University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
5-4 , 2-3
Fordham
1-8 , 1-4
Defense Prevails in 17-14 Win Over Fordham Saturday
11/01/2025 | Football
The Spiders struck first, opening their first drive with a 27-yard completion from Kyle Wickersham to Aziz Foster-Powell to cross midfield. A Fordham offsides penalty advanced Richmond to the 6-yard line, setting up Wickersham's throw to Ja'Vion Griffin, who made a one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Jayden Alsheskie's PAT was good. Wickersham finished the day 23-of-35 passing for 193 yards and was intercepted once while also picking up 44 yards on 10 carries.
Fordham's opening drive stalled, forcing a punt from its own 45-yard line. The kick was muffed, however, near the Richmond 15, and the Rams recovered at the 4-yard line. Fordham scored three plays later on a four-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Richmond responded early in the second quarter, driving to the Fordham 26 before Alsheskie converted a 36-yard field goal to put the Spiders back in front.
Richmond's defense set the tone on consecutive Fordham drives in the second quarter. On the first series, after an incompletion on first down, Cam Byrd recorded a seven-yard sack, pushing the Rams back to the Richmond 45. Donovan Hoilette followed with another sack, forcing Fordham to punt on third-and-long. On the next series, the Spiders stopped Fordham on fourth-and-1 at the Richmond 49, forcing a turnover on downs.
Both teams traded punts before Richmond's final drive of the first half reached the Fordham four-yard line, where Alsheskie's 26-yard field goal attempt was blocked—Richmond's first blocked kick in nearly two years and Alsheskie's first miss of the season—as time expired.
Richmond's next kick attempt at 9:15 in the third quarter was also blocked, giving Fordham the ball at its own 32-yard line. On the ensuing drive, Lee Bruner IV intercepted a deep Fordham pass at the Richmond 22-yard line—his second interception of the season—and returned it 25 yards to the Richmond 47, giving the Spiders excellent field position.
Richmond capitalized immediately. Jamaal Brown gained seven yards on first down, and on the next play, Wickersham connected deep with Isaiah Dawson for a 42-yard gain to the Fordham 4-yard line. Wickersham then kept the ball, bounced off a blocker to the outside, and ran in from four yards for a touchdown, extending Richmond's lead.
On Fordham's next possession, Daniel Sellers forced a fumble that Peyton Seelman recovered at the Fordham 16. Richmond had excellent field position, but Wickersham was intercepted four plays later at the Fordham two-yard line. The Rams couldn't capitalize on the momentum swing, and both teams went three-and-out to start the fourth quarter.
Fordham scored its second touchdown at 8:18 in the fourth on a four-yard rush, capping a 10-play, 70-yard drive to pull within three, then late in the game made a stop on third down with 1:55 to play. Ned Gray punted the ball away, and Fordham took over on their own eight-yard line, but four plays later Bruner IV came up big again with his second interception of the day, giving the Spiders the ball back and allowing them to kneel out the clock for the win. Bruner is the first Spider to record two interceptions in a game since Tyrek Funderburk (now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) did it against Stony Brook on Sept. 24, 2022.
Defensively, Richmond was led by Carter Glassmyer with 12 tackles, while Cam Byrd followed with six, including two sacks, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries. The Fordham quarterback went 19-of-36 with two interceptions by Bruner IV and threw for just 91 yards.
Overall, the Spiders outgained the Rams 323 yards to 161, with Richmond's defense holding Fordham to just 70 yards rushing and 91 yards passing. The Spiders defense also recorded five pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and three sacks.
The Spiders will travel to Washington, D.C., next week to take on Georgetown. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Cooper Field.
Team Stats
FOR 0, RIC 7
RIC - Griffin,Ja'Vion 5 yd pass from Wickersham,Kyle (Alsheskie,Jayden kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:08
FOR 7, RIC 7
FOR - Freeburg,Jack 4 yd pass from Smith,Gunnar (Henderson,Bennett kick) 3 plays, 4 yards, TOP 00:40
FOR 7, RIC 10
RIC - Alsheskie,Jayden 36 yd field goal 13 plays, 56 yards, TOP 06:01
FOR 7, RIC 17
RIC - Wickersham,Kyle 4 yd run (Alsheskie,Jayden kick), 3 plays, 53 yards, TOP 01:39
FOR 14, RIC 17
FOR - Kaiser,Jack 4 yd run (Henderson,Bennett kick), 10 plays, 70 yards, TOP 04:33
