Spiders Come Up Short Against No. 25 Lafayette In Patriot League Finale

Saturday, November 15

Richmond, Va.

2:00 p.m.

University of Richmond

6-5 , 3-4

Lafayette

8-3 , 6-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Lafayette

Richmond

Spiders Come Up Short Against No. 25 Lafayette In Patriot League Finale

11/15/2025 | Football

Box Score

Richmond, Va. – The University of Richmond football team fell in its final home game of 2025, 34–28, to No. 25/RV Lafayette. Richmond concludes its first season in the Patriot League with a 3–4 conference record.

Richmond moved the ball efficiently throughout the afternoon but struggled to finish drives, while Lafayette capitalized on big plays to build a two-score lead late in the third quarter. The Spiders cut the deficit to seven with 1:18 remaining and got the ball back with 53 seconds left for one final drive, but three consecutive end-zone attempts fell incomplete. Of Richmond's seven conference games in its first season as Patriot League members, all seven games were decided by seven points or less.

Despite producing two 100-yard receivers for the first time since Oct. 29, 2022, Richmond's offense was outpaced by a dominant Lafayette ground attack led by running back Kente Edwards, who finished with 26 carries for 265 yards and two touchdowns.

Ja'Vion Griffin posted a career-high 10 receptions for 113 yards for his second straight 100-yard game after reaching the mark for the first time in last week's win over Georgetown. Isaiah Dawson added seven catches for 103 yards, including a 41-yard long.

Richmond outgained the Leopards 480–419, with 333 yards through the air and 161 on the ground, but Lafayette proved more opportunistic, averaging 7.1 yards per play.

The Spiders missed a 43-yard field-goal attempt on their opening possession, giving Lafayette the ball before the Leopards assembled a nine-play, 74-yard drive. It ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dean Denobile to Carson Persing at 4:16 in the first quarter.

Richmond answered with an extended, run-heavy march, overcoming a 2nd-and-16 and using several physical bursts from Aziz Foster-Powell on third-down conversions. A Lafayette offsides on 4th-and-1 extended the drive, and after Foster-Powell pushed the ball to the 1-yard line, quarterback Kyle Wickersham punched in a keeper at 12:56 of the second quarter.

The Spiders used both Wickersham and Ashten Snelsire at quarterback throughout the game.Wickersham ended the day 20-of-35 for 234 yards and two touchdown passes and gained 41 yards on 12 carries. Snelsire was 13-of-27 for 99 yards and picked up 19 yards on four carries.

Lafayette quickly responded behind Edwards, who ripped off gains of 18 and 27 yards before Denobile connected with Nick Bierman on a 26-yard touchdown to the bottom left corner of the end zone at 10:20. Richmond's next possession showed promise—with a 41-yard connection to Dawson, a fourth-down conversion, and a 12-yard Snelsire scramble—but the drive stalled at the Lafayette 9-yard line as the Spiders turned the ball over on downs.

The Leopards opened the second half with another quick strike, as Denobile found Bierman for a 21-yard touchdown at 12:44, extending the lead and giving Bierman his second score of the day.

Richmond trimmed the margin late in the third quarter after a roughing-the-kicker penalty on Lafayette extended the drive. Wickersham led a crisp march before hitting Griffin on a 32-yard touchdown at 2:56, with Griffin securing the bobbled ball in the end zone.

But Lafayette answered immediately. Edwards churned out a short gain before breaking free for a 61-yard touchdown run at 2:15, pushing the lead to 28–14.

Lafayette's Michael Vaughn intercepted Wickersham deep in Leopard territory, but two plays later Peyton Seelmann picked off a Denobile pass and returned it 67 yards to the Lafayette 23. Richmond capitalized quickly, as Foster-Powell scored from 12 yards out two plays later—his second touchdown of the day.

Seelmann led the Richmond defense with seven tackles, an interception, and a pass breakup. Carter Glassmyer added 10 tackles, while TJ Baldwin contributed six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Jordan Allen matched Seelmann with seven tackles.

Lafayette again struck fast, as Edwards gained five yards on the first play of the next drive before breaking loose for a 70-yard touchdown run at 6:09 in the fourth, giving the Leopards a 35–21 lead.

Richmond responded with a lengthy 19-play, 82-yard drive capped by an Andreas Hill touchdown, pulling the Spiders within one score.

The Spiders forced a Lafayette three-and-out and regained possession with time dwindling, but were unable to connect in the end zone on the final series. Lafayette secured its sixth conference win to remain undefeated in league play.

Richmond closes its season next Saturday, Nov. 22, traveling to Williamsburg to face William & Mary in the 136th edition of the "Oldest Rivalry in the South"—the Capital Cup presented by C&F Bank.