WILLIAMSBURG — William & Mary returns home Saturday looking to rebound from its worst loss of the season when Holy Cross visits Zable Stadium for a Patriot League matchup.
The Tribe (2-3, 1-2 Patriot League) was beaten 62-7 by defending ACC champion Duke last Saturday. William & Mary’s lone touchdown came on a 6-yard pass from quarterback Winston Watkins to running back Jack Reuter, set up by a 63-yard catch from freshman wide receiver Khylil Johnson. The Tribe also missed a 53-yard field goal and turned the ball over on downs at Duke’s 5-yard line.
Watkins completed 8 of 14 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in the first half. He enters Saturday’s game leading the Patriot League in passing efficiency at 150.1, with 936 passing yards and five touchdowns this season. He has also rushed for 318 yards and three touchdowns.
Johnson has emerged as one of the Tribe’s biggest big-play threats. The freshman is averaging 22.1 yards per reception, which leads the Patriot League and ranks sixth nationally, according to William & Mary.
Running back Andrew King is averaging 79.5 yards per game and 6.12 yards per carry. He has averaged 91 yards rushing over his last three appearances.
The Tribe also has been among the nation’s better teams at creating turnovers. William & Mary enters Saturday with a plus-five turnover margin and has forced at least one turnover in 23 of its last 27 games dating to 2024.
Linebacker Harrison Johnson leads the defense with 49 tackles, an average of 9.8 per game.
Holy Cross (1-4, 1-2) comes to Williamsburg after snapping a four-game losing streak with a 38-30 victory at Lafayette last Saturday. Quarterback David Lynch is averaging 218.4 passing yards per game and has thrown four touchdown passes. Wide receiver Lincoln Fisher has 16 catches for 274 yards and four touchdowns, while running back Joseph Williams is averaging 53.2 rushing yards per game.
Defensively, Holy Cross is led by linebacker Adam Due, who has 50 tackles, two sacks, six tackles for loss and an interception.
Holy Cross leads the all-time series 2-0. The teams last met in 1987, when the Crusaders won 40-7 in Williamsburg.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at Zable Stadium. It is William & Mary’s annual White Out and National Marrow Donor Program game and will stream on ESPN+. The game also will be broadcast on 92.3 The Tide and 107.9 FM and online at TideRadio.com.
