BROOKLINE – Nedzer Erilus could teach the Richmond Spiders a thing or two about coming to play.
When I was younger, I used to play my older brother, Ned, in Street Fighter daily. No matter how hard I tried, he owned me. Whether I came with Ryu, Guile or Balrog it just didn’t matter; the result would be the same.
Following several years of frustration, I discovered a way to counter the problem: I either shut off the game or put down the controller mid-fight, and walked up to my room. It pissed Ned off, but at least he was feeling what I was going through.
After watching the Northeastern-Richmond football game, it is evident that such a tactic doesn’t carry over too well in the realm of real-life competition.
The difference is the Spiders didn’t leave Saturday’s 45-0 lambasting early; they just forgot to show up altogether. The Huskies scored 14 points before the visitors ever touched the football (on a 53-yard TD rush by Tim Gale and a 17-yard Peter Harris scamper, after a Spider fumble no less). The Virginia collective must have deemed the game over already once that happened. Yes, Richmond moved the ball (212 yards passing) and had their opportunities to score (three red zone appearances), but that was all for show.
The team did not want to play. When you are down 38-0 with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter and punt the ball for the first time, that says one of two things: either you have been indomitable when the ball was in your possession, or you’re offense is paraplegic after shooting itself in the foot all afternoon. Ladies and gentlemen, please step through door number two.
I don’t want to take anything away from Northeastern; their performance was as dominant as I’ve seen all season. From Shawn Brady throwing across his body to find an open Patrick Graham on a 3rd and 11, to a sterling stand as Richmond had a first and 10 at NU’s 14, the hosts seemed to do nothing wrong on the day. Still, it would be a total crock if someone told you it was all them. There were numerous instances of the visitor’s ineptitude, but two sequences in particular stuck out like Beyonce Knowles’ backside on the fateful afternoon.
It is the second quarter, and Northeastern’s defense is swarming to the ball. Nevertheless, the Spiders are amounting to something that resembles a drive after starting from their own 25. Spider quarterback Stacy Tutt loses possession when he is lit up by the Golden Child, Rold Louis; fortunately for Richmond, Tutt recovers the football. They fumble again, but the runner is ruled down before the ball popped out. Then on first and 10 on the Husky 36, Spider fullback Lee Williams mistakes Senior Day for Kwanzaa, handing the pigskin over to Anthony Nolen, and the Huntington Whoremongers regain possession. Northeastern would score on the ensuing drive, putting the hosts at a 31-0 advantage.
The second debauchery was worse, and served as a true microcosm of the visitors’ struggles. Desperate to get on the scoreboard, the Spiders attempt another fourth down conversion in the red zone. James Abosi and Liam Ezekiel stop Tutt for no gain at the Husky’s six. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Northeastern battering ram Tim Gale (202 yards rushing) shreds the defense for a 49-yard gain. He follows that with a 3-yard spurt before Brady hits Quintin Mitchell with a 29-yard pass. A roughing the passer penalty put NU on Richmond’s eight. Brady rolls right untouched for the score, giving the hosts a 38-0 lead. The drive was shorter than a toilet visit after some cafeteria pasta: four plays, 94 yards, 1:05 time of possession.
Mind you, this is not even mentioning the fact that Miro Kesic nailed a 52-yard field goal after a holding penalty pushed NU back 10 yards from the Spiders’ 25 early in the second quarter. Word on the street is that Northeastern headman Don Brown made a sacrifice to the football gods before kickoff. (In related news, Husky mascot ‘Paws’ has been reported missing by university authorities.)
In hindsight, Richmond may have been better off putting their fans on the field, who put up a stink when Associate Athletics Director and Northeastern sage Jack Grinold asked them to move. Their response?
“We’re moving. Jesus! This isn’t even a real football school, and we have to move!” Three words for you: scoreboard, baby, scoreboard.
Now, about getting Ned a coaching position.
— Evans Erilus may be reached at [email protected] He can be heard every Friday on WRBB 104.9 FM’s “Dog Pound Sports Sound from 3-6 p.m.
