Tyquell Fields, Stony Brook feast on six takeaways to beat Richmond
Stony Brook QB Tyquell Fields goes to the air for a completion in a game against Richmond, Saturday, October 23, 2021 at Lavalle Stadium. Credit: George A Faella
Ty Son Lawton ran all over Delaware the previous weekend, rolling for the best day of his college football life with 192 yards.
But now the CAA’s No. 1 rusher was up against the CAA’s No. 3 rush defense. Could he run all over Richmond on Saturday at LaValle Stadium? And could Stony Brook win two straight after losing four straight?
The answers were no and yes.
The Spiders were all over Lawton. But grad quarterback Tyquell Fields threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. The defense also forced five turnovers, including redshirt senior Randy Pringle’s first two interceptions of his career. The special teams forced a fumble, too. So Stony Brook had a happy homecoming, claiming a 27-14 victory with 10,250 fans on hand.
The Seawolves, who arrived having forced just eight turnovers, enter their bye week at 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the CAA with three games left.
"I just feel like now we’re finishing better [and] we’re starting the game better," Fields said. "We’re getting wins now. The confidence is definitely there."
Fields went 20-for-35 for 226 yards with just one INT. Lawton was held to 51 yards on 22 carries.
"They’re the best run defense I’ve seen at this level in a number of years," coach Chuck Priore said. "We knew that part of the game would be tough. We knew we had to come up with some other things. A lot of the game had to be on our quarterback and pass game."
Stony Brook struck first, on its second drive. Angelo Guglielmello drilled a 35-yard field goal.
Aaron Dykes fumbled away the ensuing kickoff at his own 27. On the next play, Fields threw down the middle for Shawn Harris Jr. in the back of the end zone. Harris bobbled it but held on. Guglielmello hit the PAT.
Ten points in 14 seconds!
"It definitely gave us some momentum," Fields said.
Pringle picked off Joe Mancuso at the Seawolves’ 36 late in the first quarter, leading to another Guglielmello 35-yarder — 13-0 with 1:30 gone in the second quarter.
Then Fields found Tyler Devera over the middle for a 20-yard score, and it was 20-0 at the intermission.
Fields needed to be helped off early in the third with pain in his right calf after being hit on an incompletion.
"It was definitely a scare for me," Fields said.
But after Richmond (2-5, 0-4), which has lost five straight, drove 65 yards and scored on a 2-yard run by Dykes in the third quarter, Fields was right back out there.
A strip sack by Carthell Flowers-Lloyd and 12-yard fumble return by Makye Smith to the Spiders’ 20 led to Fields racing around the right side and zipping inside the pylon for a 5-yard score — 27-7 with 13:41 left in the game.
"You can’t turn the ball over six times," Richmond coach Russ Huesman said.
Mancuso got the Spiders closer with a 6-yard TD pass to Savon Smith. But Mancuso’s next attempt to get closer ended with a Pringle pick in the end zone.
"It feels unreal right now," Pringle said of his first two interceptions. "But I’m so happy that I was able to help the team get this really decisive win today."
