Football Takes Home Capital Cup With 10-6 Victory At William & Mary

Saturday, November 17

Williamsburg, VA

2 PM

University of Richmond

4-7 , 2-6

William & Mary

4-6 , 3-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Richmond

William and Mary

Photo by: Halle Kennon/Richmond Athletics

Football Takes Home Capital Cup With 10-6 Victory At William & Mary

11/17/2018 | Football

Box Score Richmond William & Mary Book Russ Huesman Post-Game Photo Gallery Highlights

RICHMOND, Va. – For the second-straight season and the seventh time in the last eight meetings, the University of Richmond football team has ownership of the Capital Cup as the Spiders took home a 10-6 victory over rival William & Mary Saturday afternoon at Zable Stadium. With the win, the Spiders even the all-time series at 62-62-5 in "The Oldest Rivalry In The South" that has been played since 1898. This year marked the 75^th-consecutive year that Richmond and William & Mary have met on the football field.

"I wanted our seniors to have a great memory tonight and I was happy we could send them out in the right way," head coach Russ Huesman said. "Our team played for each other and focused in on each and everyone's jobs. This was a team victory and I am so happy for our seniors but also happy for the guys coming back as they played a big part of the win today."

Senior linebacker Dale Matthews Jr. (Damascus, Md.) was named the Most Valuable Player of the 129^th meeting of the Capital Cup. Matthews led the Spiders' defense that limited William & Mary to only 212 total yards off offense, including just 59 rushing. Matthews recorded six tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and had one of the biggest plays of the game with a second half interception in the red zone to thwart a Tribe drive. Matthews also rushed for a first down as he helped the Spiders execute a fake punt in the first quarter.

The game also marked the final game for William & Mary head coach Jimmye Laycock after 39 years at the helm of the Tribe. Richmond head coach Russ Huesman spent 13 seasons on Laycock's staff as an assistant. Huesman improved to 18-2 all-time in the Capital Cup with 13 games at William & Mary and seven games at Richmond, including a 2-0 mark as head coach.

"There was a lot of emotion with Coach Laycock today but bottom line was neither one of us were catching a pass, blocking anyone or making a tackle," Huesman said. "When it is all said and done it is what happens between the lines. I am proud of our guys for finding a way to win a rivalry game. The Capital Cup means so much to our players, fans and alums that it is good to keep it in Richmond."

The Spiders' defense forced three William & Mary turnovers in the victory while Richmond did not commit one of its own. Junior defensive lineman Maurice Jackson (Levittown, Pa.) led the way with a team-high nine tackles, including 4.5 for loss. Jackson set a new career-high with 3.0 sacks on the day while senior Andrew Clyde (Dallas, Texas) added another sack to his career total.

Offensively, senior wide receiver Caleb Drake (Troy, N.C.) was the catalyst, recording 71 all-purpose yards. Drake caught a team-high seven receptions for 71 yards, including the Spider's lone touchdown, while also running five times for 30 yards. Senior Jarmal Bevels (Fredericksburg, Va.) added five receptions for 45 yards in the victory.

Richmond played two quarterbacks in the victory as redshirt sophomore Reid Chenault (Goochland, Va.) got the start and classmate Joe Mancuso (Blairsville, Ga.) got time in relief. Chenault connected on 12-of-20 through the air for 72 yards while also running for 13 yards. Mancuso finished 6-of-9 through the air for 64 yards and a touchdown. He also ran seven times for 22 yards as the game was a defensive battle.

Richmond scored the game's first points in the first quarter with an 8:27 drive, resulting in a five-yard pass from Mancuso to Drake. The Spiders took 17 plays to drive 80 yards for a touchdown after the Tribe missed a field goal. Richmond extended its lead to 10-0 in the third quarter after an 11-play, 40-yard drive resulted in a Griffin Trau (Hanover, N.H.) 43-yard field goal.

William & Mary scored late in the game with 47 seconds remaining as Shon Mitchell hit DeVonte Dedmon on a 35-yard pass to make it a 10-6 game. The Tribe missed the extra point and the ensuing onside kick went out of bounds, sealing the Spiders' victory.

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