Defense Leads Football To Homecoming Win Over Towson

Saturday, November 6

Richmond, Va.

2 PM

University of Richmond

4-5 , 2-4

Towson

4-5 , 3-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Towson

Richmond

Photo by: Meg Lee

11/06/2021 | Football

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RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond football team won its second-straight game as the Spiders' defense was dominant once again in a 28-17 victory over Towson Saturday afternoon at Robins Stadium on Homecoming. Redshirt senior defensive end Darius Reynolds (Yorktown, Va.) had a monster performance in the win, recording a career-high 4.5 sacks in the victory.

Reynolds helped the Spiders post a season-high 7.0 sacks in the victory, marking the second-straight game with at least six sacks and equaling the most since 2019 against UAlbany (7.0). Reynolds' 4.5 sacks are the most for a Spider since at least 2004 and the most since Lawrence Sidbury posted 4.0 sacks against Montana in the National Championship game in 2008.

His 4.5 sacks are the most by any player in the Colonial Athletic Association this season and the fourth most sacks in a game in all of NCAA FCS this year. Reynolds also added eight total tackles and forced a fumble that led directly to a Spider touchdown in the first half.

Richmond limited Towson to only 101 yards rushing in the victory, marking the seventh-straight game the Spiders have held a team under 110 yards net rushing this year. The Tigers averaged only 3.1 yards per carry, becoming the fifth-straight opponent to average 3.1 yards or less per carry in a game. The defense also scored 14 points directly in the win and forced three turnovers on the game as it enforced its will on the Tigers.

Towson (4-5, 3-3 CAA) scored the game's first 10 points in the opening quarter as the Spiders were limited to just 19 yards of total offense in the opening 15 minutes. The Spiders regrouped and put together an eight-play, 78-yard drive resulting in a 24-yard touchdown run from redshirt sophomore running back Savon Smith (Winchester, Va.) making it a 10-7 contest.

The Spider defense scored the first of two-straight touchdowns at the 3:31 mark of the second quarter. Reynolds and redshirt senior defensive tackle Kobie Turner (Clifton, Va.) combined on a sack of Towson quarterback Chris Ferguson in the end zone. During the play, Reynolds stripped the ball loose and Turner fell on it for the touchdown and a 14-10 advantage.

Richmond (4-5, 2-4 CAA) wasn't done in the second quarter as Towson tried to drive for a late touchdown. Graduate linebacker Tyler Dressler (Covington, Va.) stepped in front of a Ferguson pass for his second interception of the season and returned it 32-yards for a touchdown in the closing seconds of the half sending the Spiders to the break leading 21-10.

Towson scored early in the third quarter making it a one-possession game but the Spider defense would not allow anymore. Richmond forced back-to-back 3-and-outs to end the third quarter and stopped the Tigers following drive, resulting in a missed 47-yard field goal from Keegan Vaughan. The Spider offense came up big on the ensuing possession as freshman running back Jerry Garcia Jr. (Hope Mills, N.C.) took a pitch from Joe Mancuso (Blairsville, Ga.) and zipped 54-yards for his first career touchdown and a 28-17 lead.

The Spider defense ended any doubt in the contest as Towson was driving. Reynolds recorded a pair of sacks on the Tigers' final drive and forced quarterback Vince Amendola to make a pass under pressure. The pass was picked off by redshirt sophomore linebacker Tristan Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa.), sealing the victory for the Spiders. The interception was the first of Wheeler's career to go along with his team-leading nine tackles.

Mancuso finished the game 16-of-28 pass for 155 yards while adding 30 yards rushing on nine carries. The Spiders rushed for 179 yards on 34 carries with Aaron Dykes (Knoxville, Tenn.) posting 45 yards on 11 carries.

Richmond closes out the home portion of the regular season next weekend when it welcomes in Delaware for a CAA battle. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Robins Stadium.

--UR—