The Collegian
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Live Football Blog: Richmond vs Liberty

4th Quarter 0:00- Richmond holds on to win 30-21. I'll get a rapid recap up as soon as I can. Thanks for following.

4th Quarter 0:06- Liberty has a 1st down on the 12.

4th Quarter 0:33- Liberty picked up a 1st down and has the ball on its own 47.

4th Quarter 1:43- Richmond fails to pick up a 1st down on a 4th down attempt and Liberty will take over at the 32.

4th Quarter 3:08- Two big runs from Greene brings the ball to Liberty's 34.

4th Quarter 3:48- Pettus picks off Woodrum's overthrown pass and Richmond takes over at its own 39.

4th Quarter 3:59- Liberty fails to pick up the 3rd down, but Richmond is called for roughing the passer. Liberty has a 1st down at 39.

4th Quarter 4:58- Gulli's punt sails into the endzone for a touchback.

4th Quarter 5:07- Strauss' pass is broken up. The refs could have easily called pass-interfence but they opted not to. Richmond lined up to go for it on 4th down but got a delay of game.

4th Quarter 5:50- Strauss scrambles for 3-yards and Richmond has a 3rd and 4.

4th Quarter 6:10- Greene gets the ball again and picks up 13-yards. TJ Moon gets the carry on the next play and picks up 3-yards.

4th Quarter 7:45- Greene picks up 15-yards on the carry.

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4th Quarter 8:05- Richmond will get the ball up two scores with under 8 minutes remaining. Here is an opportunity for Richmond's running game to take some time off the clock and eliminate a possible Liberty comeback. Richmond ball at the 28.

4th Quarter 8:05- Woodrum's pass sails wide and Liberty will have to punt.

4th Quarter 8:35- Woodrum found an open Shells down the field but he dropped it. Henderson caught the ensuing pass. 3rd and 6.

4th Quarter 8:55- Gulli's punt sails into the endzone. Liberty will take over at the 20.

4th Quarter 9:05- Strauss is sacked and Richmond now has a 3rd and 15. Strauss' 3rd down pass is knocked down at the line.

4th Quarter 10:45- Strauss hits Greene in the flat for a 6-yard gain. He hits Edwards on a screen and Edwards picks up the 1st down.

4th Quarter 11:33- David Herlocker breaks up the 3rd down pass. Liberty bobbles the snap on the field goal and Pettus got his second block of the game. Richmond will take over from its own 35.

4th Quarter 11:45- Barnette breaks up a pass to Henderson which would have surely been a touchdown. Liberty has a 3rd and 11. Richmond uses its first timeout.

4th Quarter 12:07- Richardson drops the handoff and falls on it immediately.

4th Quarter 12:59- Woodrum finds Shells to pick up the 1st down.

4th Quarter 13:37- Liberty has a 3rd and 3 from the 29.

4th Quarter 14:45- Richardson picks up 34 on the carry. Liberty ball at the 36.

3rd Quarter 0:00- Liberty picks up 5-yards on the first down carry.

3rd Quarter 0:01- Liberty will take over at the 27.

3rd Quarter 0:09- Strauss is slow to get up after he was hit on the throw. The pass flew out of bounds and Richmond will punt.

3rd Quarter 0:14- Richmond faces a 3rd and 11 following a Greene run and an incomplete pass.

3rd Quarter 0:55- The kick sails left and Richmond will take over from the 28. It looks like Wayne Pettus got a piece of the kick.

3rd Quarter 0:59- Woodrum overthrows his target on 3rd down. Liberty lines up to attempt a 45-yard field goal.

3rd Quarter 1:35- Woodrum scrambles and picks up 5. Liberty has a crucial 3rd and 8.

3rd Quarter 1:54- Liberty takes a timeout.

3rd Quarter 2:06- Rice breaks another big run and is brought down on the 30. He gets another carry on the ensuing play and is forced out at the 33. 2nd and 13 for Liberty.

3rd Quarter 2:49- Barnette is called for pass-interfernce on what looked to be a clean break up. Could it be a make up call for the ejection?

3rd Quarter 3:05- Strauss finds Edwards but he's pushed out before the 1st down. Richmond lines up for a field goal but then switches to a Wildcat run for Shane Savage. Savage was brought down before the line and Liberty takes over at the 28.

