Football Drops Season Opener At Virginia

Saturday, September 3

Charlottesville, VA

12:30 PM

University of Richmond

0-1 , 0-0

Virginia

1-0 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Richmond

Virginia

Photo by: Keith Lucas

09/03/2022 | Football

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

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Richmond football team opened the 2022 season Saturday in Charlottesville and dropped a 34-17 decision to Virginia at Scott Stadium. The Spiders open the home portion of the schedule next Saturday, welcoming in St. Francis to Robins Stadium at 5:30 p.m.

Redshirt junior running back Savon Smith (Winchester, Va.) posted a career-high 88 yards rushing and scored both of the Spiders' touchdowns in the victory. Smith averaged 6.8 yards per carry on his 13 carries, while also pulling in four receptions for 26 yards.

Redshirt junior linebacker Tristan Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa.) paced the Spiders defense with a career-high 19 tackles. His 19 tackles surpasses his previous career-high of 15 tackles set in Elon in the spring 2021 season. Sophomore safety Bryson Parker (Charlotte, N.C.) added a career-high 11 tackles and two pass breakups.

The Spiders gained 330 yards of total offense on the day, rushing for 170 yards. Redshirt senior running back Aaron Dykes (Knoxville, Tenn.) added 76 yards on the ground on 17 carries. Graduate quarterback Reece Udinski (North Wales, Pa.) connected on 23-of-34 for 160 yards and one touchdown in his first career start with the Spiders.

Virginia finished the game with 505 yards of total offense, rushing for 259 yards and passing for 246 yards. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong connected on 21-of-33 yards with 246 yards while rushing for 105 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown in the first half.

The Spiders scored the game's first touchdown, driving 80-yards down the field on 11 plays for a first quarter score. Udinski connected on 6-of-6 on the drive for 43 yards while Dykes added a 20-yard gain. Smith scored the first touchdown of the year, rushing in from eight yards out for a 7-0 lead. Virginia responded with 21-straight points before the Spiders answered with a 45-yard field goal from Jake Larson (Baltimore, Md.).

Richmond's defense got stronger as the game went on and forced a turnover on the Cavaliers' first possession of the second half. Senior linebacker Phil O'Connor (Philadelphia, Pa.) came up with a big hit on the Virginia running back and senior Aaron Banks (Stephens City, Va.) jumped on the loose ball for the first forced turnover of the season. The Spiders used the ground attack to cash in on the turnover, grinding for 30 yards on six carries, capped by a five-yard run from Smith narrowing the gap to 28-17.

Banks picked up the Spiders' second-straight forced turnover as he intercepted Brennan Armstrong after a quarterback hurry from Wheeler. The Spiders were limited on their possession and Larson just missed on a 48-yard attempt.

Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jasiah Williams (Petersburg, Va.) led the team with nine receptions for 67 yards, including 48 yards after contact. Graduate wide receiver Leroy Henley (Pompano Beach, Fla.) added five receptions while graduate Jakob Herres (Easton, Pa.) added three receptions in his first game as a Spider.

– UR—