University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Lafayette
Football Endures Heartbreaking Home Opener
09/25/2004 | Football
Sept. 25, 2004
RICHMOND, Va. - With Richmond trailing by five and just five ticks remaining on the clock, junior quarterback Stacy Tutt launched a pass into the back of the endzone that was tipped and landed in the hands of redshirt freshman Andy Lehatto.
Pandemonium struck the home crowd and bench but the celebration was cut short as the victory was tossed aside with one heave of a yellow flag. The touchdown was nullified because one of the Spider players had gone out of bounds and did not reestablish himself in the playing field. After one more attempt was thwarted, Lafayette held on for a 21-16 triumph.
The heartbreak overshadowed some outstanding individual accomplishments from Tutt and junior tailback David Freeman. Freeman recorded the 11th-best rushing day in Spider football history with 201 yards on 32 carries.
His four-yard touchdown run at 5:33 of the first quarter brought the home team within seven (14-7) after Lafayette had scored on two runs to take a 14-0 lead.
Later in the second quarter, Tutt hooked up with redshirt freshman Arman Shields on a 30-yard touchdown pass to even the game at halftime. Tutt finished the day 18-for-30 for 234 yards.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Leopards halted a Richmond drive into Lafayette territory with an interception and then capitalized with a four-play, 43-yard drive that ended in Jonathan Hurt's second TD run of the game.
Lafayette later held on a goal-line stand, stopping Tutt at the one-yard line on fourth and goal. Three plays later, the Leopards took a safety and gave Richmond one last chance.
After the free kick, the Spiders moved to the Lafayette 23 before the final gasp.
Richmond out-gained Lafayette, 449-301, and earned 26 first downs to the Leopards' 15. Sophomore Adam Goloboski reached double-figure tackles for the third straight game, tying for the team lead with Lance Gray (10 stops).
GAME NOTES
-- Junior David Freeman 201 yards rushing marks the third consecutive game a Spider has gained 100+ yards on the ground. The last time Richmond had three or more consecutive games with a 100-yard rusher was in 2000 (Oct. 14-Nov. 4 - four games).
-- Freeman's total of 201 rushing yards set a career high and ranks 11th on Richmond's all-time single-game rushing list. He is the first Richmond player to run for more than 200 yards since Nov. 3, 2001 when Cordell Roane ran for 246 against Hofstra.
-- The Leopard's game-opening drive (9-65, 4:06) was the first time a Richmond opponent had scored on its opening drive this season.
-- Freshman Andy Lehatto five catches and 69 receiving yards are both career bests. Prior to today, Lehatto's career bests came against VMI when he caught three passes for 33 yards.
-- Freeman's touchdown with 5:33 left in the second quarter was his first career TD, rushing or receiving.
-- Freshman Arman Shields' TD catch with 1:49 left in the second quarter was his second career TD reception.
-- Lafayette's touchdown with 13:30 left in the fourth quarter was the first TD scored off a Richmond turnover this season. NC State posted six points (two FG's) off three Spider turnovers earlier this season.
-- Junior Stacy Tutt 18 completions (18-for-30) mark a season-high. His previous best came against VMI, Sept. 11, when he completed 16 passes (16-for-22).
-- Richmond's safety in the fourth quarter was the first recorded by the Spiders since 2000. James Madison snapped the ball through the endzone on Nov. 11, 2000.
