Opportunistic Defense Sparks 44-13 Homecoming Win Over Campbell

Saturday, October 28

Richmond, Va.

3:30 p.m.

University of Richmond

6-3 , 5-1

Campbell (Homecoming)

4-4 , 3-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Campbell

Richmond

Opportunistic Defense Sparks 44-13 Homecoming Win Over Campbell

10/28/2023 | Football

Box Score

Richmond, Va. – Three second half turnovers turned into 21 points as an opportunistic Richmond defense helped lift the Spiders to a 44-13 homecoming victory over Campbell Saturday.

The Spiders currently lead the nation with five defensive touchdowns and lead in turnovers gained with 23 after the sweltering Spiders defense wasn't the only thing hot during an unseasonably warm 86 degree day at Robins Stadium.

Richmond's defensive unit was led by Tristan Wheeler with 12 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble while Marlem Louis came up big with five tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a quarterback hurry.

With his fourth tackle of the day, Wheeler moved into second place all time on the Spiders career tackles list. He currently leads all levels of the NCAA (FBS, FCS, DII, DIII) with 455 to his name.

Campbell opened scoring on the day with an eight-play, 84 yard drive ending in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Hajj-Malik Williams to Javonte Kinsey. Williams ended the day 20-of-32 with 173 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. 173 passing yards were the lowest of the season for Williams, while Campbell finished with 296 total yards as an offense– it's lowest output of the season.

The Spiders were forced to punt on their first two possessions, but the team pulled off a successful fake punt and at the end of the first quarter when Owen Laughlin rushed for nine yards to give Richmond a first down. The successful fake punt (the second of the Spiders season and second pulled off by Laughlin) set the Spiders up for their first score of the game after Kyle Wickersham connected on 39-yard deep pass to the end zone for a Jerry Garcia Jr. touchdown.

Just as time was expiring in the first half, Camden Coleman took a deep shot to Quanye Veney for a career-long 32 yard reception thast set up for an Andrew Lopez field goal from 30 yards out to make it 10-7 Richmond at the half.

Both Wickersham and Coleman shared time in the contest, with Wickersham going 8-of-11 for 162 yards and two touchdowns, while Coleman was 10-of-15 with 104 yards.

The third quarter opened with Campbell kicking a 48-yard field goal to tie the game 10-10, then Richmond scored on the following drive when Savon Smith ran in his first of two touchdowns of the night, this one coming from 21 yards out. Smith finished the day as Richmond's leading rusher with 51 yards on eight carries.

The Camels (4-4, 3-3) kicked a field goal with 2:45 left in the third quarter before the Spiders went on a fourth-quarter rampage, scoring 28 unanswered points leading to their highest scoring game of the season.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Wayne Galloway recorded his second pick six of the season and his career when he ran the interception back 42 yard to the house.

On the following Camels possession, Wheeler sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble recovered by Jeremiah Grant at Campbell's 48-yard line, which led to a six-yard rushing touchdown by Smith eight plays later.

Campbell's next possession once again ended in a turnover as Galloway hurried the Campbell quarterback into throwing another interception, this one landing in the hands of Trae Tomlinson for the first of his career. On the very next play, Wickerham found Milan Howard down the sideline for a 32-yard strike and his first receiving touchdown of the season.

With 2:39 left in the game, Fonnae Webb ran in a touchdown from three yards out for his first score of the season to close the door on the Camels.

The Spiders are now 50-36-6 on homecoming and have won nine of the last 11.

Richmond heads into its bye week before hosting Elon back at Robins Stadium on Nov. 11. Kickoff is set for 2:00.