A powerful rush leads William and Mary to escape Hampton

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WTKR) – All season long, the running game has been William & Mary’s calling card.

On Saturday, the tribe went to their formula early and it delivered a remarkable performance.

Mike London’s group ran 51 times for 434 yards, the third-best rushing record in school history, en route to a 49-7 victory over Hampton in the Coastal Athletic Association opener.

It was backup quarterback Tyler Hughes who came into the game in the fourth quarter and took the lead with 130 yards on the ground with just three carries. With seven minutes left in the game, he completed a 56-yard run that led to an eight-yard touchdown run. He then scored on a 66-yard rush with 3:15 left.

Darius Wilson completed 16 of his 19 passes for 198 yards and hit DreSean Kendrick for a touchdown pass in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7 after the Pirates scored on their second drive.

The starting quarterback also rushed for 85 yards and scored another score. Bronson Yoder rushed for 117 yards, while Malachi Imoh added 95 yards out of the backfield with two touchdowns on the ground.

Hampton got off to the right start, recovering a fumble on an option pitch on W&M’s first drive of the contest. After Chris Zellous was substituted on the following play, Trent Boykin’s group forced a stop and immediately went to work. They completed an 11-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a five-yard touchdown from Elijah Burris to make it 7-0.

After that, the guests never got back into the rhythm. Hampton hit the ball eight times in the game, the only attempt that didn’t end in a kick after the opening score was a turnover on downs in the third quarter with the score at 28-7.

Zellous would go 6 of 14 for 44 passing yards while rushing for 47 yards to give the Pirates the lead. Malcolm Mays also saw time behind center, passing for 40 yards.

Overall, William & Mary outscored Hampton 632 to 214 attacks.

With the win, the Tribe improves to 4-1 in 2024 and is 1-0 in CAA play. They’ll go back on the road next Saturday against Towson.

Hampton falls to 3-2 but will be eligible to return to Armstrong Stadium after three straight road games when Rhode Island comes to town next weekend.