University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
No. 19 Villanova
Spiders Fall At Villanova, 26-20
09/27/2008 | Football
Sept. 27, 2008
VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Junior QB Eric Ward was 23-of-32 passing for 236 yards and a touchdown, but the top-ranked Richmond Football team dropped a 26-20 decision on the road at No. 19 Villanova Saturday at Villanova Stadium.
Josh Vaughan's seven-yard touchdown run with 1:13 left on the clock made it a one-score game, but Villanova recovered the Spiders' on-side kick attempt to seal the Wildcats' win over the first-ever No. 1-ranked opponent to visit Villanova Stadium.
Ward had another strong day through the air, but the Spiders (3-2, 2-1) had difficulty both establishing their running game and stopping the Wildcats (3-1, 1-0) in the physical CAA South Division clash.
For the first time this season, Richmond allowed an opponent over 100 yards on the ground as Villanova racked up 226 yards rushing against the nation's eighth-ranked run defense. Aaron Ball led the way with his career-best 123 yards rushing and two TDs
The Spiders had their chance to put the game away early, but mustered only three points off an interception and a blocked punt. Richmond went three-and-out after Michael Ireland picked off a Chris Whitney pass on Villanova's first possession of the game, then got even better field position when Justin Rogers tipped a punt, but settled for the game's first points - a 41-yard Andrew Howard field goal.
Both of Ball's touchdown runs - the second of which was a 63-yard jaunt midway through the second quarter - gave the Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish in winning their ninth-consecutive home game.
Ward's TD pass to Joe Stewart with less than four minutes in the first quarter pulled Richmond within four and the defense held Villanova to a field goal in the half's closing seconds to make the score 17-10 at the break.
The Spiders, who were playing for the first time as a No. 1-ranked team since 1985, stormed out of the locker room on their first possession after the break and finally put a clock-eating drive together (60 yards in 6:32), but settled for a 35-yard Howard field goal.
The defense stood strong in the red zone for the second-consecutive VU possession, but Joe Marcoux connected on a 25-yard field goal and it was back to a one-touchdown game at 20-13.
Punter Brian Radford completed a pass to Joe Stewart on a fake punt to keep Richmond's next drive alive, but Monteverde had the game-tying touchdown swatted out of his hands later in the series on fourth-and-five at the six-yard line.
Marcoux drilled two more field goals in succession - the longest of which was a back-breaking 48-yarder with eight minutes left in the game - keeping Richmond at arm's length.
For the game, Richmond was out-gained in total yards 402 to 333, including a decisive 226-83 margin on the ground. Vaughan (16 carries, 44 yards) and Ward (17 carries, 39 yards) were the Spiders' lone ball carries.
Jordan Mitchell (four catches, 65 yards) were two of nine Spiders to catch passes.
Richmond returns to action next Saturday with a game at VMI. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.
