Football Falls at Richmond

Richmond, Va. – There's a belief that people from the Southern United States are warm and welcoming, always kind to visitors. Well the Fordham University football Rams have yet to enjoy that hospitality as for the second straight week the Rams traveled south only to experience southern surliness as Fordham fell to the University of Richmond, 52-7, in Robins Stadium on Saturday night.
 
With the loss, Fordham falls to 0-2 on the year while Richmond evens its record at 1-1 on the young season.
 
The Spiders took advantage of four Fordham turnovers, converting all four into points. Three of the miscues came in the third quarter when Richmond erupted for 35 unanswered points to put the game away.
 
Freshman quarterback Tim DeMorat, making his collegiate debut, completed five-of-six passes for 66 yards and scored the Rams' touchdown on a two-yard run in the fourth quarter.
 
Takeaways
 
The Rams open a season 0-2 for the first time since 2009.
 
Senior wide receiver Austin Longi, a Preseason All-Patriot League selection, had four catches for eight yards to bring his career totals to 143 receptions, 1,836 yards and 16 touchdowns. He ranks ninth on the Fordham career reception list, tenth on the career receiving yards list and tied for eight on the all-time touchdown reception list.
 
Senior wide receiver Corey Caddle led the Rams with seven catches for 40 yards. The receptions were his first since last year's Yale game (Caddle missed the last five games of 2017 with an injury).
 
Senior offensive lineman Dominic Lombard, a Preseason All-Patriot League selection, saw action at three different positions on the line tonight: center, left tackle and right tackle.
 
The Rams were without the services of senior defensive back Dylan Mabin, a Preseason All-Patriot League selection, along with junior defensive lineman Max Roberts, sophomore running back Zach Davis, junior running back D'Angelo Palladino, and sophomore wide receiver Hunter Harris, who all missed the game due to injury.
 
The Rams are 26-40-5 against teams currently in the CAA.
 
This was the third Fordham football game played south of Washington, D.C. over the past four years, the second straight (the Rams traveled to Chattanooga for a first round NCAA FCS playoff game in 2015).
 
This year marks the second straight season in which the Fordham football Rams have opened the season with back-to-back road games.

By the Numbers
8 – Tackles for loss by Fordham.
 
8 – Punts by sophomore Andrew Mevis, two of which were downed inside the Richmond 20.
 
9 – Different Rams to catch at least one pass tonight.
 
11 – Tackles by senior Noah Fitzgerald, a game and career-high.
 
154 – All-purpose yards from junior running back Tyriek Hopkins (123 kickoff return, 22 receiving, nine rushing).
 
What's Next?
 
The Rams host the Stony Brook University Seawolves for their home opener on Jack Coffey Field on Saturday, September 15, at 6:00 PM. It will be the third meeting between the two schools, the first since 1988 and the first on the Division I level.