University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Towson
No. 4 Richmond Topples Towson, 45-14
09/13/2008 | Football
Sept. 13, 2008
Final Stats |
Notes |
Photos 
RICHMOND, Va.- Senior FB John Crone scored twice and the Spider defense racked up five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, as fourth-ranked Richmond rolled over Towson, 45-14, at UR Stadium Saturday afternoon in the CAA Football opener for both teams.
Crone opened the scoring with a three-yard TD run - the first of his All-Conference career - while the Richmond defense picked apart the Towson passing game and limited the visitors to just 55 yards rushing.
Sophomore CB Justin Rogers and junior FS Derek Hatcher each collected two interceptions and each brought one back for a touchdown - the final two scores of the game - as the Spiders (2-1, 1-0) pulled away from the visiting Tigers (1-2, 0-1).
Josh Vaughan carried the ball 20 times for 103 yards to mark his sixth career 100-yard game, but Crone (four carries, 24 yards) and Justin Forte (eight carries, 30 yards) had the TD runs. Eric Ward was an efficient 11-of-16 passing for 148 yards and a pair of TD tosses.
The Richmond defense held its third straight opponent under 100-yards rushing, as the Tigers eked out 55 yards on 27 carries. Elon mustered just 22 yards on the ground and Virginia picked up 91 yards last weekend.
Towson QB Sean Schaefer finished the game with 214 yards passing, two TDs and surpassed the 9,000-yard mark in his career, but threw four interceptions for just the second time as a collegian. Backup QB Blair Peterson threw the Tigers' other pick. The senior's other four-INT game was his first game in a Towson uniform.
Eric Ward that put Richmond up 14-0 and Crone's second TD - a 1-yard pass from Ward - gave the Spiders' a 21-7 lead at the half.
Andrew Howard booted a 38-yard field goal to make it 24-7 with 4:47 left in the third quarter, but Towson answered back 92 seconds later when Schaefer found Hakeem Moore wide open for a 10-yard TD.
The Spiders squashed any hopes of a comeback with three unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter: Forte's five-yard run, Rogers' dazzling 68-yard interception return and Hatcher's 21-yard interception take-back.
After intercepting 10 passes all last season, the Spiders have eight to their credit through three games in 2008. The two interception returns for TD ties a school record, while Rogers' 68-yard INT return ranks as the seventh-longest in school history.
Rogers' all-round defensive day also included five tackles and forced a fumble. The sophomore's other interception was a diving pick on a Schaefer pass at the one-yard line with the Tigers knocking on the door in the third quarter.
Collin McConaghy made a team-high six tackles, while six different Spiders each collected five stops. On special teams, Nicholas Battle blocked a Towson punt in the first quarter and Richmond was in the end zone two plays later with Mitchell's TD catch.
Richmond avenged back-to-back losses to the Tigers by capitalizing on every Tiger miscue. The opportunistic Spiders spun 38 of their 45 points off all five interceptions and the punt block.
Richmond returns to action next weekend, hosting Maine at UR Stadium. The annual Family Weekend game kicks off at 3 p.m. ET.
