The Championship Subdivision News Log

A break-up would have sufficed.

University of Richmond safety Derek Hatcher yesterday arrived as the passed ball did. Instead of the break-up, Hatcher went for the interception, and got it by prying the ball from the Massachusetts player who momentarily had possession in the third-quarter sequence.

UR coach Mike London called Hatcher’s thievery “one of the best plays defensively I’ve ever seen. . . . Talk about ball awareness.”

It’s a hot topic after the Spiders, top-ranked in the Football Championship Subdivision, collected six interceptions in a 34-12 Colonial Athletic Association win before 8,214 at UR Stadium. The school record for interceptions is eight, set in 1938 vs. Hampden-Sydney.

Richmond (5-0, 7-0) also recovered a fumble on a day that became very rainy and windy in the second quarter. “It was fun in that it was drenching wet,” said UR tailback Justin Forte, who ran 26 times for 118 yards and two scores. “But after a while, you’re like ‘All right, this is enough.’”

Richmond’s winning streak, which started last October at UMass, extended to 16, and the defending FCS champion has scored 31 or more points in 15 straight home games. The Spiders matched the best start in school history (7-0 in 1985).

UR caused, then took advantage of, UMass turnovers in making this one surprisingly one-sided. The 14th-rated Minutemen (2-2, 4-3) went up 3-0 on the game’s first possession. Richmond scored the next 27 points. The Spiders led 20-3 at halftime.

Linebacker Patrick Weldon intercepted a pass at Umass’ 27, setting up UR’s first TD. Cornerback Justin Rogers recovered a fumble at Umass’ 26, setting up UR’s second TD. A poor punt snap gave UR the ball at the Umass’ 17. Richmond cashed in with a field goal.

“The weather, I’m sure you can throw that in,” UMass coach Kevin Morris said of his team’s turnovers. “But if we didn’t think we could [pass] it, we wouldn’t have.

“The formula for success in the CAA is hold onto the rock and no bad penalties. We had both of those [yesterday].”

In going up 17-3, the Spiders needed scoring drives of 27, 26, and 5 yards. Hidden in postgame stats were the scrambles by UR quarterback Eric Ward that kept drives alive. “If you weren’t at the game and you didn’t see the significance of those third-down runs, then you wouldn’t have an appreciation of him managing the game and playing well,” London said of his senior QB.

Richmond’s interceptions were the result of preparation, according to Hatcher. “All the routes we saw today, we had practiced against throughout the week,” Hatcher said. “I’ve got to give the credit to our coaches. All we had to do was execute.”

UR has 10 interceptions in its past three games. Even defensive tackle Parker Miles has gotten into the interception act. UR end Nick Battle hit UMass QB Kyle Havens while passing. The ball went airborne. Miles grabbed it and ran 15 yards for a TD. The 6-3 276-pounder caught a deflected ball last week at Maine and returned it 5 yards to the Black Bears’ 7.

“I know I got a lot of grief from all my friends and coaches making fun of me for not being able to get in the end zone,” he said. “So I promised all of them I’d get in this time. I even told coach London on Wednesday, joking around, that I’d take it in today.”

Blacksburg resident Tyler Holmes, a sophomore linebacker, made 17 tackles for Massachusetts. His invitation to join the Minutemen came from UMass assistant Brian Crist, a former Hampden-Sydney QB and Virginia Tech assistant.

Six interceptions fuel UR’s romp
By John O’Connor, The Richmond Times-Dispatch
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/sports/college/college_football/article/SPID25_20091024-222009/301500/