By Andy Walter

What a difference a week makes.

For that matter, what a difference several months can make, too.

A week after surrendering just three points in a win over William & Mary, Delaware couldn’t do much to slow down Richmond as the Spiders ran away to a 51-27 CAA football victory over the Blue Hens at Robins Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The lopsided loss finishes off any lingering hope Delaware (3-4 CAA, 5-5 overall) had of sneaking into the NCAA FCS Division I playoffs — after it reached the FCS semifinals in the spring with mostly the same roster.

Considering the Hens host No. 8 Villanova next Saturday in their season finale, Delaware faces an uphill climb just to finish with a winning record.

The 51 points were the most that the Hens have given up against an FCS program since 2007, when they fell to Richmond, 62-56, in overtime — before going to the FCS national championship game.

“We didn’t have good answers today defensively, that’s for darn sure,” UD coach Danny Rocco said on his post-game radio interview. “What was the big difference (from last week)?

“Last week, going into the game, we really thought we knew what they were going to do. We weren’t as sure what they were going to do here this week. And they did some things that were unscouted, and with that they had a lot of success.

“It’s disappointing, it really is,” he added. “We’re 5-5 right now. We’re an average football team and that’s what we are.”

Delaware never led on Saturday after the Spiders (3-4 CAA, 5-5 overall), who won their third game in a row, jumped out to a 14-0 lead. But the Hens were still very much in the game in the third quarter when they trailed only 24-21 and just got the ball back.

That’s where the game came unraveled, however.

A Richmond interception and return to the Delaware seven set up a short TD for the Spiders. Then, on the next series, Blue Hen quarterback Zach Gwynn got crushed on a blindside blitz.

Gwynn lost the ball and Richmond defensive lineman Kobie Turner scooped up the fumble and returned it 17 yards for the Spiders’ second touchdown in a span of just 1:27. The TD stretched Richmond’s advantage to 37-21 and there wasn’t much Delaware could do to get back in the game.

Gwynn had his most productive college game, completing 25-of-45 passes for 331 yards and pair of touchdowns. He also scored twice on one-yard sneaks.

But the junior quarterback also threw two interceptions and lost the fumble, all in the second half. Gwynn hadn’t turned the ball over at all in Delaware’s back-to-back victories before Saturday.

“I think he just forced the ball,” Rocco said about Gwynn’s interceptions. “He’s trying to make a play. He made some throws. ... I think he had a little bit of confidence, a little bit of thought that he was going to be able to get the ball in there. He just should have thrown them away. He had no business trying to make a play there.”

QB Joe Mancuso — who was recruited to Richmond by Rocco and his staff — had another big day against the Hens. The senior completed 13-of-21 passes for 179 yards with three TDs while also running the ball for 116 yards and two more touchdowns on 14 carries.

Both teams put up some impressive offensive stats. The Spiders held a 380-371 edge in total yards while Delaware finished with a 22-19 advantage in first downs.

For Delaware, receiver Thyrick Pitts returned after missing last week’s game with an injury and pulled in 11 passes for 169 yards, both career highs. Gene Coleman (three catches-43 yards) also caught a scoring pass as the Hens equaled their second-highest point total of the season.

Seven different players caught at least two passes for Delaware.

On defense, safety Noah Plack finished with a career-high 14 tackles.

Rocco said it’s just the nature of football that things can change a lot from week to week. He hopes that’s the case again this coming week.

“You take a look at what we did a week ago, against a good team, and then what happened out here today against a team that was highly motivated and played like a good team,” he said. “Next week is a new week.

“We’ve got to be able to regroup and recognize that we can change the narrative as we go into the last week of the season.”