Special teams helps Richmond beat Elon

For the third time this season, the hand of a University of Richmond football player helped the Spiders hold a late-game lead.

UR's Parker Miles reached up and got a piece of the 48-yard field goal attempt by Elon's Adam Shreiner on the last play of yesterday's FCS first-rounder. The Spiders won 16-13 before 6,143 fans at UR Stadium, where Appalachian State will make a quarterfinal visit Saturday. The Mountaineers (10-2) eliminated South Carolina State 20-13 yesterday.

"Once again, finding a way to win at the end," said UR coach Mike London, whose team captured a share of the CAA championship with a last-second field goal last Saturday in a 13-10 over William and Mary. "We won so many close games like that. It's a mark of a really good team, a championship-caliber team."

At Delaware on Sept. 12, UR's Kevin Grayson blocked a 23-yard FG try with 38 seconds left in Richmond's 16-15 win. At James Madison a month later, Spiders defensive tackle Martin Parker swatted the ball from Dukes QB Justin Thorpe at the UR 5 in the last minute. Richmond recovered, securing a 21-17 victory.

Shreiner missed from 27 yards with 1:30 left. The Spiders (11-1), seeded fourth in this 16-team tournament and defending FCS champions, punted after three runs. Elon (9-3) worked the ball down to UR's 30 behind the quick passing of Scott Riddle.

Next to Miles, Martin Parker and Pierre Turner lined up inside to rush Shreiner's attempt. "Both of them gave tremendous push, and I jumped up and got it," Miles said.

Elon couldn't break UR's defense. The Phoenix had first-and-10 at the UR 11 in the second quarter, and settled for a field goal. The Phoenix had first-and-goal from the UR one in the third quarter, and settled for a field goal.

"Trying to run against those guys, I think it would be tough for any team," Elon quarterback Riddle said. "As good as we've come along in our run game, they're as good a defense as we've seen all year."

The Phoenix had first-and-10 at the UR 17 in the fourth quarter and ended missing the 27-yard field-goal try.

"We just tighten up as we get down to it," said Miles, one of UR's defensive tackles. "No matter what yard line they're on, we want to tighten up and hold them to a field goal, if we have to give points."

There was no late-game contribution from QB Eric Ward that led Richmond to victory, as there often is. But Ward ran for a career-high 136 yards, including a 74-yard TD run. He had never before rushed for more than 91 yards.

"There was great coverage and I was just trying to get what I could on my feet," Ward said. "They did things in the passing game trying to take away deep balls when we tried to throw them. We pretty much just had to take what they gave us."

Elon, the Southern Conference runner-up (to Appalachian State), trailed 10-0, and 13-3 at halftime. The Phoenix then got going with their record-setting QB-WR combination of Riddle and Terrell Hudgins (12 catches for 167 yards and a TD).

"They're as good as there is around in college football," London said. "They're playmakers. . . . Hudgins, that's an NFL player."

The Spiders stayed ahead with three field goals from Andrew Howard. Elon cut the difference to 16-13 with 9:04 left. Howard missed a 46-yard attempt. Then Shreiner missed the 27-yarder and had his final attempt deflected.

"Our goal was to keep it close and be in position late in the game to make a few plays to win it," said Elon coach Pete Lembo. "It played out that way. Unfortunately, we couldn't convert and missed those field goals to potentially send it to overtime."

Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or .