UR vs. Montana: What will it take for a Spider win tonight?

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Be quick or be buried.

The University of Richmond needs its defensive players to operate as highly mobile agents vs. Montana tonight in the Football Championship Subdivision title game. If they don't, the Grizzlies' offensive line is big enough to smother them.

Montana's starters from tackle-to-tackle: 6-7, 305 pounds, 6-5, 300, 6-4, 302, 6-7, 310, and 6-8, 295.

"Probably the biggest [line] we've seen throughout the year, probably comparable to our second game, against U.Va.," said UR defensive end Lawrence Sidbury. "But coming into the game, we're really not going to do anything different. We're going to make sure we're technique-sound, come off the ball low, use our hands, and try to get off blocks.

"That's the only way you can combat it, a line of this size, is doing things the right way."

The Spiders (12-3) faced a similar challenge in the FCS semifinals at Northern Iowa. In a 21-20 victory, Richmond yielded 146 rushing yards, the most it gave up since a 38-31 loss to James Madison on Oct. 11.

Richmond linebacker Patrick Weldon noted that Montana's blockers "also move very well. They're able to get off the ball, attack the second level, and move very quickly for as big as they are."

WILL IMPOSITION: This evening may be a test of which team can impose its will because UR aims to do the same thing as Montana (14-1): pound the opposition's defense with a physical offensive line and quality back.

In Montana's case, that's 6-0, 195-pound sophomore Chase Reynolds (101.7 rushing yards per game). Richmond counters with 6-0, 232-pound senior Josh Vaughan (114.8 rushing yards per game).

"We just do what we always do. We come out and try to establish the run early," Vaughan said. "Then, throughout the course of a game, try to wear teams down."

Richmond has been better at creating turnovers, with 13 fumbles caused and 28 interceptions.

"Every game, when we go out there [on defense], our mindset is 'That's our ball, and if we don't have it, we need to go and get it back,'" Weldon said.

LONDON'S CHRISTMAS WISH: Win or lose tonight, Richmond's magical season includes the notable subplot of Mike London, who is in his first season as a head coach at any level. Sixteen starters returned from the 2007 Spiders' team that advanced to the FCS semifinals, and London said yesterday that among the things he wanted to do was make that level of achievement the annual expectation.

"It's been truly a great opportunity, first year, head coach at your alma mater, in the big game. You can't ask for anything much more than that," London said.

"Yeah, you can. You can ask for maybe a win."
Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or .