Sept. 24, 2007

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - For the first time since late last season, the University of Richmond football team is ranked in the Top 25. The Spiders debut 25th in both the Sports Network and CSN Coaches' polls which were unveiled Monday for the season's fourth week.

The ranking sets the stage for a Top-25 showdown at UR Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., between the 25th-ranked Spiders (2-1) and the 11th-ranked New Hampshire Wildcats (2-1).

Saturday's game will feature two of college football's most potent offenses, as well as two of the nation's top offensive players. Richmond is ranked second in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) rushing and total offense, while New Hampshire finds itself in the top 10 in scoring, passing and total offense.

Averaging 204.7 yards/game, Richmond's senior RB Tim Hightower is the nation's second-leading rusher and is fourth in scoring with nine touchdowns. UNH's senior QB Ricky Santos is the defending Walter Payton Award winner.

Since 2005, the Spiders have played 15 games as a Top 25 team, and own a record of 9-6 in that time (5-1 at home). Richmond is 4-4 versus ranked opponents over the last two seasons.

The Spiders spent a school record 10-consecutive weeks in the polls in 2006.