Defense Overpowers UAlbany For 23-20 Victory On Family Weekend

Saturday, October 5

Richmond, Va.

2:00 PM

University of Richmond

2-3 , 1-1

Albany (Family Weekend)

3-3 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Albany

Richmond

Photo by: Keith Lucas

Defense Overpowers UAlbany For 23-20 Victory On Family Weekend

10/05/2019 | Football

Box Score UAlbany Final Photo Gallery Highlights Post-Game Press Conference

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond football team turned in its most dominant defensive performance of the year Saturday afternoon as the Spiders overpowered UAlbany 23-20 at Robins Stadium on Family Weekend. The victory improves the Spiders to 1-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play and moves their all-time record against the Great Danes to 7-0, with the last three games decided by three points.

The Spiders' defense held the CAA's third-ranking offense to a season-low 20 points and just 14 yards of rushing in the victory. Richmond recorded a season-high seven sacks of UAlbany quarterback Jeff Undercuffler. The Great Danes had only allowed six sacks in the first five games of the season until Saturday's barrage by the Spiders.

Senior defensive end Maurice Jackson (Levittown, Pa.) led the way for the Spider defense, recording a career-high 3.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss. Jackson, who finished with six total tackles, also forced a fumble and had a first half interception that led to the Spiders' second touchdown of the game late in the first half. Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Kobie Turner (Clifton, Va.) finished with 2.0 sacks, 3.0 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. The Spiders' defensive line accounted for six of their seven sacks in the victory.

Freshman linebacker Tristan Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa.) led the Spiders with 11 total tackles, while also recording his first career sack. Senior safety Daniel Jones (Williamsburg, Va.) added a key interception in the second half and the Spiders' defense recorded eight pass breakups.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Beau English (Stevenson, Md.) won his first game as a starter for the Spiders, finishing 8-of-15 through the air for 121 yards and one score. English also ran a team-high 19 times for 32 yards, including a one-yard scoring scamper in the first half. Graduate transfer wide receiver Keyston Fuller (Griffin, Ga.) caught three passes for 75 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter.

The game started strong for the Spiders as Jackson and Wheeler sacked Undercuffler on the first two plays from scrimmage, setting the tone for the afternoon. The Spiders started their first drive in UAlbany territory after a 10-yard punt return from Charlie Fessler (Erie, Pa.). Richmond overcame a holding penalty in the drive and freshman Jake Larson (Baltimore, Md.) put the Spiders on the board with a 50-yard field goal. The 50-yarder was a career-best and the seventh longest field goal in Richmond football history. It marked the first field goal of 50-yards or more since Ricky Segers had a 51-yarder against William & Mary in 2016.

UAlbany (3-3, 1-1 CAA) scored the game's first touchdown after Undercuffler hit Juwan Green on a 43-yard pass to the one-yard line. The Spiders held on the first two downs, but Undercuffler found Murad Hussain on a 6-yard pass for the game's first touchdown.

Richmond (2-3, 1-1 CAA) answered right back on its next play from scrimmage. English hit Fuller in stride on a slant and Fuller did the rest, racing away from the Great Dane defense for a 61-yard touchdown score for the 10-7 Richmond lead. After UAlbany retook the lead on another Undercuffler pass, Richmond came back with back-to-back field goals from Larson from 48-yards and 26-yards out for the 16-13 lead.

UAlbany had one last drive in the first half, but Jackson intercepted Undercuffler on a third down and took the return 27-yards to the Great Dane six-yard line. The Spiders were able to pound it in on the ground as two rushed from English gave the Spiders a 23-13 lead at the halftime break.

The Spiders' defense was stout in the second half and one of the bigger plays came late in the third quarter. The Great Danes drove towards midfield and had a 4^th-and-1 opportunity but running back Karl Mofor was stoned by Turner and redshirt junior defensive lineman Kolby Ritten (Orlando, Fla.) forcing a turnover on downs.

The Great Danes got life again as they were able to block a Larson 39-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth but the Spiders forced a 3-and-out on the next possession. Jones' interception came in the fourth quarter as well and UAlbany kicker Dylan Burns missed a 40-yard field. UAlbany would pull within 23-20 with a touchdown at the 2:47 mark of the fourth quarter when Undercuffler hit Jerah Reeves for a 20-yard score.

The Great Danes attempted an onside kick but the Spiders were able to cover it well and the kicked went out of bounds giving the Spiders the ball. Richmond milked the clock down to 35 seconds and were in position to punt the ball back but drew a UAlbany player offside, icing the victory for Richmond.

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