April 5, 2008

STATS | GAME PHOTOS | RING CEREMONY
SpiderTV: RING CEREMONY | INTERVIEWS | LELAND MELVIN INTERVIEW

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Rising junior QB Eric Ward threw for 133 yards and two touchdowns as the reigning CAA Football Champion Spiders played their annual Spring Game Saturday afternoon at First Market Stadium on campus. The game was played as a controlled scrimmage with the offense getting points for scores and the defense scoring points on stops or turnovers. The defense won 42-24 before a crowd of 1,887.

"I was pleased with what I saw today," said Mike London, who was named Richmond's head coach in January. "There are some things we did well, and some things we've got to get better at. But I wanted to expose the players to as many situations that happen in a game that you have to respond to."

Ward was 11-of-17 passing for 133 yards in the scrimmage with a pair of eight-yard TD tosses to freshman WR Tre Gray and senior-to-be RB Shawn White. Backup QB Will Healy - a senior next year - was 11-of-21 for 110 yards with an 18-yard TD pass to rising senior TE Joe Monteverde and an interception.

"Eric has matured as a football player and an individual," said London. "He has shown an ability to be able to better read when people are going to blitz. He sees the linebackers, corners and safeties and where his progression is going to from there."

On the roster as a wide receiver, rising junior Scot Riddell had one of the best all-around days for the defense with four tackles, a pass breakup and the scrimmage's lone interception. He played in the defensive backfield Saturday on an "experimental" basis.

"Now is the time to evaluate players at other positions," said London. "Scot approached us about wanting to try playing defensive back and he made a case for himself at that position today."

Rising sophomore LB Ben Keating, who transferred back to Richmond this year after playing for the Spiders in 2006, recorded five tackles to tie junior-to-be LB Collin McConaghy and rising sophomore LB Jordan Shoop for the game high. A pair of rising juniors - DB Michael Ireland (three tackles) and DL Parker Miles (two tackles) each recovered fumbles.

Forte average 9.3 yards on his nine carries to finish with 84 yards on the ground. Rising senior Josh Vaughan gained 13 yards on 10 carries, while sophomore-to-be Tyler Kirchoff scored the scrimmage's lone rushing TD.

Rising junior WR Jordan Mitchell reeled in three catches for a game-high 67 yards, including a 41-yard strike early in the scrimmage from Ward. Gray and sophomore-to-be Jonathan Mayfield also had three catches each. The Spiders averaged 11 yards on their 22 receptions.

Healy was recognized before the scrimmage as one the Spiders' four senior captains next season. DE Sherman Logan, DL Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. and FB John Crone were also voted by the team as captains.

The game marked the end of the Spiders' spring season - London's first as a head coach.

"I'm a football coach and this is just another spring practice," said London. "It's natural for me and I've felt at home running the practices and teaching our guys. This is a testament to all the head coaches that I've learned under and it's carried over in my abilities here."

Richmond begins defense of its CAA Football Championship when the 2008 season opens with two road contests, including the season-opener at Elon on August 30 and at Virginia the following Saturday. The home opener is set for September 13 at UR Stadium versus Towson. For tickets, please call 1-877-SPIDER-1 or visit RichmondSpiders.com.