Football Dominates Fordham In Home Opener, 52-7

Saturday, September 8

Richmond, Va.

6 PM

University of Richmond

1-1

Fordham

0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Fordham

Richmond

Photo by: Keith Lucas

09/08/2018 | Football

Box Score Ricmond-Fordham Stats Photo Gallery Postgame Press Conference Highlights

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond football team opened the second half with a 75-yard touchdown and out-scored Fordham 35-0 in the third quarter leading the Spiders to a 52-7 victory Saturday night against the Rams in the home opener at Robins stadium.

The Spiders (1-1) gained 585 yards of offense while limiting the Rams to just 188 total yards. The Spiders passed for 302 yards and rushed for 283 yards in the victory. Senior wide receiver Dejon Brissett (Mississauga, Ontario) tallied a career-high 173 yards on only four catches, averaging 43.3 yards per catch, including a 75-yard touchdown to open the second half. His 173 yards are a career-high, surpassing his 172 yards last season at Sam Houston State.

Junior quarterback Kevin Johnson (Atlanta, Ga.) accounted for four touchdowns, while only playing early into the second half. Johnson connected on 14-of-21 for 273 yards and two passing touchdowns. He also rushed for a pair of first half touchdowns, setting a new career-high for scores. Redshirt junior running back Deontez Thompson (Indian Head, Md.) led the way on the ground with 84 yards on 11 carries, including a 51-yard touchdown run

Defensively, the Spiders held Fordham to a minus-3 yards rushing on the night. The Rams were held scoreless until 9:39 in the fourth quarter after Richmond held a 52-0 lead. The Spiders forced four turnovers in the victory with sophomore Samari Springs (Ashburn, Va.) accounting for two interceptions and junior Dionte Austin (Baltimore, Md.) recorded an interception in his first career game for the Spiders. The transfer from Wake Forest sat out the first game due to injury but made his presence felt in his first career start.

The Spiders registered five sacks and had nine tackles for loss. Sophomore Colby Ritten (Orlando, Fla.) led the way with 2.0 sacks, while Maurice Jackson (Levittown, Pa.) had a sack and a forced fumble in the victory.

Richmond took a 17-0 lead in the first half on a pair of Johnson rushing touchdowns and a Griffin Trau (Hanover, N.H.) 22-yard field goal. The game was broken open in the third quarter when the Spiders out-scored the Rams 35-0, including three touchdowns in the first six minutes of the second half.

Brissett and Johnson got it going quickly, connecting on a 75-yard pass on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. After Jackson forced a Fordham fumble on the ensuing possession, Johnson connected with Cortrelle Simpson (Indian Head, Md.) on a 9-yard pass to extend the lead to 31-0. Another turnover by the Rams gave the ball right back to the Spiders, this time setting up Thompson's 51-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach.

Backup quarterback Joe Mancuso (Blairsville, Ga.) got into the act in the third quarter, connecting with Caleb Drake (Troy, N.C.) on a 29-yard pass for the fourth touchdown of the quarter. Running back Jay Palmer (Princeton, W.Va.) closed out the 35-point second quarter with a 2-yard run, set up by a 52-yard interception return by Springs.

The Spiders continue their two-game home stretch next Saturday afternoon, hosting Saint Francis on Family Weekend at the University of Richmond. The game is slated for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Robins Stadium.

-- UR --