University of Richmond Athletics
Football Surges Past Villanova, 38-20
Oct. 8, 2005
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Stacy Tutt connected on a 5-yard pass to Matt Hale early in the fourth quarter Saturday giving Richmond the lead for good and they added two more scores following a pair of Villanova turnovers to beat the Wildcats 38-20 in Atlantic 10 Conference football.
Hale's touchdown capped an 87-yard drive for the Spiders in which Tutt connected on 6-of-7 passes for 70 yards.
The Spiders (2-3, 2-1 Atlantic 10) took over on the Villanova 20-yard line following Wildcat Frank Jankowski's fumble with 5:44 remaining. Johnny Campbell had sacked Jankowski and recovered the fumble. David Freeman scored from the 6, giving the Spiders a 31-20 lead with 4:25 remaining.
On the first play of Villanova's next drive, Brian Burnette intercepted a Wildcat pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown. The Spiders had only scored three points in the fourth quarter this season, before the 21-point outburst Saturday.
"We have done a great job improving our turnover margin and in the games we've won, we have won the turnover battle," Richmond head coach Dave Clawson said. "We took care of the ball and the defense put us in a position to win the game."
The teams began as if it was going to be an offensive showcase, scoring three touchdowns in the first 3:52 of the game. The Wildcats (2-3, 1-2 Atlantic 10) scored first on a 51-yard completion from Jankowski to J.J. Outlaw. Richmond retaliated with a 32-yard pass from Tutt to Freeman. The Wildcats took a 14-7 lead when Jankowski connected with John Dieser for 57 yards.
Richmond's Joseph Fore hit a 35-yard field goal and Tutt had a 26-yard run in the second quarter, giving Richmond a 17-14 lead at halftime.
Outlaw's second touchdown reception, a 4-yarder from Jankowski, gave Villanova a 20-17 with 10:53 left in the third quarter. The Wildcats kept that lead until Tutt found Hale in the endzone early in the fourth quarter.
Jankowski completed 30 of 54 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns; however, the Spiders forced him into a career-high three interceptions. Tutt was 12-of-24 for 199 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Wildcats were held to 17 yards rushing and Richmond had a 152, 58 by Freeman.
Richmond's Arman Shields caught five passes for 100 yards to post his second-consecutive 100-plus yard receiving game.