University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
No. 12 Maine
Football Falls to Maine, 29-25
10/09/2004 | Football
Oct. 9, 2004
RICHMOND, Va. - For the second straight game, the stat sheet and scoreboard told different stories. Also for the second straight game, the Richmond Spiders came out on the short end of a hard-fought, exciting college football game.
Richmond (2-3, 1-1 Atlantic 10) compiled 421 yards of offense and advanced to the red zone five times, while the 12th-ranked Maine Black Bears (3-2, 1-1 A-10) could only muster 235 total yards, the fewest by a Spider opponent since Oct. 26, 2002 when Rhode Island amassed 194. However, two crucial interceptions and a kickoff return propelled the visitors to a 29-25 victory in the Atlantic 10 contest.
The loss overshadowed an outstanding performance from junior wide receiver Harry Wilson who made 13 catches for 146 yards. His 13 receptions are tied for third on Richmond's single-game list. It was the second time he recorded 100+ receiving yards in a game this fall.
The Spiders raced out to a 14-0 lead on a four-yard touchdown run from David Freeman and a seven-yard sweep from Stacy Tutt. Freeman finished the game with 104 yards on 22 carries, his second consecutive and third total game over 100-yards rushing this fall.
Maine struck back with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Ron Whitcomb to Christian Pereira with 4:35 to play in the first half. Pereira finished the game with eight catches for 103 yards.
Freshman kicker Carter Ball converted his first career field goal -- 22 yards -- with four seconds remaining to give Richmond a 17-8 advantage at the break.
Perhaps the biggest play of the game came on the opening kick off of the second half when Maine's Arel Gordon returned it 88 yards for his second career TD on a kick return. The Black Bears' momentum moved them ahead for the first time (22-17) when Whitcomb found tight end Josh Radulski for an eight-yard touchdown with 6:04 to play in the third quarter.
Richmond used a season-high 16-play, 77-yard drive that consumed 7:19 of the second-half clock to regain the lead. Tutt powered in from one-yard out to make the score 25-22. He finished the game with 219 yards passing (23-for-33) and 86 yards rushing. However, two critical interceptions, one in the endzone and one that set up Maine at the Richmond 11, hindered the Spiders.
Maine went ahead for good with 5:56 to play when Whitcomb and Radulski connected once again, this time from two yards out, to cap a 10-play, 46-yard drive. Whitcomb threw for 159 yards and three touchdowns in the contest.
