University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Georgetown
No. 9 Richmond Routs Georgetown, 48-0
10/25/2008 | Football
Oct. 25, 2008
RICHMOND - Behind another career day rushing from senior TB Josh Vaughan, No. 9 Richmond rolled up 427 yards of total offense and held Georgetown to just 88 yards in a 48-0 win on Homecoming Saturday at UR Stadium.
Vaughan carried 24 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns while true freshman TB Eric Ward and FB Shawn White had the other two rushing scores for the Spiders, who out-gained the Hoyas 300-80 on the ground.
The win, which came in rainy and windy conditions, marked the 40th all-time on Homecoming (40-32-6) and improved the Spiders to 6-3 overall with three games remaining in the regular season. Richmond has won two consecutive on Homecoming, three of the last four, seven of the last nine and 10 of the last 14.
The 48 points and 48-point margin of victory mark Homecoming records, while the shutout is the first on Homecoming since 2002 (26-0 vs. James Madison).
The defense bottled up Georgetown to the tune of 80 yards rushing, just four-of-11 passing for eight yards and forced four turnovers. Patrick Weldon and Brooks York each made a team-high eight tackles, while Collin McConaghy, Nicholas Battle and Michael Ireland picked off a pass to set up Richmond's first score.
On Georgetown's second play from scrimmage, Ireland leaped in the air to intercept a Keero Lawrence pass and returned it 17 yards to the GU four. Vaughan rushed for three yards and Ward finished it off, putting the Spiders on the board just 92 seconds into the game.
It was all Richmond after that.
Wilkins' first collegiate TD - a 12-yard jaunt - made it 14-0 and Vaughan put the Spiders up 24-0 with 27 seconds remaining in the first half. Richmond held a 279-20 advantage in total yards at the half and a 15-0 advantage in first downs.
Vaughan and the Spiders kept the pedal to the metal after halftime as Vaughan and Wilkins had third-quarter rushing touchdowns, followed by the first career rushing TD for White to cap the scoring in the fourth quarter.
Ward finished the day seven-of-12 passing with 117 yards but saw his streak of six-consecutive games without an interception come to an end. Ward had completed his first five passes of the game in the adverse weather, but was picked off by Chudi Obianwu after his 10th pass attempt of the game was batted into the air. Ward's streak had reached 141-consecutive passes without a pick.
Vaughan was just a game removed from his previous career high of 156 yards at Massachusetts and has now rushed for 123 yards or more in three of the last four games. The reigning CAA Offensive Player of the Week has posted five of his nine career 100-yard games this season.
Richmond's 427 yards of total offense was the most since racking up 434 versus Maine earlier this season, while the 88 total yards by Georgetown was seven yards shy of the fewest ever by a Richmond opponent (81 by William & Mary in 1955).
The Hoyas (1-6) moved the chains just four times in the game (all rushing) and marked the second time in Richmond history that the defense has not allowed a passing first down (at Virginia Tech in 1975).
Richmond is off next week and returns to action Nov. 8 at Hofstra.
