University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Rhode Island
Defense The Difference As No. 18 Richmond Rolls Over Rhody, 38-6
10/20/2007 | Football
Oct. 20, 2007
RICHMOND, Va. - The No. 18 Spiders needed a big day from the defense. They got it. Richmond kept visiting Rhode Island out of the end zone and sacked the Rams' six times in a convincing 38-6 win Saturday at UR Stadium. The Spiders have won two straight and improved to 5-2 overall, 3-1 in the CAA.
Adam Abramowitz was in on a sack and a career-high 10 tackles (seven solo), including four for losses that totaled 15 yards. Eric McBride made a game and career-high16 stops, while Parker Miles collected two sacks and three tackles for loss. In all, Richmond's 16 tackles behind the line of scrimmage resulted in 65 lost URI yards.
Since allowing a last-second touchdown to Towson Oct. 6, Richmond has played two consecutive games without allowing an opponent in the end zone. The Rams' lone offense was two field goals from Brian Giannecchini.
Walter Payton candidate Tim Hightower did his damage both on the ground and in the air. The senior tailback carried the ball 19 times for 96 yards, while catching four passes for 45 yards and TD to finish as the game's leading receiver.
Although snapping his streak of consecutive 100-yard rushing games at five, the senior continued his string of eight-straight games with a TD dating back to last season. With 141 all-purpose yards on the day, he's 326 shy of Richmond's career record of 4,000.
Rhode Island (1-6, 0-4) converted just two of its 17 third-down plays and was forced to punt nine times. While the Spiders were five-of-12 on third downs, it was a key conversion on third-and-13 midway through the fourth quarter that helped put the game out of reach.
Hightower caught an Eric Ward pass in the flank, weaseled his way out of trouble and gained 24 yards for a first down at the 10. He rushed for nine on the next play and Ward finished it off with a TD, making the score 24-6.
The Spiders piled on 14 more points in the quarter, thanks to a 24-yard blocked-punt return for touchdown by Jonathan Mayfield a minute after Ward's TD and a 14-yard TD run by Justin Forte late. Forte blocked the URI punt.
Eric Ward, who was 11-of-20 passing for 131 yards and a TD, rushed for a career-best 74 yards. The Spiders also played their second consecutive game without a turnover and were penalized just twice.
Richmond forced Rhody into three-and-outs on its first two possessions of the game and the Spiders scored on each of the ensuing drives to take a 10-0 lead at the 4:56 mark of the first quarter. Andrew Howard drilled a 33-yard field goal and Hightower finished off a 10-play, 84 yard drive with his 12-yard TD reception.
A Ward run of 36 yards and a 15-yard reception by Arman Shields - seeing his first action since going down at Northeastern with an injury - highlighted the drive.
Giannecchini booted a career-long 49-yard field goal late in the second quarter, making the score 10-3 at the break. His 24-yarder with 8:38 left in the third pulled URI within 17-6.
Joe Casey gained 94 yards rushing on 16 carries and Derek Cassidy completed just eight of 16 passes for 77 yards. Out of the option, Cassidy rushed 19 times for minus 33 yards.
In its three games at home this season, Richmond is undefeated and averaging 41.7 points. Under head coach Dave Clawson, who coached his 100th career game, the Spiders are 16-0 when scoring over 30 points.
The Spiders are on the road next weekend for a pivotal CAA South Division game at James Madison (6-1, 4-0). Kickoff is set for noon in a sold-out game that can be seen live on Comcast SportsNet.
