University of Richmond Athletics
No. 12 Richmond Hosts No. 3 Furman In NCAA Quarterfinals
Nov. 28, 2005
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For the first time in school history the Richmond Spiders, will host an NCAA I-AA quarterfinal playoff game at UR Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 3. Kickoff against the third-ranked Paladins of Furman is set for 6 p.m. The game's radio broadcast can be heard on the Spider Radio Network and at RichmondSpiders.com. Bob Black will handle the play-by-play with former Richmond defensive standout, Jasmonn Coleman, as analyst and Matt Smith on the sidelines.
The contest will also be nationally televised on ESPNU, which will carry two of the four quarterfinal games live, and tape-delay the Northern Iowa/New Hampshire game following the Spiders/Paladins.
The Spiders, who outscored the second-ranked Pirates of Hampton last weekend, 28-0 in the second half, will be making their second trip into the quarterfinals in as many appearances in the playoffs. In 2000, the last time Richmond was part of the NCAA postseason, Richmond beat Youngstown State at home in the opening round, then fell at Montana in the quarterfinals. The Spiders lead the all-time series with the Paladins, 15-9, but have lost the last two. Saturday's game will be the first between the two teams since 2003.
Richmond is under the direction of second-year head coach Dave Clawson, who has compiled a seven-year career record of 41-40 and an 12-11 mark in two seasons at Richmond. Bobby Lamb is in his 4th season as the Paladins' head coach. Lamb has compiled a four-year career mark of 34-14, all coming at his alma mater of Furman.
QUICK OUTS...
-- Tutt is Richmond's all-time single-season record holder for total offense. He has 2,792 yards this season, 127 more than Charlie Richards had in 1969.
-- Tutt needs to be part of 10 plays (run, pass) to move into second on the Spiders' all-time total plays list ahead of Greg Lilly (1990-93) with 1,158.
-- Tutt's 424 plays this season rank fourth all-time in the single-season standings. If he is part of 32 more plays this weekend he will move into third on the list.
-- Tutt needs 91 yards passing to move past his own mark in single-season passing from a year ago, and into fifth. He currently has 2,066 yards passing which ranks sixth on the all-time list for single-season.
-- Tutt needs four more touchdown passes to move into a tie for fifth on the single-season TD-passes list.
-- His 23 career rushing TD's rank third all-time at Richmond, while his 11 single-season rushing touchdowns are tied for fifth all-time at Richmond.
-- Tutt needs eight completions to move into sixth on the Spiders' single-season pass completions list. If he completes 12 passes he will rank fifth on the single-season completions list.
-- Sophomore Arman Shields needs 4 yards in receiving to move into eighth-place on the Spiders' single-season reception yards list. If he hauls in 41 yards he will jump into seventh on the single-season receiving list.
-- Shields has five 100-yard receiving games. The last Spider to haul in 100 yards or more in five single-season games was Rod Boothes -- he did it six times in 1992.
-- Richmond's offense has converted on 26 of its last 27 trips to the redzone. In those trips the Spiders have scored 19 touchdowns and kicked seven field goals. The Spiders had six trips into the redzone last week at Hampton and recorded points each of those six times.
-- Richmond's defense garnered five sacks against Hampton last week. The Spiders' season-best of eight sacks came against Towson three weeks ago. Richmond's 40 total sacks, which are a league-best, are equal to the Spiders' sack total in 2000, and are the most since recording 59 in 1997.
-- Senior Joseph Fore has hit at least one field goal in each of the last 11 games he has played. Currently he leads the A-10 in field goals per game and ranks fourth in the country with his average of 1.60.
-- Sophomore Tim Hightower has rushed for 100 yards or more in three games this season. The last person to record three 100-yard games in one season was David Freeman in 2004. Should Hightower go for 100 this weekend, he will be the first player to record four 100-yard rushing games since Jasper Pendergrass did it in 1998.
-- Senior David Freeman needs 18 more kickoff return yards to move into ninth on the Spiders' single-season list ahead of Erwin Matthews' (1987) 529 yards. If he records 20 more yards in returns he will move past John Armstrong's (1984) total of 531 in eighth place. Currently Freeman is averaging 26.9 yards a return, which leads the Atlantic 10 and ranks 11th in the nation.
-- The Spiders are 16-32 against ranked opponents since the 1995 season, but has a streak of four-straight wins against ranked opponents. The Spiders, since 1995, have beaten only one opponent ranked higher than No. 3 in the nation (last week at No. 2 Hampton).
