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Penguins Fall in Playoffs to Richmond, 10-3

Richmond, Va. -- Richmond scored 10 points in less than two minutes late in the fourth quarter to rally for a 10-3 victory over Youngstown State on a wet and cold Saturday afternoon at UR Stadium in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs.

The Penguins, who end the season with a 9-3 mark, led 3-0 after the third quarter, but the Spiders (10-2) got a 24-yard field goal from Doug Kirchner and a 44-yard interception return by Jason Hill in a 1:25 span to hand YSU its first first-round postseason defeat since 1990.

The win was Richmond's first in the playoffs since 1984.

The contest was dictated by tough defense and a cold rain that fell throughout the game. Both teams combined for just 17 first downs, 21 passing attempts, 17 punts and 390 total yards in the downpour. In a scoreless first half, the two teams combined for eight first downs, 11 punts and 175 total yards.

YSU took the lead with 9:50 remaining in the third quarter on a 24-yard field goal by Jake Stewart. The big play on the drive came when quarterback Jeff Ryan hit Sean Guerriero for a 58-yard gain on third down.

Richmond rallied to tie the game at three on a 24-yard field goal by Doug Kirchner with 2:47 remaining in the game. The Spiders moved the ball 71 yards in 18 plays and took 9:24 off the clock in the fourth quarter.

After the field goal, YSU picked up a first down at its 37-yard line when Ryan hit Jerald Burley on a 13-yard pass. On the next play, Ryan threw a ball towards the sideline that Hill picked off and returned 44 yards for the game-deciding score.

In a last-ditch comeback effort, Ryan's final pass of the game was intercepted by Harold Hill with 32 seconds left. For the game, Ryan completed 7-of-14 passes for 95 yards. He rushed for 50 yards on 21 attempts and was sacked twice.

With the victory, Richmond advances to play Montana next Saturday in the quarterfinals. Quarterback D'Arcy Wills had 77 yards rushing on 14 carries for the Spiders.

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