Week 8 brings Homecoming festivities to William & Mary, and not just in name. The Tribe host Towson on Oct. 21, marking their first home game in a month. 

The return home to Zable Stadium provides a key opportunity for the defending Coastal Athletic Association champions to return to form after a two-game losing skid sent William & Mary into its bye week. The Tribe followed their 14-6 defeat Sept. 30 at Elon with a loss Oct. 7 against Atlantic Coast Conference counterpart Virginia, putting the bye at an opportune time. 

"We're about as healthy as we've been [since] toward the beginning of the season," said William & Mary coach Mike London. "When you're in the mix right now and playing all these games, the soft-tissue injuries are prevalent. But you figure out a way and find a way to make the next game count." 

Most prominent among the injuries William & Mary has faced is the absence of Bronson Yoder over the last two games. Yoder averaged more than 100 yards rushing per game and scored four touchdowns in the Tribe's first four games. 

Yoder's availability is a subplot to watch, both in Week 8 and beyond as the Tribe seek back-to-back league titles. 

William & Mary is a game behind Delaware and looking to avoid losing any further ground, while Towson comes in two games back. Despite their 1-2 conference start, the Tigers have shown championship-caliber fight in coach Pete Shinnick's first season at the helm. 

Towson already knocked off one-half of the defending CAA co-champions, beating New Hampshire in a 54-51 overtime classic on Sept. 30. The following week, the "Tigers went to the final minutes in a 24-17 tussle with a UAlbany team near the front of the pack in the early stretch. 

"I try to gauge everything [on] how close are you going into the fourth quarter of the games you're winning and losing," Shinnick said. "And really, the two games we've won — won in overtime [vs. UNH] and the Morgan State win could have gone either way. And then the three games we've lost against FCS opponents, with five minutes to go, we're in every game." 

Being in striking distance the stretch is a testament to Towson's array of weapons on both sides of the ball. The Tigers are capable of matching up with any opponent in the CAA across each phase. 

D'Ago Hunter is one of the most dynamic X-factors in college football and a potential difference-maker both on special teams and on offense as either a pass-catcher or ball-carrier. 

On Oct. 7, D'Ago Hunter surpassed 4⃣,0⃣0⃣0⃣ career all-purpose yards at Towson.#GohTigers | #Arete pic.twitter.com/orUrVNvJdK

— Towson Football (@Towson_FB) October 18, 2023

Hunter's potential to flip a game with a single play will challenge a William & Mary defense that has been the conference's best. 

The Tribe come into Week 8 leading the league and ranked third nationally in scoring defense, holding opponents to 13.5 points a contest. The run defense gives up just 3.2 yards per carry and 102.7 a game, and is second in FCS against the pass at 140 yards given up an outing. 

"I just don't know what we've seen them out of position," Shinnick said of evaluating the Tribe's defensive film. "They're going to make you work for every inch, every yard that you get, because they're going to be in the right spot. Their d-line is dynamic, two of the top sack performers [defensive end Nate Lynn and linebacker John Pius] in the conference and in the country."

let. nate. eat. #GoTribe pic.twitter.com/jSBKVtN2XH

— William & Mary Tribe Football (@WMTribeFootball) October 17, 2023

Protecting quarterback Nathan Kent will be a key task for Towson to mount any consistent offensive attack. Conversely, the Tigers' ability to get to William & Mary quarterback Darius Wilson and slow the Tribe — coming off producing four sacks vs. UAlbany — is central to limiting the hosts. 

PREDICTION: William & Mary 27, Towson 16 

Monmouth at Elon 

Saturday's pairing is the first-ever between Monmouth and Elon. The lack of precedent only adds to the stark contrast between these teams, at least statistically, to this point in the 2023 season.

Monmouth comes into Rhodes Stadium third in the CAA in scoring at 37.2 points per game. Elon is 13th at 19.4 points a contest. However, the Phoenix have held opponents to 22.7 points per game, and FCS opponents to 20.3 per. 

When it wins, Elon limits competition to just 11 points a game; in its wins, Monmouth has put up 50.3 points per. 

Coming off its most prolific showing of the season, Monmouth comes in with reigning CAA Offensive Player of the Year Jaden Shirden riding high. Shirden erupted for 276 yards against Hampton and four touchdowns. He now leads the conference in rushing at 135.3 per game, and ranks third in the FCS. 

"If he gets to the second level and makes somebody miss, you're not catching him. He's dangerous," Elon coach Tony Trisciani said of Shirden. 

Trisciani also lauded the play of Hawks quarterback Marquez McCray, noting that while this is McCray's first season in the CAA, his experience starting at Sacred Heart provides him with veteran savvy. The Elon coach also noted the presence of wide receiver Dymere Miller, whose 92 yards per game lead the CAA. 

The Phoenix defense need another big performance from do-everything defensive back Caleb Curtain. Curtain's ability to help in the run game was critical in shutting down William & Mary, and has been a centerpiece for Elon all season. 

Elon had its winning streak at Rhodes Stadium snapped with its loss two weeks ago to North Carolina Central. The Phoenix will look to ignite a new streak on Saturday. Dictating the tempo against the potent Monmouth offense will prove paramount. A score in the 20s benefits the home team; if Monmouth can push the pace and break 30 points, the Hawks have the advantage. 

 PREDICTION: Monmouth 34, Elon 28 

Rhode Island at UAlbany

Coming off its first loss to an FCS opponent this season, UAlbany returns to Tom & Mary Casey Stadium for its 2023 Homecoming Game. Like William & Mary, which plays a Homecoming contest in multiple senses of the word, Saturday is the Great Danes' first time on Bob Ford Field in almost a month, and just their third home date of the season. 

UAlbany dropped a classic last week at New Hampshire, 38-31, despite an outstanding performance from its passing attack. Quarterback Reese Poffenbarger threw for 373 yards and four touchdowns, with receivers Julian Hicks and Brevin Easton combining for 268 yards and each of the four scores. 

2️⃣6️⃣8️⃣ combined total yards ✔
4️⃣ TDs ✔@Brevineaston01 & @Juehicks went OFF#UAUKNOW #WinTheDay 🟪🟨 pic.twitter.com/IODPYjckAQ

— UAlbany Football (@UAlbanyFootball) October 16, 2023

"He's starting to get back on his game," Great Danes coach Greg Gattuso said of Poffenbarger, the 2022 Jerry Rice Award contender and last year's CAA Rookie of the Year. "We had such a tough early schedule with...the travel schedule and weather and everything, it held him down a little bit. But I thought he played a good game [at UNH] He gave us a chance to win [and] that's all you can ask out of your quarterback." 

Poffenbarger had a modest statistical outing in his meeting with Rhode Island a season ago, going 19-of-39 for 248 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Jordan Jones, who made the pick, is gone. However, the Rams defense this season features breakout playmaker Syeed Gibbs with his three picks and three pass break-ups on the year. 

The turnover battle could factor prominently into Saturday's matchup. URI is plus-three in takeaways in four wins, but minus-four in its three losses. 

Generating pressure on Kasim Hill is crucial for creating turnover opportunities. After dominating opposing fronts leading into Week 7, UAlbany went without a sack at New Hampshire. The Rams have given up 15 sacks, an average of a little more than two per game. 

PREDICTION: UAlbany 31, Rhode Island 21