SACK ATTACK
The Spider defense is on a record-breaking pace when it comes to putting the opposing quarterback on their back. So far this season Richmond has recorded 40 sacks for 256 yards lost. The defense has recorded three or more sacks in seven of the last eight games, including an eight sack performance against Towson, Nov. 12, and a five-sack game last week at Hampton. Sophomore Sherman Logan, the Atlantic 10 Defensive Rookie of the Year, recorded three sacks last weekend and ranks seventh in the nation with a sack average of 0.96 a game. The 40 team sacks are the most since the Spiders recorded 59 in 1997.
HE IS GETTING IT THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS
Senior Joseph Fore is among the nation's Top-5 in field goals per game. His average of 1.60 per game ranks fourth best in the nation and is tops in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Fore has hit at least one field goal in every game he has played (11), including season-bests of two against Maine, Vanderbilt, Delaware, James Madison, Towson and William & Mary. He also has hit each of his last eight field-goal attempts. Fore ranks second in the league in scoring with 8.2 points per game, which ranks 18th in the nation. Fore is 34-37 in PAT attempts and has connected on each of his last 21.
A RICHMOND WIN WOULD...
-- Give the Spiders a 10-3 mark for the first time since the 2000 season.
-- Tie the longest single-season win streak ever for the Spiders -- nine-straight in 1998.
-- Extend Richmond's win streak over I-AA opponents to 10-straight.
-- Mark the Spiders' fifth win ever in postseason play, including the Tangerine Bowl win in 1968.
-- Make Richmond 4-4 all-time in the I-AA playoffs and 5-5 in all-time postseason play.
-- Make the Spiders 1-2 in NCAA I-AA playoff quarterfinal games.
-- Give Clawson his third postseason victory as a head coach and make his career postseason record 3-1.
-- Make the Spiders 7-5 at home under Clawson and 6-1 at UR Stadium this season.
-- Mark the Spiders' 16th win in the all-time series with Furman, making the all-time series 16-9 in favor of Richmond.
-- Move Clawson's marks to 42-40 as a head coach and 102-86-1 in his coaching career.
-- Give Clawson his first all-time win against the Paladins.
-- Push the Spiders into the I-AA semifinals for the first time in school history.
-- Push Clawson into the I-AA semifinals for the first time in his head coaching career.
-- Snap the Paladins' two-game win streak in the series, and mark the Spiders' first win over Furman since 1977.
-- Give Richmond a mark of 17-32 against ranked opponents since 1995, and extend the Spiders win streak to five-straight over ranked opponents.
-- Give the Spiders an all-time record of 450-588-53.
A RICHMOND LOSS WOULD...
-- Give the Spiders a 9-4 mark for the first time in school history.
-- Snap Richmond's current eight-game win streak.
-- Make Richmond 3-5 all-time in the I-AA playoffs and 4-6 in all-time postseason play.
-- Give head coach Dave Clawson a mark of 2-2 all-time in the playoffs, 1-1 at Richmond.
-- Make the Spiders 6-6 at home under Clawson and 5-2 at UR Stadium this season.
-- Move the Spiders to 15-10 all-time against Furman.
-- Extend the Paladins' win streak to three in the all-time series.
-- Give Clawson a mark of 41-41 as a head coach and 102-87-1 in his coaching career.
-- Move Clawson's all-time head coaching mark to 0-1 against the Paladins.
-- Give the Spiders an all-time record of 449-589-53.
LETS MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS
Over the Spiders' eight-game win streak, the team has turned up the intensity and made adjustments in the second half, helping it outscore those opponents 149-55 in the last half. Those numbers show the Spiders outscoring the opposition in the second half in six of the games, which includes an overtime game. The defense also did not allow more than one touchdown in each of those 16 single quarters of play dating back to the Villanova win.
REDZONE ATTACK
The Spiders' offense is no stranger lately to success in the redzone. Richmond scored in 19-straight trips inside the opponent's 20-yard line, prior to snapping the streak in the third quarter against William & Mary. In that streak the Spiders scored 13 touchdowns and recorded six field goals. Richmond has now missed scoring only once in its last 27 trips to the redzone dating back to Oct. 22 against Hofstra, which includes 19 touchdowns and seven field goals. In all the Spiders are converting on 81 percent of their trips inside the redzone, with a touchdown percentage of 54 percent. The Richmond defense has allowed opponents 62 percent success on trips into the redzone, which ranks first in the Atlantic 10. For a rundown of redzone activities visit page 15 of the notes.
