University of Richmond Athletics
10-Year Anniversary Look Back – No. 7 Spiders Win Capital Cup In Overtime To Secure Playoff Bid
11/24/2018 | Football
RICHMOND, Va. – The 2018 season for Richmond football marks the 10th anniversary of the 2008 National Championship team. Spider athletics will be taking a walk down memory lane throughout the fall, reliving moments in the championship season. This week, we look back at the regular season finale that saw the seventh-ranked Spiders earn a 23-20 overtime win on No. 16 William & Mary to all but assure the Spiders of a playoff berth.
Andrew Howard drilled a 37-yard field goal in overtime, capping an impressive defensive performance by the Spiders that featured seven takeaways, six interceptions and a blocked field goal in overtime.
The victory - the fifth-consecutive for the Spiders - improved visiting Richmond to 9-3 overall, 6-2 in CAA Football and all but assured the team's second-consecutive playoff berth and third in four years. The Tribe slipped to 7-4, 5-3 as Richmond completed a four-year sweep of W&M for just the third time in school history.
The Spiders had to withstand a second-half rally that saw the Tribe score 20-consecutive points to erase their 20-0 deficit at the half. QB Jake Phillips, who was picked off a career-high six times, snuck in for the tying scoring from one-yard with 18 seconds left in the game, after Derek Cox returned a punt 80 yards with three minutes remaining and W&M recovered the ensuing onside kick.
The game went to overtime, and on their first possession, William & Mary had to settle for a 39-yard field goal try by Brian Pate that was blocked by senior Sherman Logan. Now with the ball and a chance to win, Richmond ran three plays and turned to Howard, who booted the 37-yarder inside the left upright for the game winner.
That kick clinched just the fifth nine-win season in school history and improved the Spiders to 8-1 all-time in overtime.
Although W&M continues to lead the all-time series 59-54-5, the Spiders have won four-straight, five of the last seven and seven of the last 11.
With 134 yards on 30 carries, senior running back Josh Vaughan rushed for his fifth-consecutive 100-yard game with 30 carries for 134 yards, but the Richmond defense was the difference once again.
The Spiders forced a season-high seven turnovers, intercepted six passes and limited W&M to just 43 yards rushing on 29 carries. It marked the fifth-consecutive game - and ninth time this season - the Spiders have held an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing.
Justin Rogers had two of the interceptions, broke up a game-high four passes and with six picks this season, the sophomore CB tied with four other Spiders - including head coach Mike London - for fourth on the school's single-season list.
Junior Michael Ireland made a game-high 11 tackles with an interception, while Jordan Shoop, David Horton and Derek Hatcher had the other picks, and Pierre Turner recovered a Phillips' fumble.
The wild game featured just two offensive touchdowns - Phillips' one-yard plunge to tie it and a fumble recovery in the end zone by Richmond OL Michael Silva to open the scoring after QB Eric Ward fumbled on the goal line.
Phillips finished the game 20-of-46 passing for 204 yards after a forgettable three-of-13 for 15 yards in the first half. Phillips was sacked four times by four different Spiders to go with his six picks.
But Richmond could have put a strangle-hold on the game early. Although leading 20-0 at the half, the Spiders forced five turnovers before the break - four interceptions and a fumble - including a 35-yard interception return for TD by Derek Hatcher that made it 17-0.
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Andrew Howard drilled a 37-yard field goal in overtime, capping an impressive defensive performance by the Spiders that featured seven takeaways, six interceptions and a blocked field goal in overtime.
The victory - the fifth-consecutive for the Spiders - improved visiting Richmond to 9-3 overall, 6-2 in CAA Football and all but assured the team's second-consecutive playoff berth and third in four years. The Tribe slipped to 7-4, 5-3 as Richmond completed a four-year sweep of W&M for just the third time in school history.
The Spiders had to withstand a second-half rally that saw the Tribe score 20-consecutive points to erase their 20-0 deficit at the half. QB Jake Phillips, who was picked off a career-high six times, snuck in for the tying scoring from one-yard with 18 seconds left in the game, after Derek Cox returned a punt 80 yards with three minutes remaining and W&M recovered the ensuing onside kick.
The game went to overtime, and on their first possession, William & Mary had to settle for a 39-yard field goal try by Brian Pate that was blocked by senior Sherman Logan. Now with the ball and a chance to win, Richmond ran three plays and turned to Howard, who booted the 37-yarder inside the left upright for the game winner.
That kick clinched just the fifth nine-win season in school history and improved the Spiders to 8-1 all-time in overtime.
Although W&M continues to lead the all-time series 59-54-5, the Spiders have won four-straight, five of the last seven and seven of the last 11.
With 134 yards on 30 carries, senior running back Josh Vaughan rushed for his fifth-consecutive 100-yard game with 30 carries for 134 yards, but the Richmond defense was the difference once again.
The Spiders forced a season-high seven turnovers, intercepted six passes and limited W&M to just 43 yards rushing on 29 carries. It marked the fifth-consecutive game - and ninth time this season - the Spiders have held an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing.
Justin Rogers had two of the interceptions, broke up a game-high four passes and with six picks this season, the sophomore CB tied with four other Spiders - including head coach Mike London - for fourth on the school's single-season list.
Junior Michael Ireland made a game-high 11 tackles with an interception, while Jordan Shoop, David Horton and Derek Hatcher had the other picks, and Pierre Turner recovered a Phillips' fumble.
The wild game featured just two offensive touchdowns - Phillips' one-yard plunge to tie it and a fumble recovery in the end zone by Richmond OL Michael Silva to open the scoring after QB Eric Ward fumbled on the goal line.
Phillips finished the game 20-of-46 passing for 204 yards after a forgettable three-of-13 for 15 yards in the first half. Phillips was sacked four times by four different Spiders to go with his six picks.
But Richmond could have put a strangle-hold on the game early. Although leading 20-0 at the half, the Spiders forced five turnovers before the break - four interceptions and a fumble - including a 35-yard interception return for TD by Derek Hatcher that made it 17-0.
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