Spiders overwhelm Towson for 42-14 win

TOWSON, Md. – Towson took the lead in the third quarter. That seemed to energize the University of Richmond in its 42-14 win Saturday before 4,396 at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

The Spiders, top-ranked in the FCS, scored 22 points in 2:33, turning a 14-13 deficit into a 35-14 lead.

Richmond (6-0 in the CAA, 8-0) has now won 17 straight, the longest string ever by a Division I program in Virginia. True freshman fullback Kendall Gaskins scored three times (one-yard run, three-yard run, 10-yard catch). Tailback Justin Forte rushed for 121 yards.

Two UR errors helped Towson (1-4, 2-6) go ahead 14-13 with 10:54 left in the third quarter. A high snap in punt formation allowed the Tigers to take possession at Richmond’s 34, and safety Darryl Hamilton soon after on fourth-and-five was called for roughing-the-passer.

But after the Tigers scored to take the lead, Richmond went 62 yards in six plays for a TD (10-yard run by Justin Forte), and tacked on the two-point conversion on a pass by Eric Ward, as he was being tackled, to Jordan Mitchell.

The Tigers on their next possession tried a fake punt from their 18, a gamble that blew up with miscommunication, and UR’s Jonathan Mayfield recovered the errant snap at Towson’s three. Richmond scored one snap later for a 28-14 lead. UR defensive back Tremayne Graham intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards about 40 seconds later as Richmond went up 35-14.