Live Blog: Richmond at William & Mary

4th Quarter, 0:00- Very similar to last week, Graham's pass is intercepted in the end zone on the game's final play by Reggie Barnette. Richmond survives with the win, 21-14.

4th Quarter, 0:02- Dumb play by W&M, as a short completion stays in bounds and allows the clock to run down.

4th Quarter, 0:19- Quick completion to Jones gets the Tribe to the UR 46.

4th Quarter, 0:27- Hicks's punt is downed at the W&M 44-yard line. The Tribe have no timeouts.

4th Quarter, 1:17- Gaskins fails to pick up the first down on 3rd and 4, and UR will have to punt the ball away with about 30 seconds remaining. This seems familiar.

4th Quarter, 1:38- Richmond defense comes up huge, as Graham's toss into the end zone falls incomplete into triple coverage. UR takes over at its own 11 and just needs to run out the clock. W&M has two timeouts left.

4th Quarter, 1:43- Wynn again with the big play, nearly sacking Graham, forcing him to just throw it away, bringing up 4th and 10.

4th Quarter, 1:51- Great play by Kerry Wynn on 2nd down. Graham tried to run it and had room in front of him, but Wynn caught him from behind to drop him for no gain. Big play coming up as the Tribe face a 3rd and 10. Probably 4-down territory for W&M this late in the game though.

4th Quarter, 3:13- Jones, a Tribe tailback who's not even listed on the depth chart, is making a big impact on this game. He rushes for another first down to the UR 11.

4th Quarter, 4:09- Meltoya Jones with a long reception to the UR 23. UR's defense needs to come up with a big stop here to regain momentum.

4th Quarter, 5:00- Strauss throws incomplete to Barnette on third, and Richmond is forced to punt it back to the Tribe. Another block-the-back penalty on Richmond gives W&M good field position at the UR 46.

4th Quarter, 5:42- Strauss is taken down in the backfield for a big sack by W&M's Dante Cook, bringing up a 3rd and 18.

4th Quarter, 7:02- On 3rd and 1, Strauss takes it himself, picking up the first down on a short run to the UR 36.

4th Quarter, 9:15- On 3rd down, a short slant to Edwards gets UR the first down. Ball is at the UR 23. Edwards is making a lot of short receptions today.

4th Quarter, 9:49- Strauss completes to Sam Roller near the first down, but it brings up a 3rd and 1.

4th Quarter, 10:30- Jacobi Green takes back the kickoff all the way to the W&M 36, but there's a bunch of flags on the play, three illegal block-in-the-backs the ref explains. Richmond will start its drive at its own 6 as the W&M crowd is getting loud.

4th Quarter, 10:41- And the Tribe are officially back in this game, as Graham finds tight end Bo Revell wide open for the 20-yard touchdown. W&M cut the Richmond lead to one score, 21-14.

4th Quarter, 12:29- As it did last week with Delaware, the interception gives the Tribe new life in this game, which Richmond has been firmly in control of up to this point.

4th Quarter, 13:17- On 3rd and 4, Strauss looks confused and throws a wobbly pass into a crowd of Tribe defenders. The ball is batted up into the air and intercepted. W&M takes over at the UR 44. Poor decision by the sophomore quarterback there.

4th Quarter, 14:53- Gaskins opens up the quarter with a 10-yard run for a first down. He's looking stronger and stronger. Expect Rocco to start feeding him the ball more.

3rd Quarter, 0:00- Richmond defense, aided by a penalty forces another punt on 3rd and 10 near midfield. The clock runs out on the third quarter as the punt bounces down to the UR 8. If Richmond can string together a long scoring drive to begin the fourth, it can put the game away.

3rd Quarter, 2:20- Graham with a nice pass over the outstretched arms of safety Doug Howell for the first down out to the W&M 45. Howell misjudged that throw; he was going for the interception.

3rd Quarter, 3:14- Strauss's pass in incomplete on 3rd and 14, and Hinshaw is brought on to attempt the field goal. His kick is blocked, and W&M takes over at its own 22. Disappointing for Richmond not to come away with points on that one.

