Spiders Win Fifth In A Row, Hand Delaware First Loss Of Season

Saturday, October 19

Richmond, Va.

3:30 p.m.

University of Richmond

5-2 , 3-0

Delaware

6-1 , 3-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Delaware

Richmond

Spiders Win Fifth In A Row, Hand Delaware First Loss Of Season

10/19/2024 | Football

Box Score

Richmond, Va. – A storied series came to a close Saturday as the No. 15/18 University of Richmond football team handed Delaware its first loss of the season, using four first-half touchdowns to pass the previously undefeated Blue Hens, 28-9, during Red Out Robins Presented By Chesapeake Bank. With the win, Richmond improves to 5-2 (3-0 CAA), while Delaware moves to 6-1 (3-1 CAA). The matchup marked the final conference game between the two programs ahead of Delaware joining FBS Conference USA and the Spiders heading to the Patriot League ahead of the 2025 season.

A big first half was all it took as Richmond earned its fifth win in a row thanks to four touchdowns in the first two quarters including a three-score second quarter.

"Nobody out there thought we were going to win this game," said Head Coach Russ Huesman. "We believed we could win and our guys played really hard. We didn't play it perfectly, but we found a way."

Richmond punted on its opening drive and Delaware put the first points up with a field goal at 10:53 in the first, but it would be all Spiders from there as Richmond found the end zone on its four following drives.

Camden Coleman scored Richmond's first touchdown on a one-yard quarterback keeper at 7:36 in the first to cap a seven play, 75-yard drive. The score was set up by a 40-yard completion from Coleman to Nick DeGennaro followed by an 11-yard connection to Ja'Vion Griffin to put the ball on the Delaware one-yard line.

DeGennaro picked up his second touchdown of the season on the following drive off a 23-yard pass from Coleman to the end zone at 14:56 in the second. The drive was set up after Jamar Hodges forced the Delaware quarterback to fumble and Jabril Hayes came up with the recovery to give the Spiders the ball back on their own 21-yard line.

The Richmond defense forced the Blue Hens into a three-and-out on its following drive thanks to three-yard tackle for loss by Carter Glassmyer, followed immediately by a Jeremiah Grant sack that brought up an additional 17 yards lost by the Blue Hens. Grant currently leads the nation with eight sacks so far this season. Coleman used his legs on the following possession to pick up 59 yards and bring Richmond to the Delaware one-yard line where Zach Palmer-Smith was able to walk in his team-leading (3^rd in CAA) touchdown of the season on the following play.

Delaware responded with its sole touchdown of the day on the following drive and went for two points after, but Jordan Allen picked off the Delaware quarterback in the end zone to hold them to six points on the score.

Tight end Matt Robbert scored his first touchdown as a Spider on the next drive to cap a streak of four consecutive Spider possessions ending in touchdowns. Robbert scored off a six-yard pass from Coleman at the end of an 11-play, 75-yard drive that shaved 5:58 off the game clock.

Throughout the game, Richmond dominated time of possession, holding onto the ball for 34:08 compared to Delaware's 23:04.

"We went out there with high energy and with high execution early," said Coleman. "Today I feel like we stepped up and came together and it translated into the second half."

And that it did.

Richmond maintained its first-half dominance after the break and translated it into two scoreless quarters for the Blue Hens. The Richmond defense was lead by Carter Glassmyer with eight tackles including a tackle for loss, while Galloway came up with four tackles, a quarterback hurry, and assist on a sack with Camden Byrd that resulted in a loss of 13 Blue Hens yards. Camden Byrd had a big game as well with three tackles, 1.5 sacks (-17 yards), a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Quantraill Morris-Walker had five tackles, two pass breakups and recorded his second interception of the season when he picked off the Delaware quarterback in the fourth quarter,

"I told the team earlier today that the team that wins the turnover battle, will win this game, said Huesman. We didn't turn the ball over, but they did. We made some huge fourth down stops and I'm proud of both sides of the ball."

The Richmond offense picked up 378 yards compared to Delaware's 324, thanks in part to Coleman going 16-of-23 for 194 yards and the two touchdown passes. He also picked up 79 yards on the ground on 10 carries as part of a 184-yard rushing performance for the Spiders. Delaware ran for just 36 yards in the contest.

Prior to the game, Delaware had averaged over 42 points per contest and the nine points Richmond held it to was the least its scored in a game since Sept. 9, 2023 when it scored seven at Penn State.

"The offense making plays gives a spark to the whole team, said Galloway. "[The defense] made plays when we needed to make plays and when it mattered the most."

Richmond looks to continue its win streak next Saturday when it travels to Bryant. Game time is set for noon from Smithfield, R.I.