FCS notes

Webb's return work noticed by coach

William and Mary coach Jimmye Laycock was dutifully impressed by the defensive work of Tribe redshirt freshman cornerback B.W. Webb against Virginia last week.

But he was just as impressed with Webb's punt-return work.

Webb had three interceptions, the last of which he returned 50 yards for the late touchdown that sealed the Tribe's 26-14 victory. That earned him defensive player-of-the-week honors from The Sports Network and the Colonial Athletic Association.

Webb also handled three punts for minus-2 yards. He didn't fumble.

"If you asked me about his game, it wouldn't be the three interceptions, it would be the punt returns," Laycock said. "That was unbelievable how he handled himself. He didn't let them coming down the field bother him. He probably should have used the fair catch a little more than he did" -- Laycock laughed -- "but he's very confident."

The Tribe had several defensive performances to savor as it returns from the stratosphere in time to play Central Connecticut State on Saturday in Williamsburg. Sophomore middle linebacker Jake Trantin had seven solo tackles, four assists, a sack and a fumble recovery, and senior end Adrian Tracy had eight solo tackles and two assists.

"Good gracious, [Trantin] was all over the field for us," Laycock said. "He played an unbelievable game. He forced a lot of the things. Some of the things didn't show up in the stats, but he was a big factor in terms of making plays for us defensively."

VMI's defense shows some improvement

VMI allowed 438 yards and 33.5 points per game last season. So last week's 14-13 victory over Robert Morris earned a measure of approval from coach Sparky Woods.

The Keydets yielded 267 yards, although Woods was concerned they missed some open-field tackles. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Eric Church, making his first college start, had 10 tackles at halftime and finished with 13. He was honored as the Big South Conference's defensive player of the week.

"I thought we were better, but we still gave up some third downs and a couple of big plays that we would like to eliminate," Woods said. "If we had not turned the ball over, we would have felt a lot better about the victory."

VMI, which runs an option offense, fumbled three times and had one pass intercepted. Last year, the Keydets fumbled 35 times, losing 16.

• Woods, on freshman kicker Jeff Sexton, who kicked the extra point after VMI scored the tying touchdown with 1:27 remaining in the game: "I told him we'd probably have to use him to win some games. Didn't know it would be the first one." Sexton endured a three-minute delay before the kick because Tim Maypray suffered a cramp in his right leg.

  ODU honors players from previous era

Old Dominion celebrated its revival of football Saturday by having on hand some of the men who played in its previous era.

ODU last played football from 1930-1940, when it was known as the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary.

One of those honored was 90-year-old Johnny Brown, who played safety and running back from 1936-39 and is in ODU's Hall of Fame. He trotted onto the field in a pregame ceremony.

Foreman Field has undergone a $24.8 renovation and added 26 luxury suites. Brown said the Foreman Field of his day (it opened in 1936) didn't "have much grass on it. In the middle of the field, there was a little hill. Now, it's all artificial turf." -- Tim Pearrell