Memorable game, but Richmond tops Elon in OT at new stadium

from www.elonphoenix.com:

RICHMOND, Va. – The first game in the history of Richmond’s Robins Stadium was a memorable one which featured two scores in the final two minutes and an overtime period. Unfortunately for seventh-ranked Elon, the ninth-rated Spiders scored overtime’s only points for a 27-21 victory. In the loss, Elon’s Aaron Mellette set a new program record with 18 receptions, surpassing the mark of 16 catches set by Terrell Hudgins on three separate occasions.

With the game tied at 14, the Richmond Spiders went 76 yards in 18 plays to take a 21-14 lead with just 1:41 left to play in the fourth quarter, but saw the Elon Phoenix march right back down the field and tie the game on an athletic grab by Mellette as time expired in regulation.

The Phoenix (1-2) got the ball to start the overtime period and lined up for a 37-yard field goal attempt by Adam Shreiner. The kick came out low and was blocked by Richmond’s Casey Cooley.

Richmond (1-1) took its overtime possession and gained nine yards on a Tyler Kirchoff run to move the ball to the Elon 16 on its first play. Kirchoff found the end zone on the next play, driving 16 yards for the rushing score to give the Spiders the victory.

“It was a very memorable football game,” stated Elon head coach Pete Lembo. “I’m just disappointed to be on the short side of it. I was really pleased with how we came out and scored early and set the tone and tried to quiet the crowd down a little bit. I thought we struggled a little bit on offense in the second half. We tried to create some momentum with the fake punt, but it wasn’t enough to get some more points on the board.”

The first drive in Robins Stadium resulted in an Elon touchdown after the Phoenix marched 80 yards on eight plays, seven of which were passes. Scott Riddle found Lance Camp for a 12-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. Riddle threw on the next five plays, completing each to move the ball down to the Richmond 25. A.J. Harris got the first carry of the game on the next play, gaining nine yards to the 16 before Riddle threaded a laser through multiple Spider defenders to Mellette for the score.