FCS Notes

VMI looks for results

The improvement, Virginia Military Institute football coach Sparky Woods said, is there. Now, the wins just need to come with it.

The Keydets (0-1, 1-3) had a 10-point lead over Gardner-Webb going into the fourth quarter of their Big South Conference opener Saturday. But they couldn't finish it while absorbing a 27-23 loss.

"We were really sad after the loss," said Woods, whose team plays at Coastal Carolina on Saturday. "The reason we were so sad is we felt like we very easily could have won the game. That's not always been the case here. We're getting better. We're improving. It's unfortunate that it's much easier to show that improvement after you win . . . than if you lose.

"Nevertheless, the improvement's there. We don't want to turn our head on that. Try to build on the positives, correct the mistakes."

Gardner-Webb cut VMI's lead to 23-20 early in the fourth quarter with an 11-play, 75-yard drive. Then the Keydets fumbled at their 24 with 8:33 left, leading to the Bulldogs' go-ahead score.

VMI had the ball at the Gardner-Webb 9 in the final seconds after Greg Walker blocked a punt, but three passes fell incomplete.

"We just think the game Saturday came down to them making a few more plays than we did," Woods said.

"There's a lot of good things to point out in there as well. You just try to keep building and one day you make more plays than somebody else."

Tribe's Archer ties, sets passing mark

Tribe quarterback R.J. Archer tied a school record by completing 35 passes in the loss to Villanova. He established a school record by attempting 55.

Archer's 354 yards were the 15th highest total in Tribe history.

On the other side of the ball, William and Mary ranks 14th nationally in sacks with 3.2 per game going into this week's game against Northeastern (0-2, 0-5).

Penalties hamper William and Mary

When it comes to being penalized, the William and Mary football team usually keeps itself on the good side of officials.

That hasn't been the case this year.

The Tribe, which hasn't finished a season with more penalty yards than its opponents since 1997, has been flagged 34 times for 308 yards in five games. The opposition has been hit 27 times for 246 yards.

Eighth-ranked William and Mary (1-1, 4-1) had eight penalties for 75 yards in a 28-17 loss to second-ranked Villanova last week. One of those penalties, for unsportsmanlike conduct, kept alive a scoring drive that gave the Wildcats a 14-0 lead.

"Those kinds of things just happen sometimes," Tribe coach Jimmye Laycock said. "We made some mistakes and put ourselves in a bad situation, and hopefully we get those corrected and won't repeat them."

ODU's McClam adept at blocks

After five games, Old Dominion defensive lineman Edmon McClam has put himself in the FCS record book.

McClam, a 6-6 sophomore, has blocked five extra points. He had another one last week in a 34-29 loss to Fordham. Montana's Tim Hauck holds the career record with seven. - Tim Pearrell