Friends of the Feather, the Tribe is still alive! Behind explosive performances from seniors Jonathan Grimes and Marcus Hyde, Chief Laycock and The College continued its dominance over Sean McDonnell and the Wildcats of New Hampshire. From a game full of them, here are the Top 5 Takeaways from William & Mary’s victory last Saturday afternoon:

1. Stand Up and Shout!!!!

In addition to my passion about football, basketball and all things The College, The Gale also moonlights as an unpaid, un-credentialed, movie aficionado.  In the days following the Tribe’s resurgent victory this past weekend, this song from the Marky Mark (that’s right folks, from the Funky Bunch – none of this “Mark Wahlberg” crap) film Rock Star kept popping in my head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljssNSR72qY&feature=related.  Last week’s T5T asked if the Tribe’s “Attitude Era” had passed.  As if they were all readers, the team stood up on Saturday and shouted – “Playoffs or Bust!!!” And after their inspired performance on Saturday, it seems that’s what the collective Tribe is shouting as well.
*Note: Whether you are a fan of the film Rock Star or not, it’s worth an hour or two of your life just to see Jennifer Aniston. But that’s a whole ‘nother Top 5 list.

2. A Sore Back

First off, a collective congratulations to Jonathan Grimes from The Gale and all of the Friends of the Feather on breaking the school rushing record last Saturday.  The T5T has mentioned before that there is no better ambassador for The College, and no one more deserving of success than #34.  So, thank you JG for four great years, and congratulations on a well-deserved place atop the Tribe’s all-time rushing list.

Tribe RB Jonathan Grimes is congratulated by teammates upon breaking the school's all-time rushing record.

Second, it’s one thing to break a record with a short run in the 2nd quarter of an insignificant game.  It is a whole ‘nother thing to do what JG did on Saturday and turn in one of the better individual performances of his career, at a moment in his senior year when the offense, and his team, had been left for dead by just about everyone.  As if to put his own unique signature on an already impressive record, JG catapulted himself to the top of the rushing list by rushing for 169 yards on 28 carries for an average of six yards per carry.  And if that wasn’t enough, he also hauled in three Brent Caprio passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns, including a 72-yard, tightrope-walking, highlight-reel inspiring jaunt down the sideline that made The College remember what offensive explosion looked like.  Simply said, when his team needed him most, Jonathan Grimes did what all the great ones do – he rose up and he carried them to victory.

3. Dr. Marcus and Mr. Hyde

He's just a sack machine! Tribe DE Marcus Hyde set a team record with 4 sacks in the first half and 5 for the game against New Hampshire.

After his performance against UNH, was there really any question who the T5T Nickname of the Week was going to?  After his modern-era record [only modern-era because according to the W&M program from the JMU game, Walt Brodie holds the single-game record for sack with his 6 against VMI in 1955] for sacks in a single-game, the senior defensive end from Manassas will now only be known to The Gale as Dr. Marcus and Mr. Hyde – the good doctor of sacks and a backfield terror befitting of Stevenson’s portrayal.  Dr. Marcus and Mr. Hyde’s performance not only eclipsed Luke Cullinane’s modern-era record of 3.5 sacks, it also tied him for the second-best performance in I-AA history.  The I-AA record is held by SE Louisiana’s Damien Huren who tallied six against Northern Colorado in 2004.  Dr. Marcus and Mr. Hyde finished the game with nine total tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks, a forced fumble and a pass break-up.  A notable performance in any game, DMMH’s came against a Payton Award Finalist Kevin Decker-led UNH offense that came into the game leading CAA in passing yards, total offense, and scoring offense.

4. Hail to the Chief

He may not agree with this – in fact, he almost certainly wouldn’t – but Saturday’s victory has to rank up there as one of the sweetest of Coach Laycock’s illustrious career.  Now, that could certainly change if the Tribe comes back and lays an egg against Towson, ODU, or Richmond and the Green & Gold miss the playoffs, but in a season that has just felt off thus far, Saturday felt oh so right.  The team played with an intensity that frankly, has been absent since the 2010 squad demolished Richmond in the annual Battle of I-64.  As The Gale has pointed out before, one of the head coach’s most important duties is to instill a certain swagger in his team.  For the first time in the 2011 campaign, the Tribe had just that.  If a lack of it falls on Coach Laycock, then its appearance must be attributed to him as well.  When they needed it most, the Chief and his Tribe rose up and proclaimed that although down, they are far from out.

5. Play of the Game

W&M LB Jabrel Mines' play early in the game was overshadowed by Grimes record setting day, but it had an impact on the game.

There were a number of notable plays in Saturday’s game and it is certainly debatable which one was the play of the game.  But for this humble blogger, the turning point in the game came with a little under nine minutes still left in the first quarter.  After a Brent Caprio interception ended the Tribe’s first drive, Kevin Decker and the New Hampshire offense took command and were methodically driving down the field.  Looking efficient and unflappable, the Wildcats seemed destined to score the first of many touchdowns.

On first down from the W&M 29, the ‘Cats tried a sweep right with Dontra Peters, but Brian Thompson knifed through UNH’s blockers and planted him for a six-yard loss. On the corresponding 2nd-and 16, Decker found Peters for a eight-yard completion. He was met by a swarm of Gang Green defenders, one of whom was Jabrel “Claymore” Mines.  M-10 ripped the ball out of Peters’ arms and brought a promising Wildcat drive to an abrupt end.

Not only did it keep UNH off of the scoreboard, it set the tone that Gang Green would not go quietly into the Williamsburg afternoon.  It turned out to be the first of four turnovers forced by Gang Green amidst a bend-but-don’t-break effort that tallied six sacks and twelve tackles-for-loss en route to holding UNH to a season-low 10 points.  That first forced fumble set the tone for the day and was another outstanding play by the Tribe’s most outstanding player of the 2011 season.

HARK