Delaware Drops a Heartbreaker to Richmond 21-13

Saturday, November 12

Newark, Del.

1:00 PM

University of Delaware

7-3 , 4-3

Richmond

8-2 , 6-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Richmond

Delaware

Photo by: Mikey Reeves

11/12/2022 5:42:00 PM | Football

Box Score Postgame Press Conferece Photo Gallery

NEWARK, Del. – In a hard-fought battle between the CAA's top two defenses, the No. 17/15 University of Delaware football team fell in a heartbreaker to No. 12/13 Richmond, 21-13, in front of 16,534 fans at Delaware Stadium. With the loss, the Blue Hens slip to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in conference play.

Nolan Henderson completed 23-of-37 passes for 196 yards. He and Marcus Yarns ran for a touchdown, while Quincy Watson led the rushing attack with 62 yards on 10 carries. Jourdan Townsend caught seven passes for 79 yards. Delaware rushed for 163 yards on the day and outgained Richmond 359-352.

Nic Ware and Noah Plack finished with a team-high nine tackles apiece, while Ware had one of UD's two sacks and Plack recovered one of two fumbles on the day. The defense did not allow an offensive touchdown for the third time in six home games.

Things got off to a fast start as each team caused a turnover on the first possession. With Richmond driving to open the game, Tommy Walsh stripped the ball out and it was recovered by Ty Davis. On Delaware's ensuing possession, a fourth-down pass was intercepted as neither team could score early.

The Spiders broke the scoreless deadlock late in the fourth quarter on a 33-yard field goal after the Blue Hen defense stiffened in the red zone.

Richmond added another field goal in the second quarter to take a 6-0 lead at halftime.

After the Spiders tacked on another three points late in the third quarter, the Delaware offense marched down the field on a 10-play drive that took less than four minutes. Henderson picked up two key first downs with long runs of 12 and 19 yards before capping the drive with a two-yard dive over the goal line to cut the deficit to 9-7 early in the fourth quarter.

Richmond responded with its fourth field goal of the game to go back up 12-7, but the Blue Hens came right back, this time needing just seven plays and less than three minutes to find the end zone. Henderson ran for another first down before handing off to Marcus Yarns, who broke several tackles on his way to a 36-yard touchdown run. Delaware's 2-point conversion failed, but the Blue Hens still took a 13-12 lead.

The UD defense forced a three-and-out to give the ball back to the Blue Hens. Behind the legs of Watson, Delaware drove 13 plays and chewed off more than six minutes of clock. However, a fourth-down play game up just short with 1:23 remaining and gave Richmond the ball back on its own 7-yard line.

The Spiders converted a fourth-down play of their own for a 45-yard gain that set up the winning field goal with just four seconds remaining.

The Blue Hens tried to lateral the ball on the ensuing kickoff, but eventually a fumble in the end zone was recovered by Richmond to account for the 21-13 final score.

Up Next
The Blue Hens will close out the regular season on Saturday, November 19 when it makes the trip North for the annual Battle of the Blue contest against Villanova. Kickoff against the Wildcats is set for 1 p.m.

For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @Delaware_FB and Instagram @delaware_fb, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook. Follow Ryan Carty on Twitter @RyanCarty10.