Off the back of a heartbreaking 28-27 Homecoming loss to Georgetown (3-4, 3-2 Patriot), William and Mary football (3-6, 1-5 Patriot) traveled to face conference foe Colgate (5-4, 4-2 Patriot) Saturday, Oct. 31 at Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, N.Y.
In its arguably most uninspiring performance of the campaign, the Tribe fell 37-0 to the Raiders.
The shutout marked the Tribe’s fifth consecutive loss in the Patriot League, with its only conference win coming in its season opener against Villanova (5-4, 4-2 Patriot).
While the Tribe mustered 142 yards of total offense Saturday afternoon, Colgate recorded its season-high with 519 yards. The Raiders possessed the ball for nearly 39 of the 60 minutes.
Colgate also limited William and Mary to just 66 rushing yards, well below the Tribe’s season average.
Despite the outcome, the Tribe held its ground in the first quarter, keeping the score at 0-0.
In the second quarter, however, Colgate took full control.
Colgate freshman running back O’Shea Faison took advantage of a tired Tribe defense. He completed a 13-play, 90-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run.
After another quick three-and-out by the Tribe offense, the Raiders extended their lead to 14-0. Colgate senior quarterback Jake Stearney connected with freshman wide receiver Peyton Way for a 27-yard touchdown reception.
Way ended the day with 10 catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns, outperforming his previous 89 yards in seven games.
William and Mary’s first-half drives on offense offered no answer. Junior quarterback Winston Watkins and sophomore quarterback Isaiah French spent the afternoon under constant pressure, taking five combined sacks for a loss of 28 yards.
Any hopes of a second-half comeback quickly evaporated. Although the Tribe received the ball first, the visiting team stalled after only three plays.
The quick three-and-out forced sophomore punter Carter Boyd back onto the field. Boyd — one of the few bright spots during an otherwise challenging afternoon — logged six punts for 230 yards, including a 54-yard boot that pinned Colgate inside its own 20-yard line.
With the defense stuck on the field for long periods, however, solid punt coverage mattered little. Colgate ran 79 total plays on the afternoon, converting 10 of 15 third downs.
Midway through the third quarter, Stearney connected with Way another time, extending the Raiders’ lead to 27-0.
Stearney recorded his third passing touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter, finding sophomore wide receiver P.J. Holmes from nine yards out. A third field goal for senior kicker Luke Vogeler concluded a miserable afternoon for the visiting Tribe.
The Tribe returns to action Saturday, Nov. 7 against Lafayette (3-5, 2-3 Patriot) at Zable Stadium in Williamsburg, Va.
