RICHMOND, Virginia -- It was a record-breaking performance at Robins Stadium on Saturday afternoon as the University of Richmond football team (2-1) rolled past the Howard Bison (1-2), 68-21, in the home opener.
The 68 points are the most by a Spider offense, all-time, against a Division I opponent and Lauletta's six passing touchdowns are a single-game program record. Sophomore running back Jay Palmer had the game of his career, collecting 102 yards on the ground to go with one catch for six yards and a pair of touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, LB Dale Matthews was the catalyst. He has just three tackles but contributed half a sack and two interceptions in the first half that set the tone early on. Those picks were the first of his career, at any level of football.
The stage was set early when, at the end of the first Howard drive, DB Daniel Jones blocked a field goal attempt. The sophomore drove through the line, untouched, and dove to send the try flying. Then it was the offense telling the story of this game.
Lauletta led the Spiders on a 73-yard drive that ended with a Deontez Thompson rushing score and was followed up just a few minutes later with a Gordon Collins receiving touchdown to quickly make it 14-0.
LB Dale Matthews collected his first interception of the game on the next Howard drive which led to the Spiders scoring early in the second quarter to make it 20-0. Collins ran for the score this time, giving him back-to-back touchdowns. From that point forward it was the Kyle Lauletta show.
The senior QB hit Cortrelle Simpson for his second passing touchdown of the game on the next drive then a second Matthews interception set up a pass to Porter Abell to make it 34-0 with 8:44 still left to play in the half. Howard punted again and two plays later it was Abell running down the sideline for a 70-yard catch and run to pay dirt. Lauletta tacked on a passing touchdown to Jay Palmer before the half came to a close.
The Exton, Pa. native threw for five scores in the first half, already matching his own school record but managed to do so by throwing for just 234 yards. The 48 points were the most in the first half against a Division I opponent in school history, as were the 34, second quarter points.
The second half began with the starters still on the field. The opening drive came to a close with Lauletta hitting Tyler Wilkins over the middle who hit a spin move, shed his would-be tackler and had nothing but green in front of him for a 34-yard score. With his sixth touchdown pass Lauletta set the new single-game program passing touchdown record.
Jay Palmer later added one more scores en route to becoming the first Spider running back this season to eclipse the century mark, even after never doing-so himself prior to Saturday.
Freshman QB Joe Mancuso led the final touchdown drive for UR. He took the team 75 yards down the field without throwing a pass and finished it off with the first rushing score of his career to cap it off.
Richmond will be back at home next weekend to host Elon in its CAA opener. That game is set to kick off at 6 p.m.
BOX SCORE
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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