Dec. 23, 2008

By Nate Crossman
Special to NCAA.com

Richmond senior defensive end Lawrence Sidbury perfectly described his team's defensive play in its 24-7 win over Montana in Friday's NCAA Division I Football national championship at Chattanooga's Finley Stadium, the first national championship of any kind for the Spiders' athletic program.

"We did nothing special," Sidbury said. "We just did what we were coached to do. We were able to get pressure on them."

Facing a Montana team with a vaunted offensive line and running back in Chase Reynolds, who entered the championship averaging 180 yards per game in the playoffs, Richmond's defenders simply executed the same defensive strategy they had all season, which was to be faster than the other team.

First, the Spiders' defensive tackles and linebackers shut down the Grizzlies' running game, allowing only 39 yards rushing on 25 carries. Next, the defensive ends diffused the passing game by sacking quarterbacks Cole Bergquist and Andrew Selle seven times, including four by Sidbury. Montana's pocket collapsed so quickly under the pressure of Sidbury and redshirt junior Pierre Turner that Bergquist and Selle had time for only one or two reads.

"They did a really nice job doing to us what we've been doing to people we've played lately," Montana coach Bobby Hauck said. "They gave great effort. They got out to a good start and held on. They played great defense and didn't let us back in the game."

Montana finished with 306 yards of offense, which are approximately 30 more than Richmond's 10th-ranked defense allowed per game. But most of those yards came in the second half, when the Grizzlies were already behind by three touchdowns. Montana only had the ball four times in the first half, with those possessions resulting in a missed field goal, two punts and a lost fumble.

"We picked a really bad day not to show up," Montana safety Colt Anderson said.

Almost as impressive as Richmond's defense was senior running back Josh Vaughan, who rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, giving him 1,408 yards in the 10 games since being benched against Virginia Military Institute. Vaughan pounded the Grizzlies' defense with his 6-foot, 232-pound frame, a performance that no doubt bolstered his NFL prospects, and increased the likelihood that he'll follow in the footsteps of Arizona Cardinals running back Tim Hightower, who played for the Spiders last year.

Laughs All Around

Every team has a trick play that they practice throughout the season. Richmond's was a pitch to fullback John Crone, who feigned as if he was sweeping to the right, only to throw back left to quarterback Eric Ward. Although he'd practiced it dozens of times, Crone never believed it would make it into a game. So when head coach Mike London called it on third-and-2 at Montana's 23-yard line, with nine minutes to play in the first quarter, Crone couldn't hold in his enthusiasm.

"I began giggling when it was called, because I never thought we would run it," Crone said. "It happened in slow motion, and when I saw him open, I knew I had to hit him or I'd never hear the end of it."

Crone hit Ward in stride, and he walked into the end zone to give his team a 7-0 lead.

"There's nobody assigned to the quarterback," Hauck said to the Great Falls (Montana) Tribune. "I guess the end could take him if he sniffs it out."

Mariani Stakes Claim

One of the lone bright spots for Montana was the play of junior wide receiver Marc Mariani. Mariani caught seven passes for 172 yards, including a diving, 43-yard reception in the game's first series. Mariani will enter next year as one of the top returning receivers in the FCS, after catching 69 passes for 1,308 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was also one of the best punt returners in the FCS, averaging 16.2 yards per return.

Business Trip

Russ Huesman liked Chattanooga so much that he decided to stay. Huesman, who served as Richmond's defensive coordinator for the last five years, was introduced Monday as the new University of Tennessee at Chattanooga head coach. Huesman, who graduated from Chattanooga in 1982, takes over a Moccasins team that went 1-11 this season, including 0-8 in the Southern Conference.

"This is a goal I have been working towards my entire career," Huesman said. "It could not have happened at a better place and I will do everything I can to make Chattanooga a successful college football team. I cannot wait to get started on building the Mocs into a winning program that all of Chattanooga can be proud of."

Huesman was the main architect of the Spiders defense, which ranked 10th in the FCS in total defense. He also coached at Memphis and William & Mary.

Award Time

Despite playing hurt for part of the regular season and playoffs, Appalachian State junior quarterback Armanti Edwards proved enough while he was healthy to earn this season's Walter Payton Award, given to the FCS' top player.

Eastern Washington senior defensive end Greg Peach earned the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the FCS' top defensive player.

James Madison senior quarterback Rodney Landers was Edwards' closest competition for the award on the field, but finished a distance second in the voting. Landers received 17 first-place votes, to Edwards' 53. Western Illinois senior running back Herb Donaldson finished third, while Cal Poly senior receiver Ramses Barden placed fourth. Edwards is the sixth underclassmen to win the award and first from Appalachian State.

Although the Mountaineers failed to win their fourth consecutive Division I national championship, falling in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Richmond, Edwards' statistics were overwhelming.

He threw for 2,902 yards and 30 touchdowns, and rushed for 941 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 41 touchdowns were a Southern Conference record. In 224 passing attempts, he threw only two interceptions, including a streak of 176 passes without an interception.

Peach won by the widest margin in Buchanan history, earning 39 first-place votes to Maine senior defensive end Jovan Belcher's 15. Peach led the FCS in sacks (1.64 per game, 18 overall) and tackles for a loss (2.05, 22.5), and set school records for single-season and career sacks (35.5). Appalachian State senior defensive back Mark LeGree finished third.

Extra Points

LSU co-defensive coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto was named Northwestern State's new head coach last Thursday, but will still coach LSU in its Chik-Fil-A Bowl match-up against Georgia Tech. Peveto served as defensive coordinator at Northwestern State from 1996-1998...The University of Texas at San Antonio Board of Regents approved an athletics-based business plan last week that gives the school permission to add football. UTSA wants to compete in the FCS.