University of Richmond Athletics
Gameday Game Plan: Week 6 at Towson
10/08/2011 | Football
Top 3 Matchups
Richmond Defensive Line vs. Towson Offensive Line
Richmond has endured considerable turmoil along the defensive line this season, with three of its four starters currently on the injured list -- junior B.J. Scott is lone remaining healthy starter. Scott and the Spiders' young d-line face a Towson unit that features just one senior and four sophomores and has allowed the Tigers to average 439.5 yards in total offense and 224.8 on the ground.
Tre Gray vs. Justin Harris
CAA Football's leading wide receiver Tre Gray is looking to keep his stellar season rolling, along with his quest for the Spiders' career records of catches and yards. Gray heads to Unitas Stadium needing 13 catches and 214 yards for the career marks. But he faces a Towson secondary, led by senior CB Justin Harris that has not allowed a 100-yard receiver or allowed a team to pass for more than 200 yards this season. Harris was a receiver before switching positions in mid-2010.
Darius McMillan vs. Tremayne Dameron
Towson is averaging 224.8 yards on the ground, but not one running back has more than 50 yard per game. Richmond junior LB Darius McMillan, who has recorded double-digits in tackles all five games this season, and his defense will be busy tracking the three (maybe four)-headed rushing attach the Tigers present. Sterlin Phifer (49.8 yards/game), Terrance West (43.5) and Dominique Booker (42.8) have carried the load on the ground, with Tremayne Dameron (47.0) expected back after missing two games with an injury.
Spider Advantages
Aerial Act
With senior QB Aaron Corp, the Spiders have shown the ability to sling it this season. Corp is averaging 226.0 yards, has thrown seven touchdowns this season and has completed passes to nine different offensive targets. Led by senior WR Tre Gray, Richmond gives Corp one of the league's best wide receivers trio that also includes sophomore Ben Edwards and redshirt freshman Stephen Barnette.
Night Moves
Richmond's three victories have all come at night this season and the Spiders have won six of their last eight after-dark starts dating back to the 2009 season.
Stat of the Week
Junior FB Kendall Gaskins's seven touchdowns this season is more than four FCS squads have scored as a team. Gaskins has at least one touchdown in every game this season, including a career-high three in the New Hampshire game. He has scored in eight of the Spiders' last 10 games dating back to last season.
Quotes of the Week
“We're going to have our hands full again, It's week, after week, after week. This is nothing new. This is kind of like breathing. You get up in the morning, you breathe. You go play a nationally-ranked opponent.”
--Towson head coach Rob Ambrose
“I feel like there's some frustration on the team, just because we put the defense in such a really hard position in the game – Three-and-outs here and there and we really didn't a flow throughout the game. This offense has so many weapons and this offensive line, they're gong to come along, I don't doubt them one bit. We just have to take one day at a team, keep practicing and keep getting better.”
-- sophomore WR Ben Edwards
“Rob's (Ambrose) done a great job up there. They've played well early. Got a great win over Villanova at home and got them some confidence. That's a big part of it – they're playing with confidence. They have a lot of kids returning from last year and the same system for a third year in a row. That makes a big difference when you have the same system, a lot of returning guys and some early success. That's the main different between them now and in the past.”
-- head coach Wayne Lineburg on Towson
Milestone Watch
Junior FB Kendall Gaskins is 170 yards shy of 1,000 career rushing yards and is two touchdowns away from his 20th career rushing TD… Senior QB Aaron Corp is 225 yards shy of 2,000 career passing yards at Richmond… Senior WR Tre Gray needs 44 to reach 2,500 career receiving yards and become just the fourth Spider in history to do so... Gray is 14 catches shy of 200 career (198 is school record: Leland Melvin, 1982-85)... Senior RB Garrett Turner needs 35 rushing yards to reach 1,000 in his career.
