and 10. McBride kicks the turf in digust. Cluley keeps to the 34 and is hit by Harmon. 3rd and 10.

[Mr. C]

W&M announcer says the incomplete pass on second down was a interception but was call out of bounds
His foot looked to touch the sideline on the interception (had a great view in front of me).

3rd down draw play is stopped at the 39, punt time. Livers returns to the VU 24.

[Mr. C]

Holding on VU on the return. 1st down for VU at the 11. 4:31 left in the third.

[Mr. C]

Monangai on the zone play to the 17. Looks like the Cats have found something on the W&M defense.

[Mr. C]

Monangai outside to the 23. 3rd and 3.

[Mr. C]

Robertson finally breaks contain and races around the corner for 8 yards and the 1st down at the W&M 26.

[Mr. C]

Zone play to Medley to the 30.

[Mr. C]

2nd and 6, pass to Gulyas inside to the 35.

[Mr. C]

3rd and short, Monangai finds a hole on the zone play to the VU 38. 1st down.

[Mr. C]

The zone play is stacked up on a run blitz by W&M at the VU 40.

[Mr. C]

Double move, good coverage and JR is sacked by Luke Rhodes for no gain. 3rd and 9.

[Mr. C]

Empty backfield and JR hits Livers after a clear out for 13 yards and a 1st down at the W&M 48.

Third quarter ends

William & Mary 13, Villanova 10

[Mr. C]

Nice pick through the hole for Monangai on the zone play to the W&M 42. 2nd and 4, Monangai takes the run outside to the 40.

[Mr. C]

3rd and 2 from the W&M 40 for the Cats. DT Jasper Coleman injured his leg on the play and the clock is stopped with 14:21 remaining.

[Mr. C]

Robertson fakes the jet sweep to Aaron Wells and keep to the W&M 27 for the 1st down. Monangai is stacked up for a loss to the 32, minus-five.

[Mr. C]

Trips right, pass to Burke at the W&M 21. 3rd and 4. JR keeps to the W&M 18 on a scramble. 4th and 1.

[Mr. C]

Time out Villanova, 1st of the half. I think the Cats will go for it here.

[Mr. C]

Villanova has dominated time of possession in the second half with the ground game.

[Mr. C]

Hamilton on to kick from 35 yards out and curves it just inside the left upright.

Villanova 13, William & Mary 13

11:47 left in the fourth period

[Mr. C]

16 plays, 71 yards, 7:34 on the scoring drive for Villanova

[Mr. C]

Monangai is closing in on 100 yards for VU. 13 carries, 89 yards.

W&M takes over at the 25.

[Mr. C]

Senior Brent Caprio is on at QB for the Tribe and passes for 4 yards. Reverse to McBride is defended by Craig James at the 30. Great defense there.

[Mr. C]

3rd and 6, good protection and a pass to Revell. Laycock uses his tight ends so well. 7 yards and a 1st down.

[Mr. C]

McBride makes one defender miss on the screen and goes to the W&M 45. 2nd and 2.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor runs inside to the W&M 48. 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Caprio puts one up for grabs and McBride comes down with it at the sideline for 37 yards to the VU 15. 8:44 left.

[wmmii]

Senior Brent Caprio is former QB starter that lost job to injury. Has started more games than any other QB Tribe has. Good bomb pass to McBride!

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor is popped by Joe Sarnese at the 10 on a sweep, but W&M had an illegal shift on the play. 1st and 15 from the VU 20.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor slices his way to the 16. 2rd and 11.

[Mr. C]

Direct snap to Abdul-Saboor who runs to the 13. 3rd and 7.

[Mr. C]

Abdul-Saboor runs up the middle on a surprising call to near the 1st down. Ball is marked at the 7. 4th and 1.

[Mr. C]

The Tribe lines up for a 24-yard FG. Carpenter is good.

William & Mary 16
Villanova 13
6:17 left

[Mr. C]

10 plays, 68 yards, 5:29 on the Tribe drive. The catch by McBride was huge.

[Mr. C]

The pressure is on John Robertson now with six minutes left.

[wmmii]

Abdul-Saboor runs up the middle on a surprising call to near the 1st down. Ball is marked at the 7. 4th and 1.

Laycock plays conservative in these situations, wants to get points and lead. Hope D can hold!

[Mr. C]

First kickoff return of the game and Aaron Wells moves the ball to the VU 20.

[Mr. C]

Robertson spins around for 10 and a first down at the VU 30.

[Mr. C]

Looked like a Three Stooges skit on a fake jet sweep. Monangai finally gets it for 4 yards. Robertson follows with a run to the outside to the VU 38. 3rd and 2.

[Mr. C]

The Three Stooges play again and Robertson keeps, finds a hole and gets to the VU 46. 1st and 10.

