William & Mary opens FCS season with 10-point comeback in final minute to stun Villanova

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College football is back with a bang: In an FCS Week Zero treat, William & Mary pulled off a massive double-digit comeback against Villanova on the road in less than a minute of play.

After finding themselves down 10 points late in the fourth quarter, the Tribe stormed back for a 35-32 win at Villanova.

The Tribe began their rally with a 40-yard Max Lipinski field goal with 53 second left in the game. Desperately needing a touchdown, William & Mary recovered an onside kick inside the Villanova 40 after it bounced off a Wildcat.

Three plays later, W&M starting quarterback Winston Watkins lofted the ball deep to receiver Kai Austin, who cradled it for a 37-yard touchdown. With an extra point, that was enough for William & Mary to stunningly tie the game with 22 seconds left.

But the Tribe wasn't done: Wildcats QB Pat McQuaide tried to throw deep with the clock winding down and instead got picked off by Cade Ellis. (The interception was Ellis' second on McQuaide that night, and McQuaide's third in all.)

With 5 seconds left, that set up Lipinski's 45-yard field goal to win the game, completing one of the wildest comebacks you'll see this season.

It was quite a start to the season for William & Mary, which is in its first year in the Patriot League after nearly a decade in the Coastal Athletic conference.

Villanova had headed into the game ranked No. 8 in the NCAA FCS preseason poll, while William & Mary was receiving votes.

Quite a bit of credit goes to Lipinski, a transfer from James Madison with limited in-game experience. Lipinski went a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals, including the game-winner. Sophomore kicker Sam Braidwood, though, was the player who got the successful onside kick.

The loss to William & Mary sours Villanova's home opener, especially as the Wildcats are about to embark on a three-game road trip to continue the season — including an FBS matchup against Louisville on Sept. 11. The Tribe, meanwhile, will face their own FBS challenge with a game against Duke on Sept. 26.

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