Aerial Attack Leads Football Over Lehigh, 30-6

Saturday, September 17

Bethlehem, PA

Noon

University of Richmond

2-1 , 0-0

Lehigh

1-2 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Richmond

Lehigh

Photo by: Jim Beaver

09/17/2022 | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – University of Richmond graduate quarterback Reece Udinski (North Wales, Pa.) connected on his first 17 passes of the game and finished with 351 yards through the air as the Spiders downed Lehigh 30-6 Saturday afternoon at Goodman Stadium. Defensively, the Spiders held the Mountain Hawks to just 203 yards of total offense, improving to 2-1 on the season heading into Colonial Athletic Association play.

Udinski finished the game completing 37-of-44 passes (84.1%) for 351 yards and two scores. His 351 yards are the most for a Spider quarterback since Joe Mancuso threw for 487 yards against Delaware in 2018. His streak of 17-straight pass completions to open a game are the most for a Spider in recent history.

The Spiders had four different wide receivers with at least five receptions in the game. Graduate wide receiver Leroy Henley (Pompano Beach, Fla.) led the way with a career-high nine receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown. His 127 yards are the most for a Spider wide receiver since Charlie Fessler in 2019 (147).

Wide receiver Jakob Herres (Easton, Pa.) added seven receptions for 67 yards while Jasiah Williams (Petersburg, Va.) tied for the team lead with nine receptions for 51 yards. Nick DeGennaro (Old Bridge, N.J.) rounded out the top four wide receivers with five receptions for 44 yards while tight end Connor Deveney (Medford, N.J.) scored his first touchdown of the year.

The Spiders sacked Lehigh four times in the victory and forced a pair of turnovers, limiting the Mountain Hawks to only one touchdown. Defensive end Marlem Louis (Venice, Fla.) led the way with two sacks while Ray Eldridge (McDonald, Pa.) and Matei Fitz (Leesburg, Va.) tallied their first sacks of the year. Defensive back Bryson Parker (Charlotte, N.C.) posted his first career interception while Tyrek Funderburk (Indian Trail, N.C.) forced a fumble in the second half to thwart a Lehigh drive.

Richmond scored the game's first 20 points, holding a 20-0 lead at the halftime break. Henley got the scoring going with a 13-yard scoring catch and run while redshirt senior running back Aaron Dykes (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored on an 18-yard pass from Udinski early in the second quarter. Dykes posted his second score of the afternoon, cashing in from two-yards out to close out the first half.

After Lehigh scored its only points of the day, the Spiders put together another long drive and capped it with a little trickery. Redshirt junior running back Savon Smith (Winchester, Va.) took a lateral from Udinski and launched a pass 23-yards to a waiting Deveney in the end zone for his first career passing touchdown and a 27-6 lead. Junior kicker Jake Larson (Baltimore, Md.) capped the scoring with a 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter as the Spiders were running out the clock late in the half.

The Spiders are back in action next weekend when they open CAA play by hosting Stony Brook. The game is Family Weekend on Richmond's campus and kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Robins Stadium.

--UR—