Spiders Top Towson for Homecoming Victory

Saturday, November 2

Richmond, Va.

2 p.m.

University of Richmond

7-2 , 5-0

Towson

4-5 , 2-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Towson

Richmond

11/02/2024 | Football

Box Score

Richmond, Va. – The University of Richmond football team won its seventh game in a row during Homecoming Saturday, defeating Towson, 35-24, to remain undefeated in Coastal Athletic Association play. With the win, Richmond marks its longest regular season win streak since 2015, a year that saw the Spiders finish 10-4 (6-2 CAA) win their fourth CAA title, and reach the FCS Playoffs Semifinals. The win also gave Richmond its best start in CAA conference play since 2015 as well.

The Spiders (7-2, 5-0 CAA) forced Towson (4-5, 2-3) into four turnovers including seven sacks that resulted in 13 points, Landon Ellis caught a pair of touchdown passes, and true freshman kicker Sean O'Haire was five-of-five on field goals to help Richmond secure the win.

The Spiders, who never trailed in the contest, got on the board when Ellis cut through traffic for a 13-yard touchdown reception to cap off a 14-play, 85-yard drive on Richmond's first possession.

Towson's quarterback was sacked on its first offensive play of the game by Jeremiah Grant, and the Tigers quarterback fumbled the ball that was recovered by Camden Byrd and returned seven yards to give the Spiders the ball on the Towson 25-yard line just one play after it scored its first touchdown of the game. The Spiders would make it to the goal line, but would settle for a 21-yard field goal after a pair of penalties pushed the Spiders back.

Towson scored on its next drive at the 14:57 mark of the second to make it a 9-7 game, then two Richmond drives later Ellis scored his second touchdown of the game off a 10-yard catch that was set up by a 48-yard completion from Camden Coleman to Jerry Garcia Jr..

The Tigers kicked a field goal with 1:06 left in the half, then O'Haire kicked his second of the day, this one from 22 yards out, as time expired to make it a 16-10 game at the break. O'Haire's kick was made possible by an Aaron Trusler 67-yard punt that put the Tigers on their own 11-yard line, followed by a Grant forced fumble that was recovered by Jabril Hayes at the Towson 14 on the very next play.

Towson opened the third quarter with a scoring drive, then Richmond responded on its first possession of the half with a 47-yard field goal by O'Haire, good enough for a career-long. The kick was set up by a 25-yard run by Coleman that got the Spiders down to the Towson 24-yard line. Coleman, the reigning CAA Offensive Player of the Year ended the day 17-of-26 for 230 passing and two touchdown passes and picked up 36 yards rushing on nine carries.

In a one-score game, Jabril Hayes picked off the Towson quarterback on the first play of the fourth quarter and took it 90 yards to the end zone for his second pick-six of the season and third of his career. His 90-yard return is the fourth-longest in program history.

"As soon as I caught it. I saw a perfect ally for me right to the sideline," said Hayes. "As soon as I turned up, went down to the middle of the field and got to the sideline, I knew I was scoring."

The Tigers scored their last touchdown off a one-handed, 80-yard reception to make it 29-24, but the Spiders defense would take over from there.

O'Haire was good from 36 yards out on the Spiders next possession, then the Richmond defense, who came up with a total of seven sacks, its most in a game since it tallied seven against UAlbany on Oct. 5, 2019, recorded three sacks in a row, forcing the Tigers into a turnover on downs after their four-play -20 yard drive.

Taking over at the Towson five-yard line, the Spiders used three short run plays to work down the clock and give O'Haire his final field goal with seven seconds left in the game to secure the win.

"Huge," said Head Coach Russ Huesman on the Spiders defense during the win. "Our defense stepped up the whole game. We made plays and we had quite a few quarterback sacks. Jabril's interception and return were incredible. Defensively, we stepped up big time when we needed to."

Richmond's seven sacks were made possible by Grant's three, bringing his season total to a nation-leading 11.5 along with a nation-best 95 sack yards. Grant is now tied with Richmond Athletics Hall-of-Famer Lawrence Sidbury Jr. for third-most in a single season. His 19.5 career sacks tie him for 10^th all-time at UR.

"I can't give our defensive line enough credit," said Hayes. "Those guys bust their tails all week long and they know what they have to accomplish when they get in the game, and they fly around and make plays."

Grant was joined at his sack party by Camden Byrd and Matei Fitz who each had 1.5, followed by Carsen Stocklinski with 1.0. Jordan Allen and Wayne Galloway each had nine tackles while Chance Graves added seven.

Richmond improves its record on Homecoming to 51-36-6 and will look for its eighth win in a row when it visits Campbell on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 3:30 p.m.