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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
1-1 , 1-1
Richmond
2-1 , 1-0
No. 3 Minutemen Edged By Richmond
September 16, 2000 | Football
Sept. 16, 2000
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Sean Gustus connected with Ryan Tolhurst for two long fourth-quarter touchdown passes Saturday as Richmond rallied to defeat Massachusetts 31-24.
The Minutemen, ranked No. 3 in Division I-AA, led 21-17 entering the fourth quarter. Gustus and Tolhurst hooked up on a 69-yard pass to give the Spiders a 24-21 lead with 11:47 remaining.
The Minutemen (1-1, 1-1 Atlantic 10) drove down the field but settled for a 21-yard field goal by Jason Cherry to tie the game with 6:13 remaining.
Richmond (2-1, 1-0) started on its own 20 following the kickoff. Gustus had 24 yards on four runs before Tolhurst got behind the defense and caught a 56-yard touchdown pass with 2:27 remaining.
The Spiders took a 10-0 lead after one quarter on a 25-yard run by Gustus and 27-yard field goal by Doug Kirchner. The Minutemen took a 14-10 halftime lead on two passes from Richard Lucero to Adrian Zullo.
The Minutemen expanded their lead to 21-10 on Marcel Shipp's 14-yard run, but Richmond answered with Tyronne Turner's 1-yard TD run with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter.
Gustus was 6-for-11 for 173 yards and ran for 115 yards on 20 carries.
Lucero was 18-for-31 for 312 yards but threw two interceptions and was sacked four times.
