University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
No. 6 James Madison
Out-Duked: #14 Richmond Beats #6 James Madison, 17-16
10/27/2007 | Football
  Audio Highlights:• Ward to Riddell 10-yd TD pass • Ward 18 yard run on 4th & 3 • Hightower 4-yd TD run • Howell game-saving interception |
Oct. 27, 2007
HARRISONBURG, Va. - Stephen Howell picked off a Rodney Landers' pass with 58 seconds remaining in the game to seal a thrilling win for No. 14 Richmond over sixth-ranked James Madison, 17-16, Saturday afternoon in a CAA South showdown at Bridgeforth Stadium.
The Spiders jumped out to a 17-0 lead and the defense held on, moving the team to 6-2 overall, 4-1 in the CAA and into a three-way tie for first in the South Division with JMU (6-2, 4-2) and Delaware.
Walter Payton candidate Tim Hightower rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown, while Eric Ward was 11-of-22 passing for 74 yards and another first-half score. With 29 rushing TDs, Hightower ties Uly Scott for Richmond's career record.
But led by Howell, the Spiders' defense was the story for the third consecutive week. The senior safety was in on a team-leading nine tackles, recovered a JMU fumble and made the acrobatic interception in the game's final minute. Eric McBride, who forced a fumble, and Collin McConaghy were also in on nine tackles each.
The Spiders' opportunistic defense came up big on James Madison's first four possessions of the game, forcing the Dukes into a pair of three-and-outs and two lost fumbles.
Following the first series which saw JMU move the ball just eight yards, the Spiders embarked on a clock-eating 17-play, 71-yard drive that consumed 8:01 off the clock and resulted in a 21-yard field goal from Andrew Howard.
Richmond widened its advantage to 10-0 at the 8:28 mark of the second quarter when Ward hit Riddell for a 10-yard TD pass, a play following Howell's fumble. Hightower gave Richmond a 17-0 when he plunged in from four yards out with 40 seconds remaining in the half.
But James Madison, which had not completed a first-half pass and gained just 45 yards, would not go to the locker room quietly. Landers hooked up with Bosco Williams on a 61-yard bomb with 16 seconds remaining on the clock and put the Dukes on the board and momentum in their favor.
The sold-out crowd of 14,009, still buzzing after the Williams' catch before halftime, was whipped into a frenzy after Richmond turned the ball over on its first two possessions of the second half. Hightower fumbled for the first time this season on Richmond's opening drive, then a Ward pass was picked by Marcus Haywood on its next possession.
But the Dukes could muster only two Dave Stennard field goals as a result, making the score 17-13 with 7:11 remaining in the third quarter. The score would remain the same until Stennard kicked his third field goal, a 36-yarder, with six minutes remaining in the game.
Richmond owned a commanding 16:34 lead in time of possession, gained four more first downs, but trailed 256-245 yards in total offense. But the Spiders rushed for 208 yards to the Dukes 134. Landers, who was just 8-of-22 passing for 129 yards, rushed 16 times for a team-leading 79 yards.
The win is Richmond's third-consecutive, while James Madison's six-game win streak was halted on its Homecoming. The Dukes' lone loss before Saturday was to North Carolina in the season-opener.
Richmond's 6-2 start ensures the team's third-consecutive winning season for the first time in 52 years. It also marks the third time since 1998 that Richmond has started 6-2. Both previous years (1998 and 2000) ended in Atlantic 10 Championships.
