University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Buck Cavaliers, 37-20, in Season Opener
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – In a highly anticipated season opener, the University of Richmond Spiders defeated ACC foe, Virginia, 37-20, Saturday at Scott Stadium.
Richmond's win over UVA was the first since 1946, and just the third win all-time against the Cavailiers.
The Spiders won the toss, elected to receive and put its much-hyped offense to work right away. On the first play from scrimmage QB Kyle Lauletta let fly a 17-yard toss to Jarmal Bevels who hauled in his first catch since 2014 after missing all of the 2015 season with an injury. Gordon Collins, making his first start at RB, followed with a 16-yard rush and the Spiders were off and running.
The opening drive stalled at the Virginia 11-yard line but Griffin Trau was able to convert a 28-yard field goal to give the Spiders the first points of the game and a 3-0 lead. The special teams unit wasn’t done however as it forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, recovered and handed the ball back to Lauletta and co.
The second drive resulted in a Trau 35-yard field to push Richmond ahead 6-0 before the defense ever took the field. UVA’s first drive of the game started with just 6:45 to go in the first quarter.
The Cavaliers chipped away after starting on their own 43-yard line and quickly moved into Richmond territory. On the 11th play of the drive the UVA running back ran to his right but collided with Spider safety Brendan Coniker who stripped and took the ball back.
Richmond had to begin its drive on its own five but used a pair of freshman backs, Deontez Thompson and Xavier Goodall to pick up gains of 14 and 11, respectively, to escape the shadow of the goal posts. The first quarter came to a close with Richmond on top, 6-0.
It took the Spiders just four plays after second quarter began to score the season’s first touchdown. On 3rd and 3 from the UVA 11, Lauletta hooked up with Tyler Wilkins for a catch and run that found the end zone, Wilkins’ first career touchdown.
With the Spiders leading 13-0, already the most points they had ever scored on UVA in the first half, the home side commenced on its first scoring drive of the afternoon. Kurt Benkert connected with Keeon Dowling to cut the Richmond lead down to six after the extra-point.
Richmond then embarked on a drive that lasted just shy of six minutes and called upon Old Dominion transfer Ricky Segers to try a 50-yard field goal. He converted, making it just the sixth made field goal from 50-plus in program history and first since 2008 (Andrew Howard). The first half came to a close with the Spiders on top, 16-7.
Lauletta converted on 15-20 attempts for 220 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Five of those balls found the hands of Brown who collected 61 yards. Bevels caught three for 51 and Wilkins contributed two catches for 46 and a touchdown. The top rusher in the first half was Collins who carried five times for 27 yards.
On defense it was Omar Howard leading the way with five tackles with David Jones and Coniker following close behind with four each. Winston Craig and Chad Wiggins contributed sacks, Porter Abell and Coniker forced fumbles, Jevaris Little and Coniker recovered them.
The two sides traded three-and-outs on the first two drives of the second half. UVA managed just five plays on its second drive as Charles Mack was able to stuff a runner on fourth down to turn it over to Richmond on its own 33 with 10:37 left in the quarter.
It went on to be another touchdown drive for the Spiders. Lauletta found Wilkins, on the same end of the field on almost the same play as the first time they hooked up for six, on the 11th play of the drive. Both sides traded blows, Richmond forced two more turnovers, and the third quarter came to a close with the Spiders in possession and leading 23-7.
By the start of the fourth quarter the Richmond defense had held UVA to negative rushing yards, meanwhile the Spider ground game was churning up yardage and, more importantly, clock. On the eighth play of the drive, Lauletta found Brown wide open over the middle for an 11-yard strike, resulting in a touchdown and a 30-7 lead with just 10:32 to play.
The Cavaliers put up their second touchdown of the day when Benkert connected with Olamide Zaccheaus with a little over four minutes remaining in the game, to make it 30-16. Richmond responded on the next drive with a 55-yard TD run by Collins, to make it a 37-14 Spiders lead. UVA wouldn’t go quietly as Benkert found Keeon Johnson in the endzone, before the Cavaliers’ failed two-point conversion, as Richmond closed out the season opener, 37-20.
Richmond will return home to Robins Stadium to host Norfolk State on Saturday, September 10 at 6 p.m.