University of Richmond Athletics
Elliott's Spiders Scrapbook
02/15/2001 | Football
Feb. 15, 2001
In 1995, his first year as head coach at Richmond, Jim Reid received the Yankee Conference Co-Coach of the Year award and led the Spiders to a 7-3-1 record. Richmond, who finished the season ranked #20 overall, came out of the gate strong, recording decisive victories over its first five opponents. After frustrating midseason performances at Delaware and at Fordham-the team was unable to score a touchdown in either game-the Spiders needed something big against James Madison. And they got it, in one of the greatest comebacks in Spider football history.
Early in the first period, Richmond answered a JMU safety with an 11-play, 79-yard drive. Quarterback Jason Gabrels ran 14 yards to find the end zone, and Mat Shannon punctuated the drive by rushing for the two-point conversion. At the close of the first quarter, the Spiders were ahead in Harrisonburg 8-2.
James Madison quarterback Mike Cawley put the Dukes offense on the board with a nine-yard rush with 9:22 left in the second quarter, and when Richmond went three-and-out on the next drive, Madison capitalized with a 55-yard scoring drive. After a late second quarter field goal, the Dukes led the Spiders 19-8.
The Spiders trailed at halftime, but the game was not out of reach by any means. Richmond had proven earlier in the season that it could score, and few could question the heart or determination of the Spiders after a double overtime victory over Northeastern. Also to their credit, they had held their previous two opponents to a combined total of 18 points.
A pair of fumbles set up a Richmond touchdown in the third quarter to make the score 19-14. After Richmond was unsuccessful in taking advantage of good field position late in the quarter, JMU responded with a 73-yard drive to make the score JMU 26, Richmond 14.
Midway through the fourth, a Richmond pass was intercepted and run back for a touchdown by James Madison's Ray Harris. The Dukes led 33-14 and looked to be in great shape for a victory.
Quarterback Joe Elrod came off the bench and led the Spiders on a 13-play, 65-yard scoring drive, taking the ball into the end zone himself on a 16-yard run. The two-point conversion failed and the Spiders trailed 33-20 with 4:05 left.
Richmond recovered the onside kick and moved the ball to the JMU nine, where Elrod fumbled and the Dukes recovered. But JMU returned the favor on its next play and linebacker Bryan Leibrand picked up the ball and took it in for a touchdown. The extra point make the score 33-27 with 2:48 remaining.
The Dukes fumbled again. This time, defensive tackle Art Blanchard recovered the ball for the Spiders and Richmond's offense was back in business. Elrod crossed the goal line with 59 seconds left, and Greyson Masters' kick gave Richmond a 34-33 lead.
But as in many a cheesy slasher flick, the villain came back for one final scare. From 52 yards out, Cawley tried to ruin the Spider comeback when he connected with wide receiver Macey Brooks near the Richmond goal line. Defensive back Winston October collared Brooks and pulled him to the ground on the one-yard line as time expired and the Spiders had their improbable 34-33 victory.
And what about Coach Reid, who in his first season as head coach turned the program around and recorded the tenth-best record in Spider football history? (His 1995 campaign was later knocked out of the top ten in by his 9-3 record in '98.) In one of the most memorable celebratory rituals in Richmond history, he let his players shave his head, setting a standard by which all post-game celebrations should be judged.
