Spiders Drop Double-OT Decision To Delaware

Saturday, October 21

Newark, Del.

3:30 PM

University of Richmond

4-3 , 2-2

Delaware

5-2 , 3-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Richmond

Delaware

10/21/2017 | Football

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. – Five total touchdowns from Kyle Lauletta were not enough to overcome the Fightin' Blue Hens of Delaware Saturday as the Spiders lost in double overtime, 42-35.

Lauletta threw for four scores and ran for another, but his fourth-down pass in the second overtime period couldn't find Dejon Brissett at the back of a crowded end zone. Lauletta has now thrown for 23 touchdowns this season, the third-highest season total in Richmond history.

Tyler Wilkins led all Spiders receivers with seven catches for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the second-straight week Wilkins has found the end zone twice. He's the first Spider with multiple receiving scores in consecutive games since Reggie Diggs in 2014, and his seven receptions tied his career best from last week against Towson.

The Spiders pass defense held the Hens in check, limiting Delaware to 130 pass yards and intercepting a pair of passes. Daniel Jones registered his team-leading fourth interception of the season and Samari Springs ended a critical third-quarter Delaware possession by grabbing a deflected pass in the Spiders end zone for a touchback.

Delaware took a 7-0 lead on the game's opening possession on a 13-yard touchdown pass that followed the Blue Hens nine straight runs to open the game.

The Spiders answered late in the first quarter when a Lauletta play-action pass found Wilkins for a seven-yard touchdown, capping a nine-play, 90-yard drive. With the score, Lauletta joined Michael Strauss as the only Spiders to throw for 20 touchdowns in multiple seasons.

Lauletta's second touchdown of the half, a 20-yarder to Garrett Hudson delivered in the face of an oncoming Blue Hens defender, tied the game at 14. The Blue Hens took a 21-14 lead into halftime following Jamie Jarmon's second score of the game, but Richmond answered quickly by marching 75 yards in seven plays on the opening possession of the third quarter and evened the game at 21 when Lauletta found Wilkins for a 32-yard score.

The Spiders took their first lead of the game moments later when Lauletta scrambled away from pressure and into the end zone on a third-down play from the Blue Hens 10-yard line.

Delaware evened the game at 28 with 10:06 remaining in regulation when Jamie Jarmon flipped into the end zone for his third score of the game and the Blue Hens seemed poised to win in regulation when they lined up for a 37-yard field goal with 24 seconds remaining after a short snap gave them the ball deep in Richmond territory. But Colby Ritten pushed up the middle and blocked the kick, sending the game to overtime.

The Spiders struck first in overtime as Lauletta's third-down pass from the 20-yard line found Dejon Brissett in the corner of the end zone on a fade pattern, but Delaware evened the score at 35 after converting from the three-yard line on third and goal.

The Blue Hens found the end zone again to start the second overtime period with a one-yard Kani Kane touchdown rush. On third-and-goal from the five-yard line, Lauletta retreated and was unable to spin away from the Delaware defense, slipping down at the 24-yard line. Facing fourth-and-goal, Lauletta looked for Brissett in the end zone but the receiver was unable to pull the ball down from a crowd of multiple Blue Hens defenders.

The Spiders return to Robins Stadium next Saturday for a Homecoming-weekend game against No. 22 Stony Brook. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.