Mancuso Powers Football To Third-Straight Win On Senior Day

Saturday, November 13

Richmond, Va.

2 PM

University of Richmond

5-5 , 3-4

Delaware

5-5 , 3-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Delaware

Richmond

Photo by: Mike Tripp

Mancuso Powers Football To Third-Straight Win On Senior Day

11/13/2021 | Football

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RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond football team put together its most complete performance Saturday as all three phases came up big leading the Spider to their third-straight victory with a dominating 51-27 win over rival Delaware at Robins Stadium on Senior Day. The Spiders' 51 points are their most in the Colonial Athletic Association game since scoring 59 points against James Madison in 2015.

Graduate quarterback Joe Mancuso (Blairsville, Ga.) celebrated his final game at Robins Stadium in impressive fashion, accounting for 295 total yards of offense and five total touchdowns. Mancuso connected on 13-of-21 for 179 yards and three scores through the air. He was just as productive on the ground, rushing for a season-high 116 yards on 14 carries, averaging 8.3 yards per carry, while scoring a pair of touchdowns. It marks the second-most rushing yards in a game in his career and the Spiders' first 100-yard rusher since he posted 117 against Yale in 2019.

The Spider defense was stout once again, holding Delaware to only 40 yards rushing and just 1.4 yards per carry in the victory. It marks the eighth-straight game the Spiders have held a team under 110 yards rushing. The Spiders forced three Delaware turnovers and scored a defensive touchdown for the second-straight game, their third defensive score in the past two games. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Tristan Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa.) led the way with 11 tackles and his second-straight game with an interception, while Tyler Dressler (Covington, Va.) added eight tackles and his third interception of the year.

Richmond (5-5, 3-4 CAA) ran its winning-streak to three-straight games Saturday, out-scoring opponents 114-65 in the last three games. The Spiders will head into The Capital Cup - The South's Oldest Rivalry – presented by C&F Bank next weekend in Williamsburg looking to finish the year with a winning record and take over the lead in the all-time series against William & Mary.

The Spiders started strong, taking the opening drive 70-yards on seven plays, capping it with a five-yard run by Mancuso for the 7-0 lead. Mancuso rushed for 39 yards on the opening drive and also found wide receivers Jasiah Williams (Petersburg, Va.) and Leroy Henley (Pompano Beach, Fla.) on key passes in the drive.

The Spiders extended their lead to 14-0 on its second drive, putting together their longest drive of the season. The Spiders drove 92 yards on 14 plays, taking over six minutes to move down the field. Mancuso had 36 more yards on the ground and redshirt junior Aaron Dykes (Knoxville, Tenn.) finished the drive off with a 1-yard run, his 10^th touchdown of the year.

Delaware (5-5, 3-4 CAA) answered back with a touchdown of its own before Jake Larson (Baltimore, Md.) gave the Spiders a 17-7 lead with a season-best 47-yard field goal. The kick was the third-longest field goal of Larson's career. The Blue Hens responded with a touchdown drive, capping it with a 1-yard run by Zach Gwynn to pull within 17-14.

Richmond took a 10-point lead into the locker room as the Spiders cashed on a 14-yard strike from Mancuso to Henley before the half. Delaware scored on its first possession of the second half to narrow the Spider lead to 24-21, but the defense came up with a big play to swing the momentum back. Dressler stepped in front of a Gwynn pass for his third interception of the year, setting the Spiders up with the short field.
Mancuso turned the turnover into points with a 2-yard rush, extending the lead back to 10 points. The Spider defense kept the pressure going and linebacker Phil O'Connor (Philadelphia, Pa.) sacked Gwynn, forcing the ball loose with a thunderous hit on the ensuing possession. Redshirt junior Kobie Turner (Clifton, Va.) scooped up the ball and ran it in 17 yards for his second-straight game with a score.

After Delaware again narrowed the gap to 10 points, the Spiders' special teams pinned the Blue Hens deep in their end zone. Delaware was forced to punt on a 3-and-out and Smith gave the Spiders great field position with a 20-yard punt return. Mancuso connected with tight end Connor Deveney (Medford, N.J.) on a 20-yard scoring strike, extending the lead to 44-27.

The Spiders ended any doubt as Wheeler notched his second career interception. The Spiders made quick work as Mancuso connected with Williams on a 13-yard touchdown, giving the Spiders a season-high 51 points and their third-straight victory overall and second-straight against Delaware in the all-time series.

--UR—