SPECIAL TEAMS ARE TRULY SPECIAL
Three blocks, 1.60 field goals a game, 35.6 net yards punting, 21.9 yards a kickoff return. Richmond's special teams are getting the job done. Head Coach Dave Clawson has praised special teams coordinator Mike Elko for his leadership in making the Spiders' special team units some of the best in the country. Currently the kickoff coverage team, is giving up just 17.0 on returns, which ranks 21st in the country. The punt team is 29th in the country with a net yardage of 34.0, while senior punter Chris Radford's 38.8 yards a punt rank 40th in the nation. Richmond's kickoff return team is averaging 21.9 yards per return, which ranks 20th in the nation and third in the A-10.
NOTES FROM THE HAMPTON GAME...
-- Stacy Tutt's two-yard rush with 11:08 left in the second quarter made him the all-time all-time single-season leader in total offense at Richmond with 2,667. He passed Charlie Richards who had 2,665 in 1969.
-- Tutt moved into sixth on the single-season passing yards list with 102 in the game. He now has 2,066 through the air this season.
-- Tutt's 23 career rushing TD's rank third all-time at Richmond, while his 11 single-season rushing touchdowns are tied for fifth all-time at Richmond.
-- Tutt's 12 completions moved him into a tie for seventh on the single-season completions list with 155 this season.
-- Arman Shields 55 yards receiving moved into ninth-place on the Spiders' single-season reception yards list with 779 for the season.
-- Joe Mallory's interception with 13:12 left in the first quarter was his second of the season.
-- Ryan Mace's 25-yard punt return with 7:52 left in the third quarter was his longest of the season.
-- Tim Hightower three-yard TD rush with 6:11 left in the third quarter, along with his eight-yard score with 10:28 in the fourth, marked his second multi-TD game in the last five games.
-- The Spiders recovered an onside kick with 6:10 remaining in the third quarter marked the third time this season Richmond recovered an onside kick, and the second time Fore has connected on a successful onside kick.
-- David Freeman two-yard touchdown rush with 4:39 left in the third quarter marks the third-straight game with a touchdown. It capped a four play, 37-yard drive that lasted 1:32.
-- Johnny Campbell's interception in the fourth quarter (37-yard return) marked the first of his career.
-- Freeman's 117 yards for the game marked his second 100-yard game of the season and sixth of his career.
-- The win gave the Spiders a 9-3 mark for the first time since the 1998 season.
-- The win marked the longest win streak (eight) for the Spiders since winning nine-straight in 1998.
-- The win extended Richmond's win streak over I-AA opponents to nine-straight.
-- The win gave the Spiders a record of 3-2 in I-AA playoff openers.
-- The win marked the Spiders fourth win ever in postseason play, including the Tangerine Bowl win in 1968.
-- The win made Richmond 3-4 all-time in the I-AA playoffs and 4-5 in all-time postseason play.
-- The win gave head coach Dave Clawson his first nine-win season at Richmond.
-- The win marked Clawson's first posteseason victory at Richmond.
-- The win gave Clawson his second postseason victory as a head coach and made his career postseason record 2-1.
-- The win made the Spiders 6-6 on the road under Clawson and 4-2 on the road this season.
-- The win marked the first win in the overall series for Richmond, making them 1-0 all-time against the Pirates.
-- The win moved Clawson's marks to 41-40 as a head coach and 102-86-1 in his coaching career.
-- The win gave Clawson his first all-time win against the Pirates.
-- The win pushed the Spiders into the I-AA quarterfinals for second time in as many playoff appearances.
-- The win gave the Spiders an all-time record of 449-588-53.
BIG PLAY CAPABILITY
Richmond is very capable of the big play as shown by its list of 24 plays which have gone for 35 yards or more. Against Towson three weeks ago the Spiders had seven plays of 35 or more yards, and four of those went for touchdowns. Richmond's defense has limited opponents to just 13 plays of 35-or-more yards, six going for scores. In all the Spiders have amassed 48 points and 1,165 yards in plays longer than 35 yards, compared to 36 points and 684 for opponents' big plays. For a rundown of all the big plays visit page 14 of the notes.
HE'S THE DEEP MAN
Senior David Freeman is among the Top-15 nationally in kickoff return yards per game. The Fayetteville, N.C., native currently is 11th in the nation averaging 26.9 kickoff return yards per game. His average is tops in the A-10. Five of the Spiders' 23 plays of 35-or-more yards are returns by Freeman, who was named a First Team All-Atlantic 10 kick returner. He has made returns of 58 yards twice this season, including three weeks ago against Towson. His 36 kickoff return yards against William & Mary moved him into 10th all-time in single-season kickoff return yards at Richmond.