University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Stony Brook
No. 20 Richmond Routs Stony Brook, 42-0
10/13/2007 | Football
Oct. 13, 2007
| Post-Game Press Conference 
| Highlights
RICHMOND, Va. - Eric Ward set a career-high with three touchdown passes - all coming in the third quarter - as No. 20 Richmond blanked Stony Brook 42-0 at UR Stadium Saturday afternoon. Tim Hightower surpassed 100 yards on the ground for the fifth-straight game, rushing for one TD and catching another.
Hightower eclipsed the 1,000-mark in a season for the first time in his career and finished the day with 19 carries for 101 yards. After just six games this season, Hightower has amassed 1,003 yards and broke the school's single season rushing TD record with his 14th Saturday. He is a rushing TD shy of tying Richmond's all-time record of 29.
The win - Richmond's first shutout since blanking Duke in the 2006 season-opener - improved the Spiders to 4-2 overall, while dropping Stony Brook to 3-4.
Although Richmond took a 14-0 lead into the locker room, it was the story of two halves for the Spiders. The offense, after just 89 yards in the first half, tacked 236 yards on the Seawolves defense in the final 30 minutes with Ward completing 10-of-12 passes for 112 yards and three scores.
Derek Hatcher opened the scoring with Richmond's first punt return for touchdown in eight years. Hatcher weaved his way 66 yards down the middle of the field on Stony Brook's first punt of the game to put the Spiders on top. That return would account for the home team's only offense in the first quarter.
Hightower generated just three yards on his first three carries, but his next three were more typical of the senior tailback in 2007. He racked up 71 yards in that trio of runs, capped by a 38-yard jaunt that put the Spiders up 14-0 with eight minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Ward completed just three of 12 passes for 13 yards in the first half, but put that behind him on the opening drive of the second. The sophomore made good on all five passes in the drive for 46 yards, including the eight-yard TD toss to Hightower, putting the Spiders on top 21-0.
The offense kept the pedal to the metal and Ward kept his spotless second half going on Richmond's next drive, completing all three attempts to open the Spiders' lead to 28-0 with 5:19 left in the third quarter. His eighth-consecutive completion was a three-yard toss to Kevin Grayson for the freshman's first career TD reception.
TE Joe Stewart was on the receiving end of Richmond's final two touchdowns for the junior's first career two-TD game. Ward found Stewart in the closing seconds of the third quarter and backup QB Will Healy connected with him in the fourth. It was the first career TD pass for Healy.
On a day where the offense surpassed the 40-point mark for the fourth time this season and improved head coach Dave Clawson's record to 15-0 when scoring over 30 points, the Spiders' defense kept Stony Brook off the scoreboard the entire afternoon.
The visiting Seawolves outgained the Spiders 339-325, picked up one more first down (20-19) and were the first team this season to win the time of possession of battle. But SBU converted just half of its third-down conversions and got into the red zone just once (last possession of the game).
Seth Williams led the defense with 12 tackles, while Collin McConaghy recorded two sacks for the second time this season. He made eight stops. Stephen Howell and Eric McBride were each in on 10.
Ward finished the day 13-of-24 for 125 yards, completing passes to eight different targets. Grayson reeled in five for 48 yards. Josh Vaughan caught one for 19 yards and averaged 10.8 yards on his five carries for 54 yards.
Hatcher, who also filled in for the injured Justin Rogers at cornerback, collected 141 yards on his five punt returns (28.2 average). He made nine tackles in the secondary.
Richmond returns to conference action next Saturday, hosting Rhode Island at UR Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
