Football Championship Subdivision notes

Increased workload suits VMI's Abegesah

Virginia Military Institute coach Sparky Woods was glad to see that fullback Howard Abegesah was tired when he got on the bus for the trip back from Clinton, S.C., on Saturday.

Abegesah responded to a significantly increased workload as VMI (1-3, 2-5) snapped a five-game losing streak and picked up its first road win since 2007 and its first Big South Conference road win since 2005 by beating Presbyterian 31-20.

The 6-0, 220-pound senior carried the ball 25 times for 165 yards and three touchdowns as VMI racked up 424 yards rushing. Abegesah moved into fifth place on the Big South's career rushing list with 2,427 yards. He needs 53 yards against Charleston Southern this week to pass Liberty's Zach Terrell for fourth place.

Abegesah had 775 yards last year as VMI's option attack led Football Championship Subdivision in rushing with 357.5 yards per game. That figure has dropped to 244.1 yards this season. Abegesah had 366 yards on 77 carries before Saturday's output.

"He hasn't had the year that I know he hoped he would," Woods said. "That's a lot of credit to the defenses we've played. Howard did have a chance to get the ball a few times Saturday. He did break some tackles, too.

"He's a hard-nosed runner. If you let him started, he can get a lot of yardage. I thought he had an exceptional day. He made a lot of plays."

Tribe's Grimes all-purpose threat

William and Mary sophomore running back Jonathan Grimes has become quite a weapon in several areas for the Tribe.

Last year's Colonial Athletic Association rookie of the year leads the conference in rushing (91.6 yards) and all-purpose yards (137.7). He ranks 20th and 19th, respectively, in those categories nationally.

Grimes had 158 yards rushing in last week's 24-3 victory over James Madison. He also had three catches for 12 yards and 32 return yards.

He has 24 catches this season, the top mark for a CAA back.

"He's got a lot of ability, but he has a tremendous work ethic," William and Mary coach Jimmye Laycock said. "If you take that ability and keep working at it and keep working at it, you're bound to get better. That's what he's done. He's not content to just stay the way he is. He's all about full speed. He continues to become a better and better back and a very good all-around football player."

• With fifth-ranked William and Mary at 6-1 going into Saturday's game at Rhode Island (0-4, 1-6), Laycock is assured of his 20th winning season in 30 years with the Tribe. "You never take anything for granted," he said. "Every year is tough, every year is a challenge. You do the best you can every year with your players. Nowadays, with the competition level of college football, a winning season is certainly something in which everyone takes pride."

  Jackson makes most of opportunity

With James Madison needing help on offense, the Dukes moved Griff Yancey from free safety to running back three games ago.

That created an opening on defense for true freshman Jakarie Jackson, who has turned in a couple of eye-opening performances for the Dukes (2-5).

In the past two games, the 5-11, 180-pound free safety out of Frederick, Md., has been in on 19 tackles. He had a team-high 10 against William and Mary.

"He's probably he best true freshman we've had around here," JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. "He is really playing well at safety and doing a lot of good things.

"Other than Arthur Moats, he is probably our best defensive player right now."

Moats, a senior defensive end, is on the Buck Buchanan Award watch list. The award goes to the top defensive player in FCS. - Tim Pearrell