DURHAM (Interstat) — William & Mary used a late field goal and a missed North Carolina Central kick to secure a 17-14 victory Saturday in a NCAA Football Championship Division game at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. The announced attendance was 11,735. The Tribe improved to 3-4, while the Eagles fell to 2-5.

The game remained scoreless in the first quarter, though William & Mary threatened when Max Lipinski attempted a 49-yard field goal with 3:37 remaining. The kick missed. Early in the second quarter, North Carolina Central’s Riley Daniels missed a 39-yard field goal with 13:29 left. The Tribe broke through later in the half, and Jack Reuter scored a touchdown to put William & Mary ahead. The Eagles answered when Joshua Jones rushed up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown with 7:59 remaining, and Daniels’ extra point tied the game. North Carolina Central later got a 50-yard run from G. Addison with 6:33 left, but the score remained tied at halftime.

In the third quarter, Winston Watkins connected with Alfred Honesty on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 7:40 remaining. Braidwood’s extra point gave William & Mary the lead. North Carolina Central responded with 6:16 left when Cobey Thompkins rushed up the middle for a 69-yard touchdown, and Daniels’ kick tied the game again. In the fourth quarter, Max Lipinski made a 41-yard field goal with 12:13 remaining to put the Tribe ahead. North Carolina Central had a chance to answer, but Daniels missed a 32-yard field goal with 6:56 left. William & Mary then held on for the win.

Watkins, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound quarterback from Pasadena, Md., completed 7 of 18 passes for 106 yards and one touchdown. He also ran 10 times for 16 yards. Joshua Jones, a 6-foot, 185-pound quarterback, completed 9 of 21 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown for North Carolina Central. Cobey Thompkins, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound quarterback, completed 8 of 18 passes for 61 yards and ran five times for 98 yards and one touchdown.

William & Mary’s defense was led by Christopher Higgins and Elijah Rainer, who each made eight tackles. Davin Dzidzienyo recorded six tackles and one sack, while Ty Gordon also had six tackles. Jaden Boring and Cade Ellis each finished with five tackles. Clayton Dobler had four tackles and one quarterback hurry, and David Roulley and Jaden Ratliff each made four tackles. Stephon Hicks added three tackles and one sack, while Gerald Williams and Brendan Robinson each had three tackles. Trevon Cannon, Brady Echols and Lucas Allen each made two tackles. Cameryn Heath, Caleb Martin, Nathaniel McDonald and Leonte Oulahi each recorded one tackle. Hayden Raley also had one tackle. David Roulley, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound defensive back, made four tackles. Clayton Dobler, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound linebacker, had four tackles and one quarterback hurry. Jaden Ratliff, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound defensive back, made four tackles. Jaden Boring, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound linebacker, had five tackles. Cade Ellis had five tackles. Davin Dzidzienyo, a 6-foot-4, 295-pound defensive lineman, made six tackles and one sack. Ty Gordon, a 6-foot-1, 285-pound defensive lineman, had six tackles. Christopher Higgins made eight tackles. Elijah Rainer, a 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker, had eight tackles. Cameryn Heath, a 6-foot, 285-pound defensive lineman, made one tackle. Caleb Martin, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive lineman, had one tackle. Nathaniel McDonald, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end, made one tackle. Stephon Hicks, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker, had three tackles and one sack. Leonte Oulahi, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver, made one tackle. Hayden Raley, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive lineman, had one tackle. Trevon Cannon, a 5-foot-11, 160-pound defensive back, made two tackles. Brady Echols, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive lineman, had two tackles. Lucas Allen had two tackles. Gerald Williams, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive lineman, made three tackles. Brendan Robinson, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back, had three tackles.

For North Carolina Central, M.J. Campbell, a 6-foot, 250-pound linebacker, had four tackles and one quarterback hurry. Amari Sifford had four tackles and one interception. Wade Harris, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound defensive back, made four tackles. Ayden Davis, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound defensive back, had five tackles. Khareem Thompson had five tackles and two quarterback hurries. Zarion Walters, a 6-foot-2, 255-pound defensive lineman, made six tackles and one sack. Camereon Cartlidge, a 6-foot-1, 224-pound linebacker, had eight tackles. Jakarri Martin II, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound defensive back, made eight tackles and one interception. Jayden Walker had four tackles. Team of North Carolina Central had one punt for no yards. Riley Daniels handled kicking duties and missed two field goals.

Alfred Honesty caught three passes for 68 yards and a touchdown for William & Mary. Jacob Mullins added one reception for 31 yards, Kai Austin had one for 5 yards, Sean McElwain had one for 2 yards, and Khylil Johnson had one reception for no yards. Josh Miller returned three kickoffs for 57 yards, and Ryan Vail returned one punt for 11 yards. Carter Boyd punted seven times for 302 yards. Lipinski made a 41-yard field goal and missed a 49-yard attempt, while Braidwood converted an extra point. Reuter scored a touchdown for the Tribe. MJ Jackson Jr. also appeared for William & Mary.

Mehki Wall caught three passes for 35 yards for North Carolina Central, Luke Bracey had one reception for 16 yards, and RJ Lancaster had one catch for 14 yards. G. Addison broke off a 50-yard run. North Carolina Central’s team recorded one punt for no yards.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of North Carolina Central 54, William & Mary 34. Interstat’s ELO system had projected North Carolina Central with a 68 percent probability to win. William & Mary had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +3. The total score of 31 went over the over/under line of 57.5.