University of Richmond Athletics
Football Drops Defensive Struggle To Lafayette
Sept. 10, 2005
EASTON, Pa. - The University of Richmond and Lafayette finished Saturday's game with very similar statistics. It was a three-play, 16-yard drive that proved to be the difference as Lafayette held off the Spiders for a 7-0 victory Saturday at Fisher Field.
On the opening drive of the second quarter, Richmond came up with a huge goal-line stand as David Gracia stopped Brad Maurer on fourth and goal from the Spider's one-yard line. Richmond took over from their own one, but couldn't move the ball and had to punt from out of its own end zone.
A 23-yard punt return by Brandon Stanford gave Lafayette the ball at the Richmond 16-yard line. Jonathan Hurt rushed twice for a total of 12 yards and then Maurer found Stanford for a four-yard touchdown pass. That would prove all the Leopards would need as they improved to 2-0 on the season.
Richmond did have its scoring opportunities, three times moving the ball inside the Lafayette 20-yard line, but the Spiders would miss three field goals on the day from 27, 37 and 39 yards.
The Spider defense has now given up just 26 points in two games, but the Richmond offense has scored just six points.
Adam Goloboski led the Richmond defense with 10 tackles, while Stephen Howell and Lance Gray each had nine apiece.
Richmond senior David Freeman rushed for 116 yards, marking the fifth time in his career he has gained 100+ yards on the ground in a single game. It was also the second-straight game Freeman has gone over the 100-yard mark against Lafayette. Last season he gained a career-high 201 on the ground against the Leopards.
The Spiders (0-2) will hit the road for the second game of a three-game road swing next Saturday when they travel to Maine for Richmond's second Atlantic 10 contest of the season.