FCS Notes: Tribe-Villanova game on national TV

Tribe-Villanova game on national TV

William and Mary coach Jimmye Laycock calls the national exposure the fifth-ranked Tribe will get from Saturday's televised game (Versus Network) at No.2 Villanova "kind of an extra thing."

He's more concerned about the test the Tribe will get from the Wildcats. William and Mary, 1-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association and 4-0 overall, hasn't beaten Villanova (1-0, 4-0) in the past four meetings.

"This team looks, from what I've seen, to be as good, if not better, than any of those other teams," Laycock said. "We've got our work cut out for us, so we've got to concentrate on that."

Villanova comes in averaging 228 yards rushing, which ranks sixth in Football Championship Subdivision. Wildcats quarterback Chris Whitney is averaging 69 yards rushing and 126.5 yards passing.

William and Mary's defense is yielding just 59 yards rushing, which ranks eighth.

"You aren't looking at a team that's one dimensional on offense," Laycock said. "They can run and mix in the pass. . . . There's not just one player you can concentrate on, either. You've got to be able to cover the whole field, and they've got the opportunity, and certainly the ability, to make big plays."

Laycock, on comparing this team with some of the other good teams he's had: "I'm not into comparing anything. We've played four games, so all that means is the worst we can be is 4-7. . . . You kind of don't look at the overall thing until probably the season's over -- at least I don't. We're just trying to be a little better this week."

JMU has tough stretch looming

With the three teams ranked in the top 5 in FCS on the horizon, the temptation to go into cruise control and look ahead will be something James Madison coach Mickey Matthews tries to guard against this week.

The seventh-ranked Dukes (2-1) play at Hofstra (2-2), a team it clocked 56-0 last year. The Pride lost to Richmond 47-0 earlier this season.

JMU follows Hofstra with games that should decide the pecking order in the CAA: at home against No.1 Richmond, at home against No.2 Villanova, and at No.5 William and Mary.

VMI's Hughes makes most of his turn at QB

Kyle Hughes took most of the snaps at quarterback for Virginia Military Institute in last week's 38-28 loss to Richmond, but Keydets coach Sparky Woods expects to continue to use Hughes and Tim Maypray at the controls of his option offense.

"Next week, it may be Tim more at quarterback, then the week after that it may be Kyle," Woods said. "I think when we have both in the game, we're better."

Hughes, a senior, started against UR and had 133 yards rushing and 141 passing. He scored two touchdowns and passed for two more and was named the Big South Conference's offensive player of the week.

Maypray, a dangerous runner who can also play slotback, carried five times for 20 yards and caught a 44-yard TD pass from Hughes.

"Kyle really stepped up going into this game," Woods said. "This was our best plan, I thought. I was very impressed. We talk about Tim, because he is a very fast runner, but I saw Kyle Hughes go 66 yards against the defending national champions. So he can run as well, too." -- Tim Pearrell