The University of Richmond football team picked up a marquee victory Oct. 19, throttling the previously undefeated University of Delaware 28-9.
Both the Spiders and the Blue Hens were among the cohort of teams vying for the top of the Coastal Athletic Association down the stretch last season. Combined with a 6-0 mark to open its 2024 campaign – in which UD averaged upwards of 40 points per game – it seemed that a shootout was inevitable.
This feeling was quickly justified by a fast three-and-out on the Spiders’ opening drive, with the Blue Hens stringing together a handful of runs to get within field goal range as a response. The 33-yard kick would prove to be a short-lived advantage, however, as redshirt senior wide receiver Nick DeGennaro caught a pass for forty yards to set up an easy rushing score for sophomore quarterback Camden Coleman on the Spiders’ next drive.
The Blue Hens could neither equalize nor even breach field goal range before being once again shut down by the Spiders’ defense on their ensuing possession. Leaning heavily on the rush, a quarterback keeper on 4th-and-3 was dislodged by redshirt first-year defensive lineman Jamar Hodges. Redshirt senior defensive back Jabril Hayes dove on the fumble to flip the field for the Spiders, who cashed in minutes later off of a 23-yard reception by DeGennaro.
UR’s offense was back on the field within two minutes of going up 14-3, as the Blue Hens continued to struggle offensively. A sack for a 17-yard loss by redshirt senior defensive lineman Jeremiah Grant effectively guaranteed a UD three-and-out and set up the Spiders at their own 42-yard line.
Junior running back Zach Palmer-Smith punched in yet another touchdown for the Spiders after just three plays, set up by a 59-yard rush from Coleman.
“[He] kind of knows how to make plays and doesn’t seem like anything bothers him out there,” UR Head Coach Russ Huesman said of Coleman’s performance after the game. “I’m really proud of the way he played today.”
UD finally came up with an answer to the Spiders’ offense, putting six on the board shortly before halftime after failing the two-point conversion. It did not take long for UR to restore its cushion, however, with three carries and a reception for 28 total yards from Palmer-Smith quickly moving the chains for the Spiders. A six-yard reception from senior tight end Matt Robbert capped the drive, bringing UR’s advantage to 19 points.
With the defense continuing to stand strong, UR’s offense pivoted to the rush to milk the clock. Coleman recorded just five pass attempts in the second half to finish 16-for-23 for 194 yards on the day.
While the Blue Hens didn’t allow the Spiders to eat up too much time, their offense was still stymied by UR. UD’s first two drives of the half each ended in fourth-down incompletions, while their third wound up as a punt on 4th-and-46.
Graduate linebacker Quantraill Morris-Walker punctuated UR’s stellar defensive performance with a game-sealing interception early in the fourth quarter. With the ball back, Coleman and the Spiders’ offense drained nearly ten minutes from the clock with their rushing attack. The Blue Hens’ offense saw the field once more with four minutes left, but as had been the case nearly all game, were quickly forced into a 4th-and-21 for an easy turnover on downs.
“I think we had a great game plan [and] we just came out to play today,” redshirt senior linebacker Wayne Galloway said in a postgame press conference. “We gave up big plays… but when it came down to it, I think our guys made a lot of really good plays today.”
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UR moved to 3-0 within the CAA and 5-2 overall with the win, tied for the top of the conference with the University of Rhode Island. The Blue Hens slid down to second place with the upset loss, standing at 3-1 in the CAA and 6-1 overall.
The Spiders will look to defend their top conference spot on the road against Bryant University at 12 p.m. Oct. 26.
Contact sports writer Scott Valentine at scott.valentine@richmond.edu
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