3rd Quarter, 5:39- Rocco clearly saw something in the game tapes that made him think the bubble screen to Edwards was going to work. That's about the sixth time I think they've run it. This time, it goes for a first down to the W&M 18.

3rd Quarter, 6:18- Gaskins finds a big hole on first down, and runs for a big gain down the sideline to the W&M 32. On the next play, he finds another hole up the middle and goes all the way into the end zone for the touchdown, but holding is called on the play.

3rd Quarter, 6:50- Spider D proving too good right now for the Tribe, as W&M has another three-and-out. W&M punter kicks it from his own end zone, and Edwards makes the fair catch at the W&M 42. Holding on Richmond backs the ball up to the UR 48.

3rd Quarter, 8:15- Dominique Miller makes the catch on 3rd down, but runs backwards and likely lost the first down. Hicks is brought out to punt, and it's fair caught at the W&M 11.

3rd Quarter, 9:13- Towson game has gone final, as the Tigers defeat NHU, 64-35.

3rd Quarter, 9:49- Defense forces a three-and-out and W&M punt. Edwards tries to find some room on the return, but loses yards. Richmond comes back out on offense at its own 47.

3rd Quarter, 11:28- Illegal block in the back penalty on the punt return backs the Tribe up to its own 9 to begin the drive.

3rd Quarter, 11:43- Strauss tries to go deep to Ponder, but there's good coverage on the play, bringing up a 3rd and 10. On 3rd Strauss looks for Finney but there's a miscommunication and the ball is nowhere near him.

3rd Quarter, 12:41- Taylor nearly intercepts the pass over the middle on 3rd and 8. The punt is fair caught by Edwards on the UR 25.

3rd Quarter, 14:28- Tribe at its own 44 following a long pass completion near the Richmond sideline.

3rd Quarter, 15:00- Second half is underway, and Richmond's kickoff goes into the end zone for the touchback. W&M will start at its own 25.

Halftime- Now for some analysis: Rocco's got to be happy with that half. All three units made plays, with the special teams possibly being the most impressive unit with the two fumble recoveries, one for a touchdown, big return and made extra points. The defense is bending, but not breaking, giving up the one long drive, but mostly making plays when it needs them. Strauss is proving he can play on the road, and Gaskins is proving he can be this team's workhorse back. Towson's inevitable victory is going to hurt Richmond's playoff chances, but I'll say this, if this team does make it into the playoffs, no one will want to face the Spiders in the first round. This is a group playing its best football heading into the postseason, and it is showing the potential not many thought it had before the season began. Look for Richmond to come out just as strong in the second half; Rocco knows the importance of this game and W&M won't go away easy, so he won't let his team take a breath here.

Halftime- Here's some important stats for you: Strauss (18-25, 159 yds, TD), Edwards (7 catches for 54 yds), Gaskins (2 TD's, 1 rushing, 1 receiving), Graham (8-17, 80 yds, TD), Tribe edging Spiders in rushing yards, 85-33; Spiders own edge in passing yards, 159-80.

Halftime- More bad news coming from New Hampshire, where the Wildcats are getting blown out now by Towson, 57-28. NHU is scoreless in the second half with about 8 minutes remaining. That's just going to further cloud the playoff picture.

2nd Quarter, 0:00- Hinshaw's kick is long enough, but wide right, sending the game to halftime with the Spiders ahead, 21-7. I'll have some important half time stats and analysis for you as usual shortly.

2nd Quarter, 0:02- W&M calls its last timeout now, attempting to "ice the kicker."

2nd Quarter, 0:02- Strauss to Edwards nets Richmond about five yards, and the Spiders call a timeout to bring Hinshaw out for the long field goal attempt.

2nd Quarter, 0:13- Squib kick is picked up by what looked like a W&M lineman, and he tries to run with it, but he's hit and fumbles. The ball is picked up by Richmond's Sean Ryan at the W&M 30. Not much time here to get in field goal range for Hinshaw though.

2nd Quarter, 0:20- Another touchdown for Gaskins, this time on a 7-yard catch. He ran over three Tribe defenders into the end zone on that score. Hinshaw makes it 3/3 today, and Richmond pads its lead, 21-7.

