The last minute included a one-handed touchdown reception, a wide-left field goal try, and the conclusion of a 17-game winning streak. Villanova’s Brandyn Harvey made the one-handed grab for a 29-yard touchdown with 59 seconds left—on fourth and 11, no less. The University of Richmond’s Andrew Howard missed a 35-yard field goal attempt at :05.

Fortune is supposed to favor the bold, and University of Richmond coach Mike London made a bold decision late in yesterday’s game against Villanova that should have won the game for the Spiders. Spiders quarterback Eric Ward is supposed to be the coolest of the cool when the game is on the line, and he was exactly that yesterday. So, how do you explain Richmond’s 21-20 loss at UR Stadium?

Villanova scored on a fourth-and-11 play from the University of Richmond’s 29 with 59 seconds left and added the PAT to win 21-20 Saturday before 11,667 on homecoming at UR Stadium.

For championship contenders, goals set in summer sun come into focus when the leaves fall. The University of Richmond and Villanova meet today in a Colonial Athletic Association game that will have a major bearing on the league title and, probably, location of postseason games for both teams. “It’s the pink elephant that’s in the room. You’ve got to acknowledge it,“ UR coach Mike London said of the game’s implications.

When: 3:30 p.m.  On the air: TV—CSN; radio—WXGI (950), WLFV (93.1), 3
  Tickets: $22, $10 for youths.
  Records: Richmond 6-0 CAA, 8-0; Villanova 4-1, 7-1
  Players to watch: Richmond—QB Eric Ward, Sr., needs 34 yards to become program’s all-time leading passer; DT Martin Parker, Jr., 12.5 tackles for losses. Villanova—WR/KR Matt Szczur, Jr., leads CAA in all-purpose yards (133.6 ypg); LB Osayi Osunde, Sr., 2008 all-CAA first team.

The timeline for UR’s case of NCAA violations:
  2007
  August: NCAA legislation prohibits communication with recruits via text messages.
  November: UR assistant AD/compliance discovers irregularities during a routine review of assistant men’s basketball coaches’ school-issued cell phones.
  December: UR self-reports secondary infractions, self-imposed penalties and other corrective actions to the NCAA enforcement staff.

The University of Richmond “failed to monitor its athletics program,“ the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions stated yesterday in its report on recruiting violations committed from August 2007 to January 2008. The committee also concluded the head men’s and women’s basketball coaches “did not promote an atmosphere of compliance.“

Tight end William Bischoff caught a TD pass at Towson last Saturday, was hit in the end zone, and his helmet popped off as if it was spring-loaded. This scenario has become more common in recent years. Earlier this season, UR’s Nick Battle made a sack after his helmet had come off. “I’ve got to make sure these guys are buckled up properly, so they are protected,“ said Spiders coach Mike London.

The other day, a woman pronounced the last name of Matt Szczur “SUE-sher.“ Said Szczur, who had heard just about every pronunciation but that one: “Cracked me up.“ The correct way to say this interesting last name is “Caesar,“ like the Roman emperor. To the University of Richmond’s defensive players, Szczur is No.4, the valuable, versatile Villanova junior who may be the key to Saturday’s Colonial Athletic Association showdown. The Spiders (6-0, 8-0), top-ranked in the FCS and defending national champions, can clinch at least a share of the CAA title with a victory over fourth-ranked Villanova (4-1, 7-1).

They connected 20 times during the 1968 Tangerine Bowl. Quarterback Buster O’Brien and receiver Walker Gillette are now reunited on the All-UR Stadium team.

Frank Jones (1966-73): Southern Conference coach of the year three times; made struggling Spiders a winner.
  DEFENSIVE LINE
  Ace Owens (1972-74): Known for bouncing off blockers; named all-Southern Conference and all-state.
  Marc Megna (1994-98): Won the 1998 Dudley Award, given to the state of Virginia’s finest college player, played in NFL.

The University of Richmond is not on college football’s top shelf in terms of classification level, but the unbeaten Spiders received recognition in the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll. Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle put the 8-0 Spiders of the Football Championship Subdivision at No. 25 on his ballot, assuring them a spot in the “others receiving votes” category. Florida is No. 1, and UR is among 14 “others receiving votes.“ Ratto ranked Richmond behind Oklahoma, his No. 24.

Eric Ward was not a top-flight recruit, even in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Atlanta resident picked the University of Richmond over Alabama State. By a whisker, Ward won a quarterback competition with Levi Brown (now Troy’s QB) and became the Spiders’ starter as a redshirt freshman in 2006. Richmond is 38-10 with Ward taking snaps, and his high level of play was vital in the Spiders capturing last season’s FCS title. The 6-2, 210-pounder evolved from mistake-prone freshman to stabilizing veteran who helps UR win with passing, running, and leadership.

Top-ranked UR surges to romp of Towson Underdog Towson took the lead in the third quarter. That seemed to be the needle in the rear to the University of Richmond during its 42-14 win yesterday before 4,396 at Johnny Unitas Stadium. The Spiders, top-ranked in the FCS, scored 22 points in 2:33, turning a 14-13 deficit into a 35-14 lead.