University of Richmond Athletics
SpiderTV Classics: Sept. 29, 2007 - UR 45 UNH 38
With the 2016 sold-out home opener a success and a sold-out Family Weekend home date with Colgate set for this Saturday, our second installment of SpiderTV Classics focuses on one of the great home games – albeit at historic University of Richmond Stadium. It was Sept. 29, 2007, and it turned out to be an old fashioned, high scoring shootout between Top 25 teams, as No. 25 Richmond outlasted No. 11 New Hampshire, 45-38.
The Spider star was senior running back Tim Hightower, who is now in his sixth NFL season, now playing for the New Orleans Saints. Hightower likely opened some NFL eyes that Saturday nine years ago. He rushed for 168 yards and scored on runs of two, 72 and 13 yards. He also caught a 5-yard pass from Eric Ward for a touchdown.
Another future NFL player, Justin Rogers, set a school record for kickoff-return yardage in a game with 222 yards, including an 85-yarder for a touchdown. He became the first Spider in history to return two kickoffs for a touchdown in the same season (93-yard return versus Vanderbilt).
Also of historic significance, Dave Clawson won his 50th game as a collegiate head coach.
Since the turn of the century, Spider football has enjoyed unprecedented success, with six conference titles, seven playoff appearances, 12 playoff victories, three semifinals, and the 2008 National Championship.
KEY PLAYS:
- Justin Rogers’ 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half.
- Tim Hightower’s 13-yard touchdown run with 8:42 to play in the game gave the Spiders the lead for good.
Click here to check out the victory over the Wildcats! The game will be archived on SpiderTV, along with our first SpiderTV Classic – Richmond’s 21-18 triumph at William and Mary in 2000 that earned the Spiders an Atlantic 10 title.
SpiderTV Classics will regularly feature memorable football and men’s basketball telecasts on RichmondSpiders.com.