Oct. 15, 2007

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - After a career day returning punts, sophomore Derek Hatcher was named the CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday. Hatcher returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown and totaled a career-best 141 yards on his five returns as the 20th-ranked Spiders rolled to a 42-0 win over Stony Brook.

Hatcher became the first Richmond punt returner since Cordell Roane eight years ago to take one back for a touchdown. Roane's was a 68-yarder versus Rhode Island on Oct. 9, 1999.

"He's got very good ball skills and very good return skills," said head coach Dave Clawson. "He really does a nice job of finding seams and has very good vision when he returns. We're excited about what he did this weekend."

The CAA's leading punt returner with an average 19.6 yards for his 10 returns this season, Hatcher brought Stony Brook's first punt back to the end zone to give Richmond a 7-0 lead. The touchdown was the first of his career.

Hatcher, who is the son of former Major League Baseball player and current Cincinnati Reds first base coach Billy Hatcher, also filled at cornerback for injured Justin Rogers and was in on a career-best nine tackles.

His play helped Richmond improve to 4-2 on the season and record its first shutout since blanking Duke 13-0 in last year's opener.

Hatcher's award marks Richmond's league-leading fifth CAA weekly award this season. Senior Tim Hightower has been named the Offensive Player of the Week twice, with freshman Justin Rogers garnering both the Special Teams and Rookie of the Week awards.

The Spiders are back home Saturday to host Rhode Island in a CAA game at 3:30 p.m.