Richmond Times-Dispatch from Richmond, Virginia • C1

Soorts SUNDAY October 18, 2009 TlmesDtepatcFLCom Richmond Times-Dispatch Sports Editor: Steve Trosky (804)649-6456 stroskytimesdispatch.com Richmond better by a half III SB, MAINE 21 0mm: UMass at UR Saturday, 3:30 p.m. 6Villanovashuts out host JMU. which ran for 252 yards, held the Black Bears (2-2, 3-4) to minus-2 rushing yards, making Maine one-dimensional (58 passing attempts). "We pride ourselves on stopping teams from running the ball on us," said UR defensive tackle Martin Parker. "Pass? OK, let's go.

You don't have to worry about taking the technique steps to get into your rush lanes. All you've got to do is worry Spiders coach Mike London said his team needed to play better and he needed to coach better in the second half. Online Read John O'Connor's UR blog at TimesDispatch. NASCAB BANKING 500 Chase for the Sprint Cup Johnson boosts margin with win Third Chase-race win ends four-year drought at Lowe's Spiders control last two quarters en route to victory From Staff Reports University of Richmond coach Mike London called it a "gut check," the halftime predicament in which the Spiders found themselves yesterday at Maine. On homecoming, the Black Bears led 14-10 at the We bad to make better calls," London said.

"It's bard to win a game on the road when you don't come out and kind of get after them." The Spiders responded with authoritative running, a defense that prohibited Maine from moving the ball on the ground, and a 90-yard touchdown punt return by Derek Hatcher that gave UR momentum in a 38-21 Colonial Athletic Association win at Alfond Stadium. Richmond (4-0, 6-0), break. UR quarterback Eric Ward bad been rushed hard, and the Spiders hadn't established a running game. Maine went 77 yards on eight plays to score a touchdown just before intermission. "I bad to coach better.

Players bad to play better. See SPIDERS, Page C9 sports blog No. 19 Georgia Tech 28, No. 4 Virginia Tech 23 FdMO0 a Yellow Jackets' option attack sinks Hokies' national-title hopes From Wire Reports CONCORD, N.C Jimmie Johnson raced to his third victory in the Chase for the Sprint Cup last night to widen bis lead in the championship standings. Johnson held off Hendrick Mo-torsports teammate Jeff Gordon on a handful of late restarts last night in a 500-lap race for his sixth career victory at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Although he's long dominated at the track, the win was the Lowe's-sponsored driver's first since 2005. It came at the perfect time for Johnson, who extended bis lead over Mark Martin, another teammate, to 90 as they head next week to Martinsville Speedway. Johnson has won five of the past six races at Martinsville. Matt Kenseth was second, followed by Kasey Kahne, Gordon and rookie Joey Logano. Former Chesterfield native Denny Hamlin's night was ruined by an engine problem that led to a 42nd-place finish after he had led 53 laps early in the race.

He went to the garage shortly after the halfway point when his motor began to sputter. After looking under the hood, his team called it a night The result left him 11th in the Chase standings, 372 points behind Johnson. Seeking a record fourth straight Cup championship, Johnson led every practice session and won the pole to complete yet another dominating run at Lowe's. He has been the driver to beat at the suburban See CHASE, Page C3 Chase standings (with live Cup races remaining) 1. Jimmie Johnson 5,923 2.

Mark Martin -90 3. Jeff Gordon -135 4. Tony Stewart -155 5. KurtBusch -177 6. Juan Montoya -195 7.

GregBlffie -268 8. Ryan Newman -288 9. Kasey Kahne -331 10. Carl Edwards -341 H. Denny Hamlin -372 12.

Brian Victors -485 JOHN BAZEMORETHE ASSOCIATED PRESS HoUes QB Tyrod Taylor shows his disappointment alter they failed on a two-point conversion try In the fourth quarter. UNCaTVIMMIaTEGH tet 2t: 7:30 p.m., ESPN Hokies corner Read Darryl Slater's Tech blog at TimesDispatch.com. and muddled the ACC's Coastal Division standings. The fourth-ranked Hokies limited the 19th-ranked Jackets in the first half, but Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson adjusted his blocking plan for the second half, and his team responded with second-half touchdown drives of 60, 86 and 75 yards. The last march ended with Nesbitt's touchdown run and a 28-16 lead with 3 minutes remaining.

In the first half, after which the Jackets led 7-3, they ran 21 times for 37 yards. But their 21 third-quarter carries gained 157 yards, and they added 115 more rushing yards in the fourth. They frustrated Virginia Tech's players and coaches by holding the ball for 2228 of 30 minutes in the second half to prevent the Hokies from getting a leg up in the Coastal as they chase a third consecutive conference championship. "It really was making you mad," said Tech linebacker Bar-quell Rivers, "because you wanted to get off the field, but they kept driving the ball and we were getting tired." See HOKIES, Page C8 BY DARRYL SLATER Times-Dispatch Staff Writer ATLANTA Virginia Tech's defensive coordinator, Bud Foster, watched Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt run left, up the sideline and toward the end zone, each of his strides almost certainly extinguishing the Hokies' aspirations of playing for a national championship. When Nesbitt tip-toed into the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown, Foster looked down at bis feet and threw up his bands.

His sports blog defense had few answers in the second half last night for the Yellow Jackets' option-based offense, as Georgia Tech won 28-23 at Bobby Dodd Stadium Defense saves the day U.Va,20,IUIYIAND9 Hut gam: Ga. Tech at U.Va. What Saturday, noon Licky and good Columnist Paul Woody says U.Va. has found a winning combination. Pm 17 THE ASSOCIATED RESS ever run 31 yards before.

He tried to glance at the video board to see where the defenders were, but quickly turned bis focus back to the pylon and to protecting the ball after Rodney McLeod yelled at him. Collins held off a strip attempt, and tried to find enough gas in the tank to celebrate. "IVe probably never been so tired in my life," he said. "I was like, 1 just gotta get in It was a defensive effort that won the game, bailing out a Virginia offensive line that allowed Jameel Sewell to get sacked five times and failed to score a touchdown See CAVALIERS, Page C7 Interception keys win; U.Va. offense struggles again BY MICHAEL PHILUPS Times-Dispatch Staff Writer COLLEGE PARK, Md.

The field was a mess, waterlogged to the point where every step created a small puddle. But defensive line coach Chad Wilt didn't have to worry about that he got a celebratory lift to the locker room courtesy of Nate Collins. The two bad plenty to cheer about, as Collins returned an interception for the winning score in a 204 A bad start Angels pitcher Joe Saunders can only look on as borne run sails over the wall in Game 2 of the American League Qiampionship Series. The game went to extra irmingB with the score tied at 2, and it ended after pre88 time. Go to Times-Dispatchxom for the result and a complete game report Virginia victory, then sacked Maryland quarterback Chris Turner late to seal the Hoos' third consecutive victory.

The decisive interception return was made possible by a Darren Quids tip, with the play call designed to create exactly that What happened next was spontaneous, though, as Collins grabbed the ball and ran harder than he'd THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Maryland running back Davln Meggett (8) loses the ball, which was recovered by U.Va., In the first half of their ACC game. 1.