In a fitting conclusion to a long-standing rivalry, the University of Richmond Spiders handed No. 6 Delaware its first loss of the season on Saturday, using four first-half touchdowns to secure a 28-9 victory. 

With the win, Richmond improved to 5-2 (3-0 CAA), while Delaware fell to 6-1 (3-1 CAA). The game marked the final Colonial Athletic Association meeting between the two programs, as Delaware is set to join FBS Conference USA and Richmond heads to the Patriot League in 2025.

Richmond’s explosive first half, featuring three touchdowns in the second quarter, propelled the Spiders to their fifth consecutive victory.

“Nobody out there thought we were going to win this game,” Richmond Coach Russ Huesman said. “We believed we could win, and our guys played really hard. We didn’t play it perfectly, but we found a way.”

Delaware opened the scoring with a field goal at 10:53 in the first quarter, but Richmond took control from there. Quarterback Camden Coleman capped a 75-yard drive with a 1-yard keeper at 7:36 in the first quarter, putting the Spiders ahead 7-3.

Coleman’s 40-yard pass to Nick DeGennaro, followed by an 11-yard connection to Ja’Vion Griffin, set up the touchdown. Richmond extended its lead early in the second quarter when Coleman found DeGennaro for a 23-yard touchdown, following a fumble recovery by Jabril Hayes that gave the Spiders the ball at their own 21-yard line.

The Spider defense forced a Delaware three-and-out on the next possession, highlighted by a three-yard tackle for loss by Carter Glassmyer and a sack from Jeremiah Grant. Richmond capitalized on its next drive, with Zach Palmer-Smith scoring a one-yard rushing touchdown to make it 21-3.

Delaware responded with its only touchdown of the game but failed on a two-point conversion after Jordan Allen intercepted a pass in the end zone. Richmond struck again on the next drive, as tight end Matt Robbert scored his first career touchdown on a six-yard pass from Coleman, capping an 11-play, 75-yard drive that consumed nearly six minutes of the clock.

“We went out there with high energy and with high execution early,” Coleman said. “Today I feel like we stepped up and came together, and it translated into the second half.”

Richmond’s defense shut down Delaware in the second half, holding the Blue Hens scoreless. Glassmyer led the Spiders with eight tackles, in- cluding one for a loss. Grant, who leads the nation with eight sacks, added another sack to his season total, while Camden Byrd recorded 1.5 sacks and broke up a pass. Quantraill Morris-Walker notched his second interception of the season in the fourth quarter.

“I told the team earlier today that the team that wins the turnover battle will win this game,” Huesman said. “We didn’t turn the ball over, but they did. We made some huge fourth-down stops, and I’m proud of both sides of the ball.”

Richmond outgained Delaware with 378 total yards to the Blue Hens’ 324. Coleman went 16-for-23 for 194 passing yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 79 yards on 10 carries. The Spiders amassed 184 yards on the ground, while

Delaware was limited to just 36 rushing yards. Delaware entered the game averaging over 42 points per contest, but Richmond held the Blue Hens to their lowest point total since a 7-point outing against Penn State on Sept. 9, 2023.

“The offense making plays gives a spark to the whole team,” Galloway said. “[The defense] made plays when we needed to make plays and when it mattered the most.”

Richmond looks to extend its win streak Oct. 26 when it travels to face Bryant University. Kickoff is set for noon in Smithfield, R.I.