University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Rhode Island
Football Posts Second Consecutive Shutout, 26-0, At Rhode Island
10/27/2002 | Football
Box Score | Saturday Photo Gallery
KINGSTON, R.I. - Undaunted by a 22-hour halftime, the Richmond football team turned a rainy situation into sunshine with a convincing 26-0 shutout against Rhode Island in the first Atlantic 10 contest ever to be played over two days.
It all started at Noon on Saturday, October 26 when a steady rain threatened playing conditions for the Spiders and the Rams. As play and rain continued, the Meade Stadium field began to resemble a swamp as bodies of water converged on the 100-yard gridiron.
In the mud and slop, the two teams battled for field position despite slippery footing. Richmond broke through late in the second quarter when senior quarterback D'Arcy Wills lofted a 22-yard touchdown pass to junior Boyd Ouden who made a terrific adjustment, turned away from the imposing puddle that was enveloping the endzone and sideline, and skipped into the endzone at 1:59 to give the Spiders a 6-0 lead.
The teams waded into the locker room for halftime and never returned that day. Water from the rain and an overflow of a brook and lake submerged the field in approximately 16 inches of water and forced the suspension. It was determined by conference by-laws that the game would be resumed at Noon on Sunday if the field was playable.
Drainage and nature's sun and wind dried the field enough to continue play. With the wind to their back, the Spiders kicked off and pinned the Rams deep in their own territory. The defense held the Rams to a three-and-out and the offense took over at the Ram 44-yard-line. By deferring in the first half and kicking off in the second half, Richmond did not return at kick in this strange affair.
The Spiders drove down the field and junior Kenny Dantzler capped the perfect start with a determined 13-yard touchdown run at 11:04. Dantzler finished the game with a career-high 139 yards on 21 carries. The Spiders finished with 253 rushing yards for the game.
Richmond held again and forced another punt. After two running plays netted four yards, Wills and Ouden connected on the sixth longest pass play in Richmond history - 80 yards - to put the visitors ahead 20-0 with 8:45 left in the third quarter. The completion tied with a Steve Krainock/Kevin Jackson connection at Arkansas State on Sept. 19, 1981.
UR's defense continued its domination in posting its second consecutive shutout, the first time a Spider team had accomplished that feat since beginning the 1973 season with three straight blankings. Richmond kept Rhode Island off the scoreboard for the second straight season.
The scoring was complete when Dantzler scampered for a 51-yard touchdown run with :41 seconds remaining in the game. Wills sprung the tail back with an impressive block at the 10-yard line after sprinting 40 yards downfield.
The historic game took 25 hours to complete, although the game only consumed 2:31. Richmond outgained Rhode Island, 425-194, in its eighth-consecutive win of the series.
Senior Steve Boyer led a dominating defense with career highs in tackles (7), tackles for loss (5) and sacks (4). Senior Ramon Richeson gathered two interceptions for the second consecutive game, increasing his league-leading total to five.
The Spiders forced five turnovers and dumped the Rams for 11 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Richmond returns to action against Northeastern at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2 at UR Stadium.
