University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
No. 5 William & Mary
No. 4 Richmond Takes Capital Cup, CAA Title With 13-10 Thriller Over No. 5 Tribe
11/21/2009 | Football
Nov. 21, 2009
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Howard's FG Series
RICHMOND, Va. - RICHMOND, Va. -- Senior Andrew Howard drilled a 48-yard field goal as time expired to lift No. 4 Richmond past No. 5 William & Mary, 13-10, in another thriller at UR Stadium Saturday before a near-capacity crowd of 17,527 on Senior Day. The win gave the Spiders their first 10-win regular season in school history, a share of the CAA Football title and won the Capital Cup in the 119th playing of the oldest rivalry in the South.
Howard, who missed the game-winner with a share of the CAA Football title on the line two weeks ago versus Villanova, redeemed himself by booting the winner over the Tribe (9-2, 6-2) for the second year in row. Last year, the Richmond native booted a 37-yarder in overtime in Williamsburg.
The victory ensured Richmond (10-1, 7-1) at least a share of its fifth conference title since 1998 and marks the second-straight time the Spiders have defeated their long-time rivals at home to win a conference title (2007). It is Richmond's fifth-consecutive win over the Tribe and trimmed W&M's lead in the all-time series to 59-55-5.
Senior QB Eric Ward, who was named the Capital Cup Most Valuable Player, finished the game 24-of-36 passing for 221 yards and put the Spiders in position for the win with a three-play drive that covered 22 yards in 14 seconds. It's the eighth time in his All-American career that he's engineered a winning or tying drive in the fourth quarter. Ward improved to 4-0 in his career versus the Tribe and 16-6 versus Top-25 teams.
Junior Justin Rogers set up the Spiders' good field position when he picked off an R.J. Archer pass at the Richmond 36-yard line with 14 seconds left. Ward completed an 18-yarder to Kevin Grayson. Richmond killed the clock with two seconds left, setting the stage for Howard, who split the uprights with a booming 48-yarder - his longest of the season - as time expired.
It's the third time in the last two seasons that a Howard kick has won a game for the Spiders, including the overtime 37-yard field goal last year at William & Mary and the extra point in the 21-20 win at Northern Iowa in the 2008 NCAA Semifinals.
Ward's preferred target all afternoon, Gray finished with seven catches for 95 yards, while Grayson reeled in five grabs for 49 yards. Senior TB Justin Forte managed just 32 yards against the nation's best rushing defense, but his four-yard TD run gave the Spiders a 10-3 lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Tribes' Jonathan Grimes, who held the league's rushing lead over Forte, also found it tough against the nation's third-best rushing defense and collected 41 yards on 13 carries.
Archer was 17-of-36 passing for 209 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Cameron Dohse had a career day with five catches for 130 yards and a TD.
The teams traded first-half field goals -- Brian Pate hitting from 20 yards in the first quarter and Howard making good from 42 in the second. The game went to halftime 3-3, although the Spiders let two scoring opportunities slip away when Howard missed from 28 and 40 yards in the second quarter.
Forte's TD gave Richmond the lead in the fourth, but the Tribe answered back on the ensuing drive when Archer connected with Dohse for a dazzling 60-yard TD pass that knotted the game with 12:09 left.
Pate missed a potential go-ahead field goal from 52 yards with 4:13 left, the Spiders punted back to W&M with 2:03 remaining and then Archer had the Tribe driving before throwing his second pick of the day with 14 ticks left. Sophomore Tremayne Graham had the first interception of Archer.
Richmond's stingy defense, which ranks ninth nationally in points allowed, bottled up the explosive Tribe for a season-low 10 points. Junior LB Patrick Weldon and senior LB Collin McConaghy each made nine tackles, while junior DT Martin Parker had six stops, a sack and three QB hurries.
The defending National Champions, who are all but locked into their third-straight playoff appearance, will learn their postseason opponent during Sunday's Selection Show. The show airs at 3 p.m. ET on ESPNews and Richmond fans are invited to watch along with the Spiders at Jepson Hall on campus.
