Overview

Two teams headed in two completely different directions. W&M hasn’t won an A-10 game since the middle of last year, coming off a loss vs. Villanova. Towson, on the other hand, Just hung 49 on Delaware in Delaware, who coming into that game was playing spectacular football. This one could get ugly. Fast.

When Towson has the Ball

Towson OL vs. W&M DL

Towson’s OL hasn’t been great this year, and that’s putting it nicely. They have given up 7 more sacks than a bad W&M O-Line, and sit at 23 on the year. The line is mixed up nicely with a senior, 2 juniors, a freshman and a sophomore. The Tribe D-Line is highlighted by the ends, freshman Adrian Tracy and senior Josh Wright. Tracy is third on the team in tackles, 5th in the A-10 in tackles for loss(11), and 3 sacks. Wright, a captain, is around the middle of the pack in tackles, leads the team with 4 sacks, and has 6.5 tackles for loss. Wright is flat-out fun to watch. Another key lineman is CJ Herbert, who has blocked several field goals this year. Pressure will be huge for the Tribe. Schaefer will eat them up otherwise.

Towson Running Game vs. W&M LB’s

Not Towson’s thing. The leading rusher, junior Nick Williams, only has 55 ypg, and is followed by RaSheed McClaud, with 27, and Matt Castor with 21. They only average 90 yards per game on the ground, and the Tribe has improved it’s run stopping in the last 2 weeks. This week we will be without Trevor McLaurin and Josh Rutter, who I’m not sure will play again this year. Luckily, we came into the season deep here, and that start with Michael Pigram, who was a player last week. Not only did he completely crush a Villanova player, he is 4th on the team in tackles, got a TFL(3.5 on the year), and forced 2, count ‘em, 2 fumbles. Now we move to senior Travis McLaurin, a captain last year, has gotten a half a TFL each of the last 2 weeks, a pick vs. JMU, and 42 tackles on the year. The 3rd LB is senior Chris Ndubueze. Chris has 2 sacks and 3 TFL and is another one of my favorite players to watch. If the Tribe run D plays more like it did against JMU rather than Liberty or UMass, we should be fine in this section.

Towson Passing Game vs. W&M DB’s

And this is where we lose the game. Towson SOPHOMORE quarterback Sean Schaefer is a star already, and the numbers speak for themselves. 316 yards per game, 4 INTs and 14 TD’s, over 2200 yards, and completely lit up Delaware last weekend. Senior WR Eric Yancey has caught 8 of those TD’s and pulled in 52 catches for 642 yards. He has 3 other receivers averaging over(or around) 50 ypg, in Harrison, Lee, and Brown. When it comes to stopping Towson’s passing, I’m not holding my breathe. Why? Schaefer will be going up against a team that gave up almost 300 yards through the air to Villanova, and just looked lost last week. I thought the DB’s would be much better with a combo of Allen, Riley, Cox, and Wheeling, but they just haven’t produced consistently. The DB’s only have 3 picks on the year, and I fully expect them to get chewed up on Saturday.

When W&M has the ball

W&M OL vs. Towson DL

Finally. The Tribe O-Line played well last week, giving Potts some time to get the ball out and giving Elijah Brooks all kinds of holes. They have given up 16 sacks on the year, but the O-Line has played much better when Potts is in. Coincidence? The Towson D-Line, all upperclassmen, have gotten few sacks this year. End John Webb has gotten a couple with 2.5. Both tackles, Carlos Allen and George Mitchell, have gotten sacks on the year also, but nothing from either of Towson’s lines seem to blow you away. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Tribe dominated the trenches Saturday.

W&M Running Game vs. Towson LB’s

As I already stated, Elijah Brooks got some holes last week and ran for 142 and 2 TD’s. He has really come on lately and has some all kinds of passion. Elijah has gone for over 100 3 times and hit 99 once. I am going to predict Elijah goes over 100 again Saturday. DeBrian Holmes has been getting more playing time recently, and Elliot Mack has become a big-time threat on reverse plays in the last few weeks. Towson starts 4 LB’s, headed by senior Marcus Edwards who has 3 sacks and 9 tackles for loss. He starts with fellow senior Tony Lumpkin, who has 4 TFL on the year, junior Maurice Wilkins, who has broken up 4 passes this season, and sophomore Jordan Manning, who leads the team in tackles, has 7 tackles for loss, and an interception.

W&M Passing Game vs. Towson DB’s

The Tribe passing game is much better with Mike Potts in, but I wouldn’t be suprised if we see Phillips this weekend. Potts has been much better passing this year, but some of Jimmye’s decisions so far have me thinking JP is the new QB. Anyway, the receivers have been solid all year. Led by junior Joe Nicholas, who has put up solid numbers just about every week, he has really been a constant when the QB’s haven’t. RJ Archer’s numbers aren’t spectacular, but every week the converted QB makes a great play of some sort to help out the team. DJ McAulay has missed the last 3 weeks, but has been pretty good on the year and should play this weekend. Matt Trinkle and Drew Atchison have been nothing short of fantastic in the past couple games, chewing up the opposing D’s. Towson only plays 3 DB’s, 2 juniors and a senior. Backup free-safety Drew Mack has 2 picks, and left cornerback Adjete Wilson also has one. They average a little over 172, yards per game, but we little shot of exploiting them if Phillips is starting.

Special Teams

Derek Cox has been okay returning, and I think he breaks one before the end of the season. David Caldwell has been pretty good taking back kickoffs after taking DeBrian Holmes duties. Blair Pritchard has really come on lately at kicker, making most of his kicks no matter the outside factors(save JMU). Eric Yancey and Jimmy McClam take back kicks for Towson and don’t seem to be much better than the Tribes return men. Towson’s kicker, Chris Desautels, has only made 4 of 8 kicks this year and has missed a PAT. Luckily for Towson, it probably won’t matter.

Final Prediction

Towson rolls, but here are my 3 predicted scores.

If Phillips starts:42-7

If Phillips and Potts play:42-14

If Potts starts:42-21

Links

Towson stats

W&M stats

W&M notes

Towson roster

W&M roster

Towson message board

W&M message board