3rd Quarter 3:40- Edwards picks up 5 out of the Wildcat. Richmond has a 3rd and 5.

3rd Quarter 4:41- Safety Brendan Coniker was ejected for the hit. That's an example of the crack down on helmet to helmet hits.

3rd Quarter 4:41- Strauss under throws an open Ponder. Ben Edwards is leveled on 3rd down and the safety is given a personal foul. I thought it was a clean hit, but the refs disagree. That penalty would not have been called a few years ago.

3rd Quarter 5:19- Richmond is called for holding on 2nd down. The Spiders have a 2nd and 18. Strauss uses Richmond's first timeout.

3rd Quarter 6:05- DL Winston Craig breaks up Woodrum's pass. Punter Grant Bowden can't handle the punt and is forced to fall on the ball. Richmond takes over on Liberty's 43.

3rd Quarter 6:45- Liberty has a 3rd and 5 from the 41.

3rd Quarter 7:53- Liberty moves into Richmond territory on an 11-yard completion.

3rd Quarter 8:24- Ben Edwards runs into the endzone untouched out of the Wildcat. Richmond leads 30-21.

3rd Quarter 8:54- I saw lightning and heard thunder, but the teams are still playing.

3rd Quarter 9:11- Desmond Rice fumbled on his carry and Evan Kelly recovered. Richmond gets the ball on the 5.

3rd Quarter 9:48- It looks like thunderstorms could be moving in. Delays could be coming soon.

3rd Quarter 10:20- LB Scott Hyland makes a great tackle to stop a screen. Gulli punts for Richmond and Liberty takes over at the 25.

3rd Quarter 11:00- Richmond has a 3rd and 7 after two short running plays.

3rd Quarter 11:50- Liberty fails to pick up the 1st down and punts. Richmond takes over at its own 37.

3rd Quarter- Somehow it keeps raining harder. The wind is picking up too.

3rd Quarter 12:50- Woodrum looks long to Darrin Peterson but he caught the ball out of bounds. a 1-yard run brings up 3rd and 9.

3rd Quarter 12:58- Gulli nails a punt inside Liberty's 15. The return brings the ball to the 24.

3rd Quarter 13:17- Edwards catches Strauss's 3rd down pass but its short of the 1st down marker. Richmond to punt.

3rd Quarter 13:25- Greene is stuffed on 1st down and Strauss' pass on 2nd down misses Edwards. 3rd and 11.

3rd Quarter 14:06- Desmond Rice runs 48 yards for a touchdown. Not the way the Spiders wanted to start the half. Richmond leads 23-21.

3rd Quarter 14:40- It just started raining very hard here. I'm very thankful for the press-box right now.

3rd Quarter 14:51- Poor coverage by Richmond results in a good return. Liberty ball from its own 48.

Halftime- Richmond has contained both Desmond Rice and Clifton Richardson in the 1st half. Kerry Wynn's absence was noticeable at times, but overall, the defense has been solid.

Halftime- The running game has set up the passing game and Strauss (15-23 for 187 yards and one touchdown)has capitalized. Ben Edwards, who has six receptions for 85 yards in his return after missing last week's game with a head injury, has been wide open on many of Richmond's play-action passes. Richmond did not turn the ball over in its cleanest half since the 1st half against NC State.

Halftime- The story of the first half is Richmond's running game. Richmond is outrushing Liberty, who was expected to be the better running team, 145-56. Jacobi Greene is leading the way for the Spiders with his career-high 114 yards on 12 carries. TJ Moon, who has 36 yards and two touchdowns on four carries, has also helped the Spider's running game. The weather may be a reason why Richmond is running the ball frequently, but the weather has not slowed down Richmond's offense.

2nd Quarter 0:00- Strauss takes a knee to end the half. Richmond leads 23-14. Richmond will kickoff to start the 2nd half.

2nd QUarter 0:18- Richmond's DL put pressure on Woodrum and forced the incomplete pass. Edwards called for a fair catch at the 33.

2nd Quarter 0:30- Liberty faces a 3rd and 4 from its 33.

