Overview
- William & Mary rallied for 13 points in the final minute to beat Villanova 35-32 on Friday night, capped by Max Lipinski’s 45-yard field goal as time expired.
- The decisive sequence began with Lipinski’s field goal with 53 seconds left, a recovered onside kick, Winston Watkins’ 37-yard touchdown to Kai Austin that tied the game, Cade Ellis’ interception of Pat McQuaide, and Lipinski’s game-winning kick.
- Lipinski was perfect on five field-goal attempts, Winston Watkins finished with 254 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and 72 rushing yards, and William & Mary’s defense forced four takeaways.
- Villanova’s Pat McQuaide threw three interceptions after a preliminary injunction cleared him to play hours before kickoff, and the loss ends the Wildcats’ nine-game streak of season-opening wins under coach Mark Ferrante.
- Both teams were making their Patriot League debuts after leaving the CAA, and the upset could reshape early league pecking order while giving William & Mary momentum and forcing Villanova to reassess before a multi-game road stretch.