Explosive Second Half Lifts Spiders To First Round Playoff Win Over North Carolina Central

Saturday, November 25

Richmond, Va.

2 p.m.

University of Richmond

9-3 , 7-1

North Carolina Central

9-3 , 4-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

N.C. Central

Richmond

Explosive Second Half Lifts Spiders To First Round Playoff Win Over North Carolina Central

11/25/2023 | Football

Box Score Postgame Press Conference

Richmond, Va. — An offensive explosion led Richmond into the second round of the FCS playoffs for a second straight season Saturday, as the Spiders defeated North Carolina Central, 49-27, at Robins Stadium. Richmond will now make the trip north to face fellow CAA-member UAlbany Saturday, Dec. 2. Kickoff is set for noon at Casey Stadium.

Three different Spiders combined for seven touchdowns as Richmond recorded its most points in a postseason game since the 1968 Tangerine Bowl, when Richmond defeated Ohio, 49-42.

To begin the game, the Spiders took just over a minute to find the end zone, running a flea-flicker for a 38-yard gain on their first play and scoring two plays later, when Kyle Wickersham found Nick DeGennaro down the right sideline for a 35-yard touchdown. Wickersham ended the day 16-of-23 for a career-high 291 yards and three passing touchdowns— another career-high for the redshirt sophomore.

The Spiders looked poised for their second score early in the second quarter when Fonnae Webb broke free at midfield on a rush up the middle and sprinted 56 yards towards the end zone. He was caught from behind at the 15-yard line and fumbled, allowing Central to recover and take over deep in its own territory. After the Spiders forced a punt, the Eagles were able to take over in scoring position when a fake punt by UR failed, giving Central a 1^st down at the Richmond 26-yard line. Central was in the end zone two plays later, as an 18-yard quarterback keeper extended their lead to 20-7.

The Spiders were able to cut into the Central lead shortly before halftime, as Wickersham found DeGennaro over the middle for a 10-yard score with 9 seconds on the clock, completing an 11-play, 65-yard drive and making the score 20-14 at the break. The score gave DeGennaro 10 receiving touchdowns this season, one shy of the program record shared by Brian Brown (2016) and Walker Gillette (1969).

"I think we got outplayed a little bit in the first half, but these guys after halftime came out and played unbelievable," said Spiders head coach Russ Huesman.

After trailing the Eagles, 20-7, shortly before the half, Richmond outscored Central, 42-7.

After forcing a three-and-out to start the second half, Richmond drove 64 yards in six plays to regain the lead, with Smith finding the end zone on a scamper over the left side of the line from 14 yards out.

Smith changed the game late in the third quarter, fielding a punt on the run at the Richmond 35-yard line and cutting up the field for a 65-yard punt return touchdown to give the Spiders a 28-20 lead entering the final frame.

The Spiders extended their lead to 35-20 with 13:38 to play, when Jerry Garcia Jr. snatched a bobbled ball from the hands of an Eagle defender and sprinted to the end zone for a 71-yard touchdown.

Following a Central TD, Garcia Jr. again found the end zone, this time on a 6-yard sweep around the left end, giving him his first career multi-touchdown game.

Smith capped the scoring with his third touchdown, a 24-yard pinballing run up the middle to make the final score 49-27. Smith ended the day with 73 yards on 15 carries. His three touchdowns marked tied for a career-high and his second three-score game of the season.

Defensively, Richmond was lead by Wayne Galloway with 11 tackles including 1.5 for loss, and Marlem Louis came up big with a career-high three sacks.

Richmond has now won seven straight games, its longest win streak since winning seven in a row during the 2015 season.