Villanova snaps Richmond’s 17-game winning streak

The Richmond Spiders got a surprise visit from imperfection and walked off the field stunned with their 17-game winning streak snapped on Homecoming Weekend. Villanova was the more resilient top 5 ranked team on this day as they ended Richmond’s hope of an undefeated season by winning in a thriller, 21-20.

November 8, 2009; 4:43 AM • by Chris Farmer

While the Wildcats certainly lived up to their No.4 ranking, it was two botched extra point attempts and two missed field goals that ultimately sealed the No.1 ranked Spiders’ fate.

Though Richmond had more total yards and first downs, it was Villanova that controlled much of the game, carrying their 14-6 halftime margin into the fourth quarter. Eric Ward rallied Richmond with two fourth quarter touchdown drives to take a 20-14 lead, but on their second botched snap of the game, the extra point try again failed. The mistake would prove costly.

Villanova’s game-winning drive began with 2:22 remaining. QB Chris Whitney hit WR Brandyn Harvey three times on the drive, the last a spectacular one-handed 29-yard touchdown snare on 4th and 11.

Even then the Spiders were not finished. With :59 seconds remaining, Ward again coolly directed Richmond on a 7-play 59-yard drive that put them in field goal range. The 35-yard attempt however squibbed wide left.

The Spiders had found a way to win in these types of game all season, and when LB Patrick Weldon intercepted a pass and returned it 70 yards to give them great field position to begin the 4th quarter trailing 14-6, it looked as though the tide had turned once more. After completing a TD pass to WR Tre Gray to pull them within two, Ward connected on the two-point conversion with Jordan Mitchell to make up for the missed extra point earlier in the game to tie it at 14. It seemed as if Richmond was a team of destiny, and they were about to ride the momentum swing to victory.

In the end, missed opportunities and mistakes were too much to overcome.

Eric Ward became the Spiders’ all-time leader in passing yards, surpassing former great Bob Bleier.

Chris Farmer writes about the NFL and Fantasy Football on his blog Undrafteds and Bleacher Report. He is also the Arizona Cardinals writer for NFLTouchdown.com and a blogging intern at FantasyFootball.com.