BUIES CREEK – Brandon Peskin's 36-yard field goal with one second remaining lifted No. 13 Richmond over Campbell 27-24 Saturday afternoon at Barker-Lane Stadium, spoiling the Camels' latest upset bid.
Richmond (8-2, 6-0 CAA) trailed for much of the contest before mounting a decisive late-game drive, covering 45 yards in 11 plays to set up Peskin's game-winner. The victory came despite Campbell's impressive 273-yard rushing performance, a season-best for the Camels (3-7, 1-5 CAA).
The drama peaked in the final two minutes. After Campbell's Brandon Guzman intercepted Richmond quarterback Camden Coleman with 3:46 remaining, the Camels advanced to the Spider 35-yard line but failed to convert on fourth down. Coleman, who finished with 252 passing yards and two touchdowns, then engineered the winning drive by completing four of five passes and rushing for 27 yards to position Peskin for the decisive kick.
Campbell controlled the early stages, taking a 7-0 lead when Mike Chandler II capped a 91-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Richmond responded early in the second quarter as Coleman connected with Nick DeGennaro on a 40-yard touchdown pass to level the score.
The momentum shifted immediately back to Campbell when Randall King returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, marking the Camels' first kickoff return score since 2018. Connor Lytton's 40-yard field goal as time expired in the first half gave Campbell a 17-7 advantage.
Richmond rallied in the third quarter. Zach Palmer-Smith's 1-yard touchdown run cut the deficit to 17-14, and Peskin's first field goal of the day, from 36 yards, tied the game at 17 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Camels reclaimed the lead when Chandler II, who rushed for a season-high 121 yards, found Sincere Brown for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Brown's catch was his 11th touchdown reception of the season, establishing a new Campbell single-season record.
Richmond answered with a methodical 12-play, 76-yard drive, culminating in Coleman's 9-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Vion Griffin that tied the game at 24 with 4:45 remaining.
Landon Ellis led Richmond's receiving corps with seven catches for 101 yards, while Campbell's ground attack featured strong contributions from JJ Cowan, who added 82 yards on 12 carries.
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| Photo Credit: Bennett Scarborough |
Defensively, Richmond's Matthew Traynor led all players with 12 tackles, including two for loss, and intercepted a pass. Campbell's Cornelius Davis recorded nine tackles, and Jalen Brooks registered eight stops with the game's only sack.
The victory keeps Richmond unbeaten in CAA play. Campbell will finish its 2024 season with a road game at Delaware next Saturday before hosting Towson on November 23.
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