[Mr. C]

Tipped pass at the line is caught on the sideline by Gulyas to the W&M 44.

[Mr. C]

VU is going jet tempo on the spread now and JR is hit as he throws an incompletion on the bubble screen.

[Mr. C]

Nice soft pass to Horne at the sideline to the W&M 38 for 6. 3rd and 4.

[Mr. C]

Bubble screen to the left to Livers for the 1st down on the 9-yard gain to the W&M 29. 3 minutes left

[Mr. C]

Robertson keeper to the W&M 23. 2nd and 2.

[Mr. C]

Bubble screen right to Livers to the W&M 20. 3rd and 1. 1:57 left.

[Mr. C]

Clutch throw to Burke at the W&M 12 on the 9-yard gain for the 1st down. 1:18 left and rolling.

[Mr. C]

Villanova got a time out just before the play clock struck zero.

[Mr. C]

Play is broken up on the goal line on the pass to Underwood.

[Mr. C]

Flag is down and interference is called on W&M.

[Mr. C]

1st and goal at the 2 for Villanova.

[Mr. C]

Play is broken up on the goal line on the pass to Underwood.
Anyone with TV on this one want to chirp in on the call?

[Mr. C]

59 seconds left, I-formation, motion, false start on Peter Sotiriou

[wmmii]

Go D!

[Mr. C]

1st and goal from 7 for VU.

[wmmii]

Anyone with TV on this one want to chirp in on the call?

Tribe announcer thought it could go either way.

[Mr. C]

Robertson hard run to the one. Clock moving.

[Mr. C]

Time out William and Mary with 33 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Tribe announcer thought it could go either way.
I thought there was contact, but the call could have gone either way. Maybe he wasn't playing the ball enough?

[Mr. C]

2nd and goal, Robertson sneaks, delayed call. TD, Nova.

[Mr. C]

Villanova 19, William & Mary 16 with the extra point coming.

[Mr. C]

Kick is good

Villanova 20, William & Mary 16

13 plays, 80 yards, 5:43 on the drive.

28 seconds left

[wmmii]

Game reminds me of the 2009 semi-final played at Nova when Tribe elected to go for FG vs gambling and trying for TD....Need miracle now to win

[Mr. C]

This game was everything you would expect from a Villanova-William & Mary game.

[Mr. C]

Game reminds me of the 2009 semi-final played at Nova when Tribe elected to go for FG vs gambling and trying for TD....Need miracle now to win
I was thinking the same thing. That game was for the national championship in 2009. W&M would have carved Montana up.

[Mr. C]

W&M return to the 45. 23 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Caprio is pressured throws the ball away, the referee incorrectly called a fumble and his bad call is saved by his crew. 2nd and 10.

[Mr. C]

Stop route for McBride is broken up by Craig James at the VU 35. 3rd and 10, 12 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Long throw is intercepted deep, but a flag is down. Pass interference on McCurry. Correct call. 1st down with 2 seconds left at the VU 40.

[Mr. C]

McCurry and McBride were behind the play, but McCurry clearly grabbed McBride on the play as someone in front picked the ball off.

[Mr. C]

Reminds me of the VU-JMU game from 2008. Coming down to one Hail Mary pass right now.

[Mr. C]

Reggie Paris sacks Cluley before he can get the ball off, as Clueley circled away from outside pressure.

[Mr. C]

Final

Villanova 20
William & Mary 16

GREAT GAME!

[VUCats02]

Reminds me of the VU-JMU game from 2008. Coming down to one Hail Mary pass right now.

Funny you say this. I just said the same thing to my dad before I read this.

[VUCats02]

We only probably have a few more Talley vs Laycock matchups in the future so might as well enjoy them while we can

[smilo]

Incredible game, but way closer than I would've liked. Talley's has got to get this offense going. How about some legitimate passing plays. Every single play cannot be wide receiver screen or fake handoff, Quarterback sneak.

IIRC, 2 turnovers too. Really have to limit these even more than they have. Those were critical in such a close game.

I don't know if anyone else agrees, but from my view, those last three flags, all looked like phantom calls. The W&M Pass Interference that gave Nova the game was pretty absurd. I mean, it kind of is, but that never gets called. Livers should be able to get that. Great defensive play. Then the false start on Nova. No idea where that came from. That I may have missed. Hard to see all false starts, but I was right on the 2 yard line. And then the Nova PI was a completely uncatchable ball. The guy who caught it was like 4 feet out of bounds. At least that's how I saw it. Maybe someone else on the north sidelines saw that last one better.

[Tribal]

Not going to blame the refs.

Hard to beat a top 20 team when we had to go to a rFr who hasn't played a college down. Just too much to ask of him.

It is what it is but I wouldn't want to be U Penn next week.