Fordham’s late drive and interception hand Richmond its first Patriot loss

Richmond’s defense gave the Spiders a second-half lead with an end-zone fumble recovery, but Fordham scored the final 13 points and intercepted the attempted answer to win 20–14 Saturday.

Gunnar Smith’s five-yard touchdown run finished a 12-play, 62-yard drive with 2:23 remaining. Fordham missed the extra point, leaving Richmond a chance to win with a touchdown and conversion. The Spiders advanced from their own 25 to the 46 before Boogie Owens intercepted Ashten Snelsire with 1:11 left. Fordham gained another first down and ran out the clock.

The winning drive followed Richmond’s own opportunity to take control. A ten-play possession reached Fordham’s 36, but Snelsire was sacked on fourth-and-eight with 8:10 remaining. Fordham’s next possession used 5:47 and ended with Smith’s winning run.

Richmond’s strongest defensive sequence had come earlier in the third quarter. Camden Byrd sacked Smith in the end zone and forced the fumble Jordan Allen recovered for a touchdown, putting the Spiders ahead 14–7. It was Richmond’s first defensive touchdown of the season and the 25th sack of Byrd’s career, tying him for second in program history.

Allen also intercepted Smith after Fordham recovered an Aziz Foster-Powell fumble at Richmond’s 18. That stop prevented an immediate answer, but Jamell James eventually tied the game on a two-yard touchdown run to finish a five-play, 50-yard drive.

The teams had reached halftime level at 7–7. Smith’s ten-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Gonzalez II opened the scoring. Richmond replied with a 14-play, 86-yard drive lasting 8:31, finished by Snelsire’s six-yard pass to Bryce Allen early in the second quarter.

The Spiders forced three turnovers and limited Fordham to 98 passing yards, but managed only 204 total yards themselves. Snelsire completed 24 of 39 passes for 122 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Foster-Powell rushed for 68 yards on 12 carries, and Sean Clarke led the receivers with six catches for 34 yards.

Richmond fell to 5–2 with its first Patriot League defeat. After a bye, the Spiders host Colgate for homecoming on October 24 at 2 p.m. Eastern.