Richmond Times-Dispatch from Richmond, Virginia • C1

Looking back at -v PjWt JTI the day 1 pnotos SECTION SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2009 BACKPAGE Richmond Times-Dispatch Sports Editor: Steve Trosky (804) 649-6456 stroskytimesdispatch.com SPORTS, SECTION Richmond 16, Elon 13 fcs playoffs ISlJJUJ -V-fc" UR avoids Elon upset NEXT GAME: APPALACHIAN STATE AT III Inside, Page C4 Spiders very familiar with next opponent Notes, grading the keys and quick kicks. Inside the game See photo highlights from UR's win Mary. "We won so many close games Kke mat It's a mark of a realty 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 2 1-17 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 pass- atTimesDispelch.com. bywml: slideshow Miles blocks FG attempt on the final play to send Spiders to quarterfinals BY JOHN O'CONNOR Times-Dispatch Staff Writer 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 FJon'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 MARK GORMUST1MES-DBPATCH Richmond's Mike Poplaskl hoists Frank Howell (SI) as the team begins celebrating after a blocked field See SPIDERS, Page C4 goal attempt preserved Its 16-13 victory over Elon. No.

14 Virginia Tech 42, Virginia 13 commonwealth Cup 38, Weber SLO NEXT GAUL WILLIAM AND MARY ATSOUTHEBN LLJNOIS SxtM-day: Time TBA Psji Cfc Notes, grading the three keys for the Tribe and quick kicks. si fl if, Inside the game See photo highlights from the Tribe's victory at TimesOispatcti.com. slideshow Defense sparks victory Interception returns give momentum in win over Weber St Ikm si ig lop BY TIM PEARRELL Times-Dispatch Staff Writer WILLIAMSBURG Linebacker Jake Trantin saw blockers and potentially the end zone. Cornerback B.W. Webb saw open space and two very familiar fans his mother and father in the end zone.

Both happily made it to their destination. With Trantin and Webb returning interceptions for touchdowns, Wit-Ham and Mary's defense turned in another shut-down effort as the sixth-ranked Tribe blanked visiting and 15th-ranked Weber State yesterday in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. William and Mary (10-2) moved to next Saturday's quarterfinals to play at No. 3 seed Southern Illinois This was another exclamation point for the Tribe's nationally ranked defense, which intercepted four passes two by Webb and recovered a fumble. The key with this defense is stopping the run," said Trantin, a sophomore.

"You stop the run the way we do, you can make it a one-dimensional game. We've got a See TRIBE, Page C5 DEAN HOFFMEYERT1MES-DBPATCH Tech receiver Jarrett Boykln celebrates his fourth-quarter touchdown after recovering a fumble In the end zone. The time has finally come: Groh must go CHARLOTTESVILLE As Al Groh went through the excruciating detail and minutia of another loss, this one to archrival Virginia Tech, summing up another game in which his Virginia Cava-Kers were lacking in talent, depth and the ability to compete in the ACC, mm Hokies used turnover as starting point in beating the Cavaliers again BY DARRYL SLATER Times-Dispatch Staff Writer CHARLOTTESVILLE The ball fluttered toward Virginia tailback Mi-kell Simpson's hands as he reached back to catch quarterback Jameel SeweU's pitch. Later, Simpson would say that he ran too far ahead of Sewell on the option play, while Sewell would blame himself for flicking the ball too far behind Simpson. But the whys didn't matter in this moment with 6V2 minutes left in the third quarter, after which the Cavaliers' game against Virginia Tech would never be the same.

Only the hows. How the ball bounced off Simpson's bands, hit him in the face mask and fell to the grass. How Tech free safety Kam Chancellor scooped ft up, giving the Hokies possession at Virginia's 10-yard line. How the Hokies scored a touchdown two plays later, the first of 28 unanswered points, and won 42-13, continuing to dominate a series that barely resembles a rivalry anymore. "I think that play was that point See HOKIES, Page C2 one invisible elephant sat in the room.

Does Groh expect to coach again for Virginia? When the question was asked, Groh was prepared. PAUL DEAN HO FFMEYERTMES-DISPATCH Coach Al Groh has a record of 59-53 at the University of Virginia and Isjust 36-37 In the ACC. His record against Virginia Tech Is 1-8. He unfolded a piece of paper and began to read, not his resignation, but a poem, The Guy in the Glass" by Dale Wimbrow. The poem's meaning is simple: You have to be able to look yourself in the mirror and know you did your best, then hold your head high and be proud of your effort.

When you come to a football post-See WOODY, Page C2 Inside this section The Al Groh watch begins after yesterday's loss. Pip (3. Notes, grading the three keys and quick kicks. Pun C2-S JAMES H. WALLACETIM ES-DBPATCH 80 tasUe the rivalry See photo highlights from the Hokies-Cavaliers game at TknesDispatclLCom.

faywnl: slideshow William and Mary cornerback B.W. Webb pulls In one of his two Interceptions In a 38-0 victory over Weber State..