University of Richmond Athletics
Postgame Notes: #14 Richmond 17, #6 James Madison 16
10/27/2007 | Football
Oct. 27, 2007
Richmond has won three-straight games and improved to 6-2 overall, 4-1 in the CAA to earn a share of first-place in the South Division with James Madison and Delaware.
The win marks the earliest the Spiders have reached six wins in a season since starting both the 1998 and 2000 seasons 6-2. Both those seasons ended in Atlantic 10 Championships.
Reaching six wins ensures the Spiders their third-consecutive winning season for the first time in more than 50 years. Richmond was 9-4 in 2005, 6-5 last season and can finish no worse than 6-5 this season. The team's last trio of consecutive winning seasons was 5-3-1 in 1953, 5-4 in 1954 and 4-3-2 in 1955.
Richmond is now 13-7 when playing as a ranked team under head coach Dave Clawson and 6-4 on the road. Richmond is 34-23 when ranked since 1993 and 20-36 versus a ranked team since 1995.
Richmond improved its records under head coach Dave Clawson to 17-4 when scoring first and 21-2 when leading at the half.
The Spiders now own a 14-11 lead in the all-time series versus James Madison and have won three of the last four meetings, including their last two visits to Bridgeforth Stadium.
Richmond snapped JMU's six-game winning steak and 11-game win streak at home. The Dukes' last defeat was its 2005 loss to Richmond, 18-15.
Senior Tim Hightower surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark for the sixth time this season, gaining 102 yards on a season-high 28 carries. The nation's fourth-leading rusher coming in, is now averaging just over 150 yards/game.
Hightower's rushing touchdown was his 15th this season and 29th of his career, tying him with Uly Scott for the Richmond career record. He has now scored a TD in nine consecutive games.
The Richmond defense has allowed just one touchdown in its last three games.
The win over 6th-ranked James Madison is the Spiders' second win this season over a higher-ranked opponent (11th-ranked New Hampshire).
The win also marks the highest-ranked opponent Richmond has defeated in the regular season since beating No. 4 Rhode Island, 28-0, in 2001. The Spiders defeated No. 2 Hampton, 38-10, in the 2005 NCAA Playoffs First Round.
