THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, October 24, 1994               TAG: 9410240158
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: CHARLIE DENN
                                             LENGTH: Short :   47 lines

LOSS TO JMU MAY HAVE PUT TRIBE OUT OF PLAYOFF PICTURE

On paper, the numbers looked pretty even: William and Mary gained 387 yards and had 19 first downs; James Madison amassed 412 yards and 19 first downs.

How, then, to explain the Dukes' 33-7 triumph over the Tribe on Saturday?

William and Mary coach Jimmye Laycock and linebacker Greg Applewhite had some answers.

``We did a poor job of tackling,'' Laycock said. ``I thought we had made progress (defensively) the last couple of weeks, but today we took a step back.''

The Tribe had limited its last two opponents, Northeastern and Massachusetts, to 435 yards combined. But the Dukes' speed and ability to get outside led to big plays that resulted in touchdowns.

JMU had five plays that went for 20 or more yards. Four of them led to or produced a score. William and Mary also had five plays of 20 yards or more, but only one of them produced a score..

``They did have some speed,'' said Applewhite, who made seven tackles on the day. ``At first we seemed to be doing a good job of containing the run, but we didn't contain the quarterback.

``We missed way too many tackles,'' Applewhite said. ``They're a good offensive team, but the way we played, we made them look better than they are.''

Now the Tribe, 5-3 overall and losers of three of its last four games, will try to regroup this week at Villanova.

After Villanova, Willima and Mary hosts Maine on Nov. 5, then plays at Richmond on Nov. 19.

``If we can't put these last two games behind us, we may not win another game this season,'' said tailback Troy Keen.

The recent tailspin may also have taken the Tribe out of the postseason picture.

No more than three Yankee Conference teams have ever been selected for the 16-team postseason field. New Hampshire, Boston U and James Madison are 6-1 overall; UMass and Delaware 4-3.

The picture is crowded. And it is rapidly becoming a picture into which William and Mary no longer fits. by CNB