Postgame Notes: No. 7 Spiders Win Thriller To Reach National Championship

Dec. 13, 2008

Team

• Richmond advances to the FCS National Championship for the first time in school history.

• The victory is Richmond's 12th of the season, breaking the previous school record of 11 (11-3) set by last year's team that fell to eventual National Champion Appalachian State in the FCS Semifinals.

• Richmond improved to 8-6 all-time in FCS Playoff action, including a 1-1 record in the Semifinals and a 4-4 record on the road.

• Richmond's opponent in next Friday's FCS National Championship Game (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN2-HD) is third-seeded Montana (14-1). The Spiders and Grizzlies have met once one before in the postseason - Montana defeated Richmond, 34-20, in the 2000 Quarterfinals in Missoula.

• UNI falls to 1-6 all-time in the FCS National Semifinals.

• Richmond allowed over 100 yards rushing for just the fourth time this season as UNI finished with 146 yards on 34 carries. Seven-consecutive Spider opponents had not reached the 100-yard mark on the ground.

• Richmond improved to 2-2 this season when allowing over 100-yards rushing.

• The Spiders have defeated three conference champions during this run in the 2008 Playoffs - Eastern Kentucky (OVC), Appalachian State (SoCon) and Northern Iowa (MVFC). Montana was an at-large selection after finishing behind Weber State in the Big Sky.

• With the win, the Spiders improved to 12-3 when playing against a ranked team since the start of the 2007 season (30-39 since 1995).

• Richmond is 6-2 this season in Top-25 games, and when Friday's game kicks off versus No. 5 Montana, the Spiders will have faced six of the teams currently ranked seventh or better in the Sports Network final regular season poll.

• UNI had its eight-game winning streak snapped by Richmond, while suffering just its fourth-ever setback at the UNI-Dome in 19 home playoff games.

• The Spiders are 12-3 away from UR Stadium since last season and its six-game road winning streak is the longest currently in the FCS.

Players

• Junior QB Eric Ward played arguably the best game of his college career, going 28-of-35 with a career-high 280 yards and two TD passes. Ward's previous career-best was 273 yards versus Maine this season.

• Ward's 28 completions also set a career-best, surpassing his 25 in last year's win versus New Hampshire. The 35 attempts tied the career-high set in that same UNH game.

• Ward is now 29-10 as Richmond's starting QB, including a 12-5 mark versus Top-25 opponents.

• Ward completed his 28 passes to eight different receivers.

• Senior TE Joe Stewart, who caught Ward's game-winning TD pass, finished his day with career-highs in receptions (five) and yards (71). Stewart's previous career-highs were four catches at Villanova last season and 54 yards versus Delaware this year.

• Senior TB Josh Vaughan was limited to 86 yards rushing on 17 attempts. It marked his lowest rushing total since gaining 44 yards rushing at Villanova.

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