2nd Quarter, 0:25- Ponder with another first down catch. The Tribe are leaving him wide open. First and goal from the 7.

2nd Quarter, 0:49- Consecutive completions to Ponder give Richmond another first down to the W&M 23. A touchdown here right before the half would be huge for UR.

2nd Quarter, 0:59- Gaskins just picks up the first down to the W&M 39.

2nd Quarter, 1:18- Strauss tries to run for the first down on third, but is stopped just short. Richmond lines up to go for it, but W&M calls a timeout to talk things over.

2nd Quarter, 1:53- I officially take back my prediction that the Tribe would shut down Edwards; he's just too good and too involved in this offense.

2nd Quarter, 2:05- Edwards takes the rare kickoff return, and he makes the most of it, finding a hole, and getting the ball all the way to midfield.

2nd Quarter, 2:12- Touchdown William & Mary, as Graham hits Ballard on a slant, and Ballard just outruns his defender for the 27-yard score. Tribe cut the Richmond lead to 14-7.

2nd Quarter, 2:18- Graham continuing to test the defensive backs with deep throws. Nothing's working for the Tribe there yet though.

2nd Quarter, 2:47- McBride with a big run to the UR 27. He stiff armed 3 Spiders on the run.

2nd Quarter, 2:58- Graham is pretty hit or miss with his accuracy. He's mostly only hitting wide open receivers when he's picking up completions.

2nd Quarter, 3:29- Tribe pick up another first down on a clever slip screen to McBride. Ball is at the Tribe's 43.

2nd Quarter, 3:56- Sean Ballard makes the reception on 3rd down to pick up a first out to the W&M 32.

2nd Quarter, 5:11- Holmes makes the special teams tackle after the Hicks punt. W&M takes over at its own 16.

2nd Quarter, 5:40- Great move by Edwards after the catch, spinning away from a tackler just as his feet hit the ground. Not enough for the first down though, bringing up a 3rd and 1, which Gaskins is unable to pick up.

2nd Quarter, 7:42- Finney with another first down catch, this one out to the UR 40. Towson has extended its lead to 43-28 over UNH late in the third quarter. Bad news for UR.

2nd Quarter, 8:31- This defense is stepping up to occasion now, forcing another 3-and-out. Tribe get the punt away this time, and the kick bounces down to the UR 27.

2nd Quarter, 9:31- Richmond is making Graham uncomfortable in the pocket, chasing him around all over the place.

2nd Quarter, 9:38- Big hit at the end of that kickoff return by UR's David Herlocher. W&M will begin its next drive from its own 26.

2nd Quarter, 9:43- Pass is incomplete on 3rd down, and W&M goes to punt from its own end zone, but the snap is bobbled and fumbled. Richmond recovers for the touchdown. DeShawn Holmes is the Spider that came up with the ball. Hinshaw's kick is good, and the Spiders extend their lead, 14-0.

2nd Quarter, 10:21- Taylor makes a good play in the backfield for a big loss, bringing up a 3rd and 18.

2nd Quarter, 11:24- Good play by W&M defender to break up a pass to Ponder on 3rd and 8, forcing the Richmond punt, which is fair caught at the Tribe's own 12.

2nd Quarter, 12:34- Roughing the passer penalty pushes the Spiders past midfield.

2nd Quarter, 12:44- An Edwards catch and run and Gaskins run combine to give UR a first down, and then Strauss hits a wide open Barnette for another first down near the opposing sideline. Ball is at the UR 38.

2nd Quarter, 14:11- Richmond D stands strong on 3rd and 16, stopping the Tribe for a minimal gain. W&M punts it away short and the ball hits a Tribe player at the UR 13, which is where the Spiders will begin their next drive.

1st Quarter, 0:00- W&M fumbles the snap, picks it up, but gets dropped for a loss by Roane, and the clock runs out on the first quarter. The Tribe will face a 2nd and 16. After one, Richmond leads, 7-0.

