University of Richmond Athletics
Kamin's Kick Sends No. 20 Richmond Past No. 22 JMU In Overtime Thriller
Nov. 6, 2010
Box Score |
Quotes |
Notes |
Photos 1 
|
Photos 2
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - Sophomore Wil Kamin drilled a 20-yard field goal in overtime to lift No. 20 Richmond past No. 22 James Madison, 13-10, at a sold-out Robins Stadium Saturday in yet another thriller between CAA Football rivals.
The victory was the Spiders (5-4, 3-3) second-straight over the Dukes (4-5, 1-5), kept Richmond's playoff hopes alive, gave the home team a win in the series for the first time since 2003 and was Richmond's first home win over JMU since 2002.
Although Saturday marked the first overtime decision in the 28-game all-time series between the rivals, six of the last seven have been one-score decisions and four-consecutive have been decided either in the final minute or overtime.
After Richmond won the overtime coin toss, the defense imposed its will on James Madison by halting RB Jamal Sullivan for no gain on first down, dropping QB Drew Dudzik for a one-yard loss on second down, and following a delay of game penalty, Dudzik was sacked by Tyler Sullivan for a 14-yard loss. The Dukes' fourth-and-30 play came up short and Richmond took over on downs.
That's when senior RB Tyler Kirchoff went to work, chewing off four-consecutive positive gains of six, eight, one and seven yards to set the stage for Kamin. The sophomore, who had connected on an 18-yarder to tie the game at 10-10 midway through the third, drilled the winner from 20 yards.
Kamin has converted the first eight field goals of his career (all this season).
Kirchoff finished the day with 72 of Richmond's 85 rushing yards on 15 carries, while sophomore QB John Laub, who became the third different Spider QB to engineer a game-winning drive this season, was 15-of-29 passing for 176 yards, a TD and two interceptions in his first college start.
Senior LB Eric McBride tied his career with 18 tackles, fellow senior LB Patrick Weldon established a new career-high with 16 stops and sophomore LB Darius McMillan's 14 tackles were a career-high.
Sullivan got the scoring started for the visiting Dukes with a 12-yard TD run with 2:47 left in the first quarter and the running back finished with 137 yards rushing on 25 carries.
But Laub, who has not played since the second game of the season while recovering from a wrist injury, finally shook the rust off midway through the second quarter as he hooked up with junior Tre Gray for his first career TD pass -- 41-yards -- which came one play after McBride picked off a Dudzik pass.
James Madison capitalized on the ensuing drive when Richmond muffed a punt, which was recovered by the Dukes in Richmond territory. The defense limited the damage to a field goal - 21-yards by Dixon Wright with 2:31 left - and JMU took a 10-7 advantage into halftime.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, Richmond marched 83 yards in 15 plays, consuming 8:59 off the clock and tying the game with Kamin's 18-yard field goal.
Laub moved the sticks on three clutch third-down throws to keep the drive alive, hitting Gray for 11 yards on third-and-six, finding Donte Boston for 17 yards on third-and-eight and connecting with Gray again for 14 yards on third-and-13.
A three-time All-America pick, CB Justin Rogers set the CAA Football career record for kickoff return yards in the game, and got into the offensive mix as the versatile senior threw an 11-yard pass to TE Kevin Finney on a reverse option to put the ball at the one. Richmond couldn't punch it in and settled for Kamin's kick.
Gray reeled in five catches for 86 yards and his 10th career TD, while Finney had a career day with four grabs for 45 yards. Boston, seeing his first action since a rib injury sidelined him in Week 2, caught three balls for 28 yards.
Richmond returns to action next Saturday versus Rhode Island in the regular-season home finale at Robins Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on Senior Day. Tickets are still available.