#22/25 Spiders Fall In Patriot League Debut At #14/15 Lehigh

Saturday, August 30

Bethlehem, Pa.

Noon

University of Richmond

0-1 , 0-1

Lehigh

1-0 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Richmond

Lehigh

#22/25 Spiders Fall In Patriot League Debut At #14/15 Lehigh

08/30/2025 | Football

Box Score

Bethlehem, Pa. – The No. 22/25 University of Richmond football team came up short in its Patriot League debut Saturday, falling 21-14 to No. 14/15 Lehigh.

Richmond's lone offensive touchdown came on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Kyle Wickersham with four seconds left in the first quarter. The score was set up by a CJ Fraser interception at the Lehigh 27-yard line, followed by a 15-yard run from sophomore Isaiah Dawson to bring the Spiders to the one-yard line. Wickersham finished the day 14-of-20 for 113 yards passing and ran 14 times for 44 yards, was sacked twice, and was intercepted on Richmond's final drive.

"A tough one," said Richmond head coach Russ Huesman. "Give a lot of credit to Lehigh. They had a good plan coming in."

Lehigh punted on its next two drives, with Jaiden Fair returning the second punt 20 yards to the Lehigh 44 to set up another promising Richmond possession. The Spiders drove to the four-yard line, but a high snap sailed over Wickersham's head, resulting in a 19-yard loss and forced the Spiders to settle for a kick, but the 32-yard attempt was missed.

Lehigh capitalized on the missed opportunity, scoring on the following drive to tie the game 7-7 at halftime. After deferring the opening coin toss, Lehigh received the second-half kickoff and marched downfield for a touchdown to take a 14-7 lead. The highlight of Richmond's day came immediately after with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown by Dawson — the fourth-longest in program history. Graduate kicker Jayden Alsheskie came in and converted the extra point to tie the game at 14.

Richmond was forced into one of its six punts on the day early in the fourth, and Lehigh responded with a 12-play, 87-yard drive that drained more than seven minutes off the clock and ended with the go-ahead touchdown. Following a series of punts from both teams, Richmond got the ball back at its own 18-yard line with 1:49 remaining. However, Wickersham was intercepted, and Lehigh ran out the clock to seal the win.

Penalties proved costly for the Spiders. Richmond was flagged for four pass interference calls (three alone in the third quarter), with two coming on drives that ended in Lehigh touchdowns. In total, the Spiders were penalized seven times for 79 yards, while Lehigh was flagged just once for five yards.

Richmond managed just 10 first downs — only two of which came in the second half — while Lehigh posted 21 and outgained the Spiders 298 to 181.

Richmond was led defensively by sophomore Peyton Seelmann, who recorded a game-high 12 tackles. Senior Carter Glassmyer added nine, while sophomores Lee Bruner IV and Tayshaun Burney each had six, with Burney also coming up with his first career interception. TJ Baldwin tallied two tackles for loss, including an eight-yard sack, and Donovan Hoilette added another tackle for a loss of four yards.

"We've got work to do," Huesman added. "We've got young guys on both sides of the ball, but give Lehigh credit—they beat us. I'm not sure on either side of the ball we were good enough to win today."

Richmond returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Wofford in search of its first win of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.