Ward, Spiders outlast Keydets 38-28

University of Richmond quarterback Eric Ward passed for 394 yards, the second-most in school history, as the Spiders defeated VMI 38-28 Saturday before 7,554 at UR Stadium.

Buster O'Brien passed for 447 yards when Richmond beat Ohio 49-42 in the 1968 Tangerine Bowl.

Richmond (4-0), ranked No. 1 in the Football Championship Subdivision, has won a school-record 13 games. The Spiders have beaten VMI eight straight times, with most of those results lop-sided. In this meeting, the Spiders would move ahead via the pass, but the Keydets continued to fight back and keep it relatively close.

VMI's supporters gave the Keydets a standing ovation following the game, a tribute to the don't-quit approach taken by the visitors.

The Keydets allowed 17 completions of 10 or more yards.

UR looked to be in position to blow out VMI (1-2) early in the second quarter. Ward hit Donte Boston with a 53-scoring pass as Richmond went ahead 21-7 with 12:02 remaining in the second quarter.

But VMI came back with a 78-yard scoring drive and cut Richmond's lead to 21-14 with 4:29 left in the second quarter. The Spiders reached VMI's 13 late in the second quarter, but that drive fizzled with Andrew Howard missing a 34-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the first half.

A first-quarter UR fumble was turned into quick points by VMI (44-yard TD pass from Kyle Hughes to Tim Maypray). UR tied it 7-7 by the end of the first quarter on a drive highlighted by a 29-yard completion from Ward to Boston on third-and-24.

-- John O'Connor

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