WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The No. 16/19 Tribe scored a pair of touchdowns in the final 3:02 to force overtime, but No. 6/7 Richmond's Andrew Howard kicked a 37-yard, game-winning field goal in the first extra session to give the Spiders a 23-20 victory on Senior Day at Zable Stadium.
Trailing 20-6 late in the fourth quarter, senior
Derek Cox ignited the College's (7-4, 5-3) comeback when he returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown with 3:02 remaining in the contest. W&M's RJ Archer then skied to recover the ensuing onside kick, putting the Tribe in business at its own 41-yard line. The squad then marched 59 yards in 10 plays to tie the score when senior quarterback
Jake Phillips found the end zone on a sneak from a yard out with 18 seconds on the clock.
The College took the ball first in overtime and had its 39-yard field attempt blocked by Sherman Logan. Howard finished what was a five-yard Spider drive in its half of the extra session and spun his game-winning try from the right hash from 37 yards out.
Despite turning the ball over seven times, W&M kept the score close with an outstanding defensive effort that saw the unit hold the Spiders (9-3, 6-2) scoreless over the final 30 minutes of play, allowing just 35 yards of total offense and two first downs.
Richmond took an early 7-0 lead when offensive lineman Michael Silva recovered a fumble by quarterback Eric Ward in the end zone with 2:13 left in the first quarter. The improbable finish capped off a seven play, 50-yard drive for the Spiders, which was begun after an interception return by Richmond cornerback Justin Rogers.
The Spiders increased its advantage to 10-0 with a 33-yard field goal by Howard with 7:01 left in second quarter. The successful kick capped off an 11-play, 50-yard drive that lasted 6:26.
UR's Derek Hatcher later returned an interception 35 yards for a score, while an 18-yard field goal by Hatcher as the second quarter clock expired put the Spiders ahead, 20-0, at halftime.
W&M scored its first points of the afternoon when Pate kicked a 32-yard field goal with 5:00 remaining in the third quarter. The 12-play, 65-yard drive was keyed by a 33-yard pass from Phillips to junior tight end
Rob Varno on a third-and-eight.
After taking possession on Richmond's 40-yard line after a 16-yard punt by UR's Brian Radford, the Tribe drove 36 yards on seven plays to set up a 21-yard field goal by Pate with 11:13 left in the contest.
The Tribe held Richmond to just 12 yards of total offense during the remainder of regulation en route to mounting the comeback.
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