Football Opens Season With 38-14 Win Over Howard

Saturday, September 4

Richmond, Va.

2 PM

University of Richmond

1-0

Howard

0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Howard

Richmond

Photo by: Keith Lucas

09/04/2021 | Football

Box Score Game Highlights Post-Game Press Conference Photo Gallery Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond football team posted its 16^th-straight win in a home opener Saturday as the Spiders led wire-to-wire in a 38-14 victory over Howard at Robins Stadium. The Spiders' 16-game winning streak in home openers ranks eighth best overall currently in NCAA FCS Football, having won each home opener since the 2005 season.

Graduate quarterback Joe Mancuso (Blairsville, Ga.) accounted for 347 yards of total offense and three total touchdowns as the Spiders gained 530 yards of total offense. Mancuso was efficient, completing 25-of-34 passing for 293 yards and two touchdowns. He spread the ball around to 10 different receivers while also rushing for 54 yards on three carries and a score.

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jasiah Williams (Petersburg, Va.) led the way with a career-high eight receptions for a career-high 85 yards. Redshirt junior wideout Isaac Brown (Winchester, Va.) tallied five catches for a career-high 87 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown.

The Spiders rushed for 226 yards in the victory with four different Spiders rushed for over 50 yards. Redshirt junior Aaron Dykes (Knoxville, Tenn.) rushed for 54 yards on 15 carries, including a pair of first half touchdowns. Freshman Jerry Garcia Jr. (Hope Mills, N.C.) made his collegiate debut and ran for 52 yards on seven carries while redshirt sophomore Savon Smith (Winchester, Va.) added 51 yards on seven carries.

Richmond limited Howard to 348 yards of total offense and 117 yards rushing in the win. Linebacker Tyler Dressler (Covington, Va.) led the way with a game-high nine tackles, one forced fumble, two tackles for loss and one sack in the all-around performance. Redshirt sophomore Tristan Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa.) added seven tackles while Darius Reynolds (Yorktown, Va.) and Ray Eldridge (McDonald, Pa.) each recorded sacks.

The Spiders scored on its first drive of the year, going 65 yards on 12 plays, spanning 5:11 on the clock. Leroy Henley (Pompano Beach, Fla.) started things off with a 17-yard reception before Jonathan Johnson (Baltimore, Md.) hauled in a 15-yard grab for his first catch as a Spider. Dykes capped off the drive with a one-yard run for the first score of the season.

Richmond extended its lead to 13-0 late in the first quarter. Garcia posted back-to-back runs over 10 yards in the drive before Dykes scored his second of the game from one-yard out. After a Howard score, Mancuso put Richmond in from 20-7 as he scampered in from 41-yards out for his first rushing score of the year and his 16^th of his career.

The Spiders came out in the third quarter and put any doubt away with a dominant period. The defense forced a quick 3-and-out on the Bison's first drive before needing just three plays to go 70 yards for a score. Dykes posted two runs for 19 yards before Mancuso connected with Brown on a 51-yard score for a 30-14 lead.

The defense again stepped up on the ensuing Howard possession. Dressler got to the Bison quarterback and had strip sack, forcing a fumble that defensive lineman Marlem Louis (Venice, Fla.) pounced on for the turnover. Mancuso completed three-straight passes, including a 10-yard touchdown strike to redshirt freshman Robert Rolfe (Scarsdale, N.Y.). The reception was the first career catch and first career score for Rolfe, extending the Spiders lead to 38-14.

Richmond continues its two-game homestand to open the year next Saturday hosting Lehigh. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Robins Stadium.

--UR—