2nd Quarter 1:10- Moon gets the to edge and dives into the endzone for a touchdown. Richmond leads 23-14 after Jordi missed the extra point.

2nd Quarter 1:17- Richmond uses its first timeout. Both teams have two timeouts remaining.

2nd Quarter 1:17- Greene burned a defender on a quick pass to him at a WR position. Richmond has a 2nd and 1 from the 13.

2nd Quarter 1:53- Following the two runs, Rocco runs a play-action pass hoping Liberty bites on the fake. Liberty takes the bait and Strauss finds Edwards for a 19-yard reception.

2nd Quarter 2:24- Greene picks up another 15 yards for the Spiders on the 1st down carry. Ball is on Liberty's 40.

2nd Quarter 3:29- Moon picks up 15 yards on the carry. Richmond's running game looks the best it has all season.

2nd Quarter 3:37- Strauss is nearly picked off as DL Francis Bah nearly had a moment of glory. Bah bobbled the ball multiple times but could not hold on. Bah showed how angry he was as he beat the turf multiple times after the play.

2nd Quarter 3:46- Woodrum scrambles into the endzone. Another great play from Woofrum. Richmond leads 17-14.

2nd Quarter 4:18- Richardson gets the 1st down on a sweep. Liberty has a 1st and goal from the 9.

2nd Quarter 4:55- Liberty has a 3rd and 3 from the 14. Forcing Liberty to a field goal here would be big for the Spiders.

2nd Quarter 6:06- Woodrum found Shells after he was flushed out of the pocket by Richmond's pass rush to bring the ball to the 21. That was a great play by Woodrum.

2nd Quarter 6:48- Strauss tried to loft a pass to Edwards down the middle of the field where there was no safety coverage but the pass was to long. Kevin Fogg returns Gulli's punt to the Liberty's 36.

2nd Quarter 7:06- Two incomplete passes sets up 3rd and 10.

2nd Quarter 7:20- Barnette pulls in Strauss' 3rd-down pass to pick up the 1st down. Richmond is right around midfield.

2nd Quarter 9:11- Ben Edwards picks up 1st down on a play-action bootleg pass from Strauss. Liberty is really biting on these fakes.

2nd Quarter 9:26- An untouched Reggie Barnette hits Woodrum as he threw the ball. The pass sailed out of bounds and Liberty is forced to punt.

2nd Quarter 10:05- Richmond stuffs a screen pass to force a 3rd and 8.

2nd Quarter 11:11- Liberty converts a 3rd and 9 on a pass from Woodrum to Shells. Liberty has the ball on Richmond's 48.

2nd Quarter 12:17- Liberty will get the ball on the 39 after a short kickoff.

2nd Quarter 12:22- Seth Fisher catches the 8 yard touchdown pass. Richmond leads 17-7. Richmond has looked great in the last five minutes.

2nd Quarter 13:12- Ben Edwards moves into 6th in all-time receptions among Richmond players with his 149th career reception. He picks his 150th catch and a 1st down on the ensuing play.

2nd Quarter 13:25- Greene picks up 15 on a beautiful misdirection running play. Greene loses 2 on the following play.

2nd Quarter 14:43- Richmond faces a 3rd and 2 after Greene picked up 2 yards on the first play of the quarter.

1st Quarter 0:00- Jacobi Greene had 81 yards on 7 carries in the 1st quarter. Richmond's running game does not need to be great but it needs to be good enough to garner the opposing team's attention. Greene certainly has Liberty's attention which should help Richmond's already strong passing game.

1st Quarter 0:00- Ponder gets into the action and picks up 6 on his 1st reception.

1st Quarter 0:02- Edwards uses a nifty spin move on the punt return to bring the ball to Liberty's 46. Once again, the Spiders have great starting field position.

1st Quarter 0:13- Aaron Roane breaks up the pass across the middle to force the three and out.

1st Quarter 0:36- Liberty faces a 3rd and 2 from its own 26.

1st Quarter 0:52- TJ Moon pushes his way into the endzone. 10-7 UR.

1st Quarter 1:15- Richmond has a 1st and goal from the 2 after a 36 yard pass to Barnette.

