Spiders overwhelming in championship game

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Defensive dominance. Offensive efficiency.

The University of Richmond last night won the Football Championship Subdivision title the same way it negotiated the season. Before 17,823 at Finley Stadium, the Spiders overwhelmed Montana on both sides of the ball in a 24-7 win.

During Richmond's late-season push, first-year coach Mike London often made the point that the Spiders seemed most focused, most effective, "when it mattered, when it counted."

A few seconds before UR's first Division I championship became official, London looked skyward and, with clenched fists at his waist, unleashed a primal scream. This one mattered. This one counted.

"You guys saw today the character of this team," London said. "For this year, this team was a team of destiny."

Josh Vaughan punished the Grizzlies with 162 power-rushing yards. Richmond (13-3) knocked Montana (14-2) off-balance with three first-half touchdowns -- the first on a 23-yard completion from fullback John Crone to quarterback Eric Ward -- then made Montana quarterback Cole Bergquist antsy and sore.

Bergquist was rushed, flushed and hushed by a UR defensive front too quick and too strong for the Grizzlies. Richmond defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, who recorded four of UR's seven sacks, was at his disruptive best.

"We really didn't do anything special," Sidbury said of Richmond's defensive plan. "Just played hard. We just gave unbelievable effort, man. We just looked at each other and said, 'Let's go,' and played our hearts out."

Montana didn't score until 11:56 was left in the game. Just as the Grizzlies appeared to be finally gaining offensive traction, UR linebacker Eric McBride made an interception. When it mattered. When it counted.

"Even when your back is against the wall and they're driving, there's confidence. We say we bend but we don't break," McBride said.

That McBride play and his 21-yard return put Richmond in position for a 39-yard field goal by Brian Radford at 6:54. UR led 24-7. About 2,000 UR fans in the stands began formalizing celebration plans.

"First-year, rookie head coach and having an opportunity to win it all," London said. "This is a moment that no one will ever be able to take away."

In last weekend's 21-20 win at Northern Iowa, Richmond scored its first touchdown on a 40-yard flea-flicker. Ward handed off to Vaughan, who took two steps toward the line and pitched back to Ward, who hit wide-open Kevin Grayson for the touchdown. Last night for their first score, the Spiders again went gadget-mode.

UR immediately engaged its running game with the 232-pound Vaughan. So it seemed odd that on third-and-2 from Montana's 23, Vaughan was on the sideline. Ward pitched to 240-pound fullback Crone, headed right. Then Crone turned to the left and threw a high-arcing pass, the first of the senior's career, that Ward caught. He scored easily.

"We've practiced it since Week One, and we always talk about it: 'We're never going to run it, we're never going to run it,'" Crone said.

When the play was called in the huddle, "I started giggling," Crone said. He saw Ward wide open, and Crone told himself, "If I overthrow him right now, I'm never going to hear the end of it."

Derek Hatcher's 21-yard punt return and a 23-yard slant to Grayson helped get Richmond to Montana's 6. From there, Vaughan started right, repelled off a wall of Grizzlies, then circled back to the left for a touchdown that put UR up 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Soon after during a TV timeout, McBride prowled Richmond's bench area, telling whomever would listen: "Don't let up! Don't let up!"

Richmond did not, driving 12 plays from its 25 for a third TD, a 13-pass from Ward that split two defenders and was caught by backup tailback Garrett Wilkins for a 21-0 lead with 2:13 left in the second quarter.

Perfect pass. When it mattered. When it counted.

NEXT: UR opens its 2009 season at Duke. In other games outside of Colonial Athletic Association competition, the Spiders face Georgetown and Virginia Military Institute. Asked whether Richmond's future nonconference scheduling will become easier as a result of this season's success, UR Athletic Director Jim Miller responded: "Harder, I would think." In his experience, potential opponents want to avoid quality programs.

Next season's home schedule is expected to be the Spiders' last at UR Stadium, the off-campus facility in which UR has played since 1929. Richmond's on-campus stadium is projected for a 2010 opening.