Villanova stops Richmond's winning streak at 17 games

Missed extra points prove costly for top-ranked Spiders

RICHMOND -- For all the spectacular plays on offense and defense in this game between two of the top four teams in division I-AA, the outcome hinged on special teams, specifically kicking.

Top-ranked Richmond missed two extra-point kicks and a field goal in the final seconds and lost, 21-20, to No. 4 Villanova before a homecoming crowd of 11,667 at UR Stadium on Saturday.

Place kicker Andrew Howard had a chance to win the game for the Spiders (8-1, 6-1 Colonial Athletic Association), but his 35-yard field goal attempt with 10 seconds left sailed wide left, sending Richmond, the defending national champion, to its first loss in 18 games.

"It always stings when you lose a game, particularly when you had opportunities to make extra points, and in the red zone you turn the ball over," Richmond Coach Mike London said. "It's a lesson that you learn: how close games are and how one play like extra points and things like that are very important."

This was the second year in a row that the Wildcats (8-1, 5-1 CAA), who have won 10 of the past 14 meetings between these teams, beat Richmond when the Spiders were ranked No. 1.

Trailing 14-6 after the first half, the outcome appeared bleak for Richmond when its first two drives after halftime ended with interceptions. But then linebacker Patrick Weldon snatched Chris Whitney's pass near the Spiders goal line and returned it 70 yards.

Five plays later, Tre Gray caught a seven-yard scoring pass and Jordan Mitchell snared the two-point conversion pass to tie the score at 14.

After Richmond's next drive ended with another interception, the Spiders took their first lead on their next series. Kendall Gaskins's one-yard touchdown plunge put them ahead, 20-14. But because of a high snap, Howard missed the extra-point kick for the second time in the game. Before Saturday, Howard had made 31 of 32 point-after attempts.

Villanova answered with a seven-play, 56-yard scoring drive that culminated in Brandyn Harvey's thrilling touchdown catch. With three defenders covering him, Harvey snatched Whitney's pass out of the air with only his left hand and his momentum carried him into the end zone. Nick Yako kicked the extra point and the Wildcats were back on top, 21-20.

The Spiders' Eric Ward completed 23 of 35 passes for 297 yards, becoming the program's all-time passing leader.

-- MARIST 23, GEORGETOWN 21: Jason Myers kicked a 37-yard field goal with one second remaining to give the Red Foxes (6-3) a win over the Hoyas (0-9) in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Scott Darby had thrown a 68-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Floyd to give Georgetown a 21-20 lead with 54 seconds left. Darby was 31-for-57 passing for 289 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

-- SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 43, HOWARD 13: Chris Massey caught two touchdown passes and picked up two points on a safety as the Bulldogs (8-1, 6-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) beat the Bison (2-7, 0-6) at Greene Stadium.

-- FAYETTEVILLE STATE 21, BOWIE STATE 10: The Broncos (8-3) overcame a 10-0 halftime deficit to beat the Bulldogs (6-5) in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship game in Durham, N.C. Ramono Flowers's 10-yard touchdown run capped Bowie State's six-play, 80-yard drive to open the game.