1st Quarter, 0:32- Graham finds McBride through the air on 3rd and 3 for the first down to the UR 40.

1st Quarter, 1:09- McBride finding some success running the ball in the early going, something Richmond has been good at defending recently.

1st Quarter, 2:07- Incomplete to Edwards on 3rd and 8. It wouldn't have been a first down even if he caught it though. Richmond's punt from the end zone is nearly blocked, but Hicks gets it off and the ball rolls just past midfield to the W&M 48.

1st Quarter, 2:11- Scary moment for UR on second down, as Strauss's throw gets tipped straight up into the air at the line of scrimmage, but it finds its way to the turf.

1st Quarter, 2:51- W&M tries to run it with McBride, and he's stopped short for a big turnover on downs. Richmond takes over at its own 1.

1st Quarter, 3:03- On 3rd and 5, W&M tries to run for it, but only picks up 4, bringing up a 4th and 1. I expect this team, without anything to lose, to go for it.

1st Quarter, 3:22- Aaron Roane nearly gets the interception on 2nd and 5. The turnovers have bailed out this defense all season.

1st Quarter, 4:29- Graham's mobility proving to be a problem for UR on this drive, as he breaks away from a few defenders behind the line and finds a wide open tight end for another big gain. That plus a penalty of Richmond has the Tribe at the UR 11.

1st Quarter, 5:48- New Hampshire cuts its deficit to 30-28 at halftime against Towson. The Tribe run for another first down to the UR 39.

1st Quarter, 6:16- On 3rd and 11, Graham breaks contain and runs for the first down out to midfield.

1st Quarter, 7:09- Less talked about is how much the special teams coverage units have improved for the Spiders as the season has gone on. I remember they were giving up big returns consistently in the beginning of the year.

1st Quarter, 8:08- W&M picks up some nice yards out to its own 39 for a first down on a wide receiver end around rush.

1st Quarter, 8:27- The Tribe will begin their first drive from their own 19 following the kickoff.

1st Quarter, 8:32- On 3rd and goal from the 1-yard line, Gaskins will not be denied, running over a Tribe defender into the end zone for the touchdown. Hinshaw continues his good extra point work from last week, and the Spiders take the early lead, 7-0.

Last regular season press box meal. The tradition continues.

1st Quarter, 10:17- Richmond running plays specifically to get the ball in Edwards's hands early. They're moving him away from Webb, who I talked about in my preview.

1st Quarter, 11:05- Strauss again comes through on 3rd down, this time to Barnette all the way to the W&M14. Strauss has grown significantly as a passer since preseason.

1st Quarter, 12:41- On 3rd and 6, Strauss finds Finney past the marker for another first down across midfield.

1st Quarter, 14:13- Strauss to Edwards on second down picks up a first down out to the UR 40.

1st Quarter, 14:59- We're officially underway, as the Spiders receive first and take a touchback. Strauss and the offense will begin on their own 25.

Pregame- Just got official word that senior quarterback John Laub is available for today's game and will serve as Strauss's backup. He's been out with an injury since the UNH game. I don't think anyone will question Rocco's decision to keep Strauss as starter with as well as he's played, but I expect we'll see Laub take some Wildcat snaps today instead of Cooper Taylor or Kendall Gaskins. Good to know he won't just be an observer for possibly his last collegiate football game.

Pregame- Checking the early scores, not looking good for Richmond in New Hampshire, where Towson is beating the Wildcats, 30-20, approaching half time. The thought going into the playoff selection process is that the CAA will probably only get three teams, and UNH and ODU are thought to be the locks. Richmond, Villanova, JMU and Towson are fighting for the other potential spot.

Pregame- Welcome to Williamsburg, Va., where the Spiders are set to play its regular season finale against William & Mary. Beautiful weather here. Very interesting stadium and press box too. Today's game is big for a few reasons. First and foremost is the playoff implications. If Richmond wins, it should be in the playoffs, though there are some questions with the large amount of bubble teams. I'll be following some other big CAA games today to see potential scores affecting that possibility. This game is also the "Oldest Rivalry in the South." You can read all about this and more in my full GAME PREVIEW.