Spiders Weather Storm, Erupt for 38-14 Win Over VMI

Saturday, September 20

Richmond, Va.

2:00 p.m.

University of Richmond

2-2 , 0-1

VMI

1-3 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

VMI

Richmond

09/20/2025 | Football

Box Score

Richmond, Va. — The University of Richmond football team put on its most explosive offensive performance of the season Saturday, powering past in-state rival VMI, 38–14, at Robins Stadium despite enduring a 3-hour and 19-minute weather delay.

The win marked a major milestone for Head Coach Russ Huesman, who notched his 54th career victory at Richmond, moving into sole possession of second place on the program's all-time wins list.

"Good win, good win," Huesman said following the victory. "Offensively, I think we did a great job. We generated big plays, our running backs were incredible… lot of yards and a lot of yards after contact—that was huge."

Richmond picked up 541 yards of total offense through 353 yards on the ground and 188 through the air. Spider running backs Jamaal Brown and Andrew King had big days, with Brown picking up a career-high 153 yards on 14 carries, including a long of 43, while King matched a career-high 100 yards for the second time in his career and scored on an 83-yard rush.

"Our word of the week was relentless," said Brown after his career-high day. "Everyone just honed in on finishing the play. We won the line of scrimmage and were the more physical team. It doesn't matter who is on the o-line, when we cross that white line, all the backs are going to eat."

The win marked Richmond's first with a 150+ yard rusher and two 100+ yard rushers since Oct. 5, 2024 against North Carolina A&T.

The Spiders struck first on a methodical 10-play, 75-yard opening drive, capped by a two-yard touchdown plunge from running back Aziz Foster-Powell—his first score of the season.

VMI responded immediately, tying the game at 7–7 with a 75-yard touchdown pass on its first offensive play. Richmond wasted no time reclaiming the lead, as quarterback Kyle Wickersham connected with Isaiah Dawson for a 67-yard touchdown—the longest reception of Dawson's career—on Richmond's very next drive. Dawson finished the day as Richmond's leading receiver with 99 yards on four catches.

With 1:54 left in the first quarter, a pop-up storm swept through Robins Stadium, forcing both teams to the locker room for a lengthy weather delay that wouldn't see play resume until 5:45 p.m.

After the long pause, VMI briefly tied the game at 14–14 midway through the second quarter, but Richmond answered right away. On the ensuing drive, Dawson found the end zone again, breaking multiple tackles on a gritty 13-yard touchdown reception—his second of the day.

Lee Bruner IV recorded his first career interception and returned it 29 yards to set up another Spider score when Jayden Alsheskie connected on a career-long 41-yard field goal at 2:09 in the second quarter.

With the Spiders up 24–14, King broke free for an 83-yard touchdown sprint down the sideline—the longest run of his career—to extend Richmond's lead. Wickersham later added an eight-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter to cap the Spiders' scoring at 38–14.

Wickersham finished the day 10-of-13 passing for 166 yards, including the 67-yard pass to Dawson, and ran for 44 yards on 15 carries.

On defense, the Spiders were led by linebacker Peyton Seelmann, who recorded seven tackles and two quarterback hurries, while Carter Glassmyer added six tackles and a sack. Richmond's defensive front applied constant pressure on VMI's quarterback and run game, finishing the day with five hurries and two sacks. VMI finished with just 229 yards of total offense and only 34 rushing yards on 23 attempts.

The Spiders are back home next weekend when they take on Howard during Family Weekend presented by Sheehy Lexus of Richmond. Kickoff is set for 2:00.