University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
10-3 , 5-3
North Dakota
9-3 , 8-0
NEVER SAY DIE! Spiders Win Thriller Over #7 North Dakota, 27-24
12/04/2016 | Football
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – You want a definition of resiliency? You want a definition of toughness? Look no further than the 2016 Richmond football team.
It was all about the late game magic on Saturday in North Dakota. Richmond overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat #7 North Dakota, 27-24, to a secure a spot in the FCS Quarterfinals for the second consecutive season.
“I can't be more proud of this football team. The toughness they put on display tonight was phenomenal. I can't say enough about them,” Head Coach Danny Rocco said.
In just his second start, sophomore Kevin Johnson tossed for 260 yards on 12-of-19 passing with two TDs, while senior Brian Brown finished with six catches for 171 yards and a TD.
Defensively, junior Brendan Coniker finished with a team-high 10 tackles, while the Spider defense was in the UND backfield all day long, finishing with six tackles for a loss.
Sophomore Griffin Trau added to his incredible season with the game-winning FG as time expired, while senior Will McCombs made perhaps the biggest play of the afternoon with a blocked punt in the fourth quarter.
An extended story will be available once the team arrives back from North Dakota.
For now, it's on to second-seeded Eastern Washington next weekend.
Team Stats
RICHMOND 0, UND 7
UND - Brady Oliveira 4 yd run (Reid Taubenheim kick), 10 plays, 54 yards, TOP 5:00
RICHMOND 7, UND 7
RICHMOND - Brian Brown 79 yd pass from Kevin Johnson (Griffin Trau kick) 2 plays, 79 yards, TOP 0:57
RICHMOND 7, UND 14
UND - De'mun Mercer 69 yd pass from Keaton Studsrud (Reid Taubenheim kick) 2 plays, 69 yards, TOP 0:16
RICHMOND 7, UND 17
UND - Reid Taubenheim 43 yd field goal 7 plays, 15 yards, TOP 1:26
RICHMOND 7, UND 24
UND - De'mun Mercer 16 yd pass from Keaton Studsrud (Reid Taubenheim kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:50
RICHMOND 14, UND 24
RICHMOND - Kevin Johnson 9 yd run (Griffin Trau kick), 8 plays, 92 yards, TOP 4:23
RICHMOND 17, UND 24
RICHMOND - Griffin Trau 37 yd field goal 4 plays, 2 yards, TOP 2:30
RICHMOND 24, UND 24
RICHMOND - Garrett Hudson 8 yd pass from Kevin Johnson (Griffin Trau kick) 8 plays, 54 yards, TOP 3:58
RICHMOND 27, UND 24
RICHMOND - Griffin Trau 18 yd field goal 7 plays, 69 yards, TOP 3:00