1st Quarter 2:30- Strauss finds Edwards for 15 yards on 1st down on a play action pass. Liberty's D really bit on the fake and left Edwards open. Greene is really making Liberty respect the run, which is something that has not happened in the first three games.

1st Quarter 3:02- Liberty's kickoff sails out of bounds for several yards. Richmond will start on the 35. That's one way to get great starting field position.

1st Quarter 3:02- Woodrum connects with TE Brandon Apon for the 20-yard touchdown reception. Liberty leads 7-3.

1st Quarter 3:30- After a 7 yard completing, Walt Sparks stuffs Richardson on the wildcat run. Liberty calls a timeout to discuss the upcoming 3rd and 12.

1st Quarter 4:25- Liberty is called for holding. It will be 1st and 20 from the 28.

1st Quarter 4:25- Richmond is called for roughing the passer on 1st down. Justin Grant broke up a pass that surely would have been a touchdown. Liberty ball on the 18.

1st Quarter 5:20- Consecutive receptions by Gabe Henderson moves Liberty to Richmond's 33.

1st Quarter 6:27- After Greene picked up 6 yards on two more carries, Edwards couldn't reel in a 3rd down pass from Strauss. Edwards thought he was held on the play and I agree with him. Brandon Jordi kicked a 41 yard field goal. 3-0 UR.

1st Quarter 8:17- Greene gets two more carries after his long run and picked up another 1st down.

1st Quarter 9:11- Greene breaks a career high 53 yard run on 1st down. Richmond has the ball on Liberty's 45.

1st Quarter 9:21- As I mentioned in my preview, special teams play really hurt the Spiders against Gardner-Webb. So far the today, poor special teams play have resulted in the offense getting the ball inside the 10 on both possessions.

1st Quarter 9:21- WR Dante Shells drops a third down pass from Josh Woodrum. Edwards fields a long punt inside the 10 and Richmond is called for holding on his return.

1st Quarter 11:00- Desmond Rice breaks a 21 yard run on his first carry for Liberty. Running backs Rice and Clifton Richardson have caused Liberty's opponents a lot of trouble this year.

1st Quarter 11:52- I'd estimate the stadium is about half full today. The student section is even less crowded.

1st Quarter 11:52- Strauss looks to connect with a pretty well covered Greene on 3rd down. Not the best decision by Strauss there. Joe Gulli's punt is caught on a fair catch on the 7.

1st Quarter 13:04- Jacobi Greene gets 3 on his first carry of the game. Greene catches the 2nd down pass in the flat and picks up 4. The Spiders face a 3rd and 3.

1st Quarter 13:37- Strauss finds a wide open Edwards in the middle of the field. Richmond picks up a 1st down.

1st Quarter 13:45- Strauss nearly connects with Barnette down the field but the pass was just to long. Another incomplete pass on 2nd down sets up a 3rd and 10.

1st Quarter 14:10- TJ Moon picks up 4 on the 1st down carry. Strauss finds Seth Fisher on the play action pass on 2nd down to pick up a 1st down.

1st Quarter 14:58- Justin Grant drops the opening kickoff and it goes out of bounds at the 3. Not the way the Spiders wanted to start.

Pregame- Richmond will receive to start the game.

Pregame- Liberty enters the field led by head coach Turner Gill. Gill was the head coach at Kansas before coming to Liberty. There are a good amount of Liberty fans in attendance today and the Flames received a loud ovation for an away team when they ran on the field.

Pregame- With about 20 minutes to go until kickoff, the stadium is practically empty. There looks to be roughly 25 students in the student section. It looks like the weather may have scarred some fans away.

Pregame- As I mentioned in my preview, injuries have already hurt the Spiders this year. Richmond will be without Sam Roller, Nick Ritcher and Kerry Wynn against Liberty. On the bright side, Ben Edwards will play today after missing last week's game against Gardner-Webb.

Pregame- Welcome to The Collegian's coverage of Richmond Football. Today Danny Rocco leads the Spiders against his former team, the Liberty Flames. As always feel free to contact me by posting a comment, sending me an email or tweeting at me.

Contact staff writer Jack Nicholson at jack.nicholson@richmond.edu

Follow him on twitter at @URJackNicholson

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