Richmond Howard: Bison’s Near-Upset Comeback Falls Short

Howard nearly pulled off one of Week 1’s biggest upsets. The Richmond Howard score reads 28-21, a comfortable final margin on paper. That number hides how it actually played out. Howard trailed No. 23 Richmond 20-0 at halftime Saturday, then spent the entire second half clawing back before finally falling short at Greene Stadium.

Richmond Controlled Every Minute of the First Half

Richmond’s dominance through 30 minutes was as complete as any first half in Week 1. The Spiders scored on three of their first four possessions, building a 20-0 lead behind a balanced attack. Quarterback Ashten Snelsire found freshman Bryce Allen for a 15-yard touchdown on Richmond’s opening drive. It continued a hot start to Allen’s college career, following a four-catch, two-touchdown debut the week before. Aziz Foster-Powell added a rushing score. Snelsire then connected with Quanye Veney for a 42-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, pushing the margin to 20.

The numbers behind that lead were even more lopsided than the score suggested. Richmond held Howard to just nine total yards of offense in the second quarter alone. The Bison didn’t convert a single third down before halftime, going 0-for-7 on the night’s most critical down. Richmond, by contrast, converted four of six third downs in the same stretch. Nothing about the first 30 minutes hinted at the fight Howard was about to show.

Howard’s Second-Half Surge Nearly Completes the Comeback

Richmond’s first possession of the third quarter went nowhere, and Howard capitalized immediately. A fumble in the end zone on Richmond’s next drive gave Howard a recovery. That turned into Howard’s first points of the day. The Bison defense followed with another stop, forcing a Richmond punt that Howard turned into an 84-yard touchdown drive. It cut the deficit to 20-14 with seven minutes left in the third quarter. The home crowd at Greene Stadium sensed a genuine upset building.

Richmond had an answer of its own. Special teams flipped field position when Howard muffed a 44-yard punt. Richmond needed just two plays to cash in, connecting with tight end Sean Clarke for a 29-yard touchdown. The Spiders converted the two-point try to push the lead back to two scores at 28-14. Even that wasn’t enough to shake Howard loose. Running back Billy Roberson II capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. That pulled the Bison within 28-21 with 11:35 remaining, the closest Howard had been to Richmond since the opening quarter.

A Missed Field Goal and a Late Stand Seal It for Richmond

Howard’s defense gave its offense one more chance in the fourth quarter, forcing a Richmond punt that flipped field position again. The Bison moved into scoring range on completions to Allen and Veney. A 32-yard field goal attempt sailed wide with 4:15 remaining, and the door that had been cracking open all night finally shut. Richmond’s defense closed out the win from there. Daniel Sellers sacked quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins for an 11-yard loss on third down, forcing Howard’s final punt with two minutes left. Jamaal Brown’s 18-yard run on third-and-11 then let Snelsire kneel out the clock.

The final numbers tell a story of two very different halves. Richmond finished with 300 total yards to Howard’s 240. Howard actually out-rushed the Spiders 131 yards to 39 and nearly matched Richmond in first downs, 14 to 17, closer than the score suggested. Richmond’s defense recorded four sacks, six tackles for loss, and forced two turnovers. Those numbers made Howard’s second-half rally even more impressive given how thoroughly the Bison had been outplayed early.

What the Richmond Howard Near-Miss Means for the Bison

For Howard and second-year coach Ted White, this loss says more about the program’s direction than the final score suggests. Coming off a signature debut win over Alabama A&M in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Howard faced a ranked FCS opponent. The Bison came within one defensive stand of pulling off a road upset that would have been the story of the weekend nationally. A 20-point halftime deficit against a Patriot League power is the kind of hole that ends most games quietly. Howard’s response said otherwise. An 84-yard touchdown drive, followed by a 14-play grind that chewed nearly six minutes off the clock, showed real composure. That kind of poise doesn’t always show up in young programs still building an identity under a new staff.

Richmond Moves to 2-0 Despite the Late Scare

For Richmond, the win extends the Spiders’ best start since 2021. It also improves their all-time record against Howard to 4-0. Head coach Russ Huesman credited his team’s ability to fight through what he called tough conditions. The defense’s late-game execution, four sacks and a game-sealing series of stops, ultimately made the difference. Richmond travels to face NC State next. That’s a step up in competition that will test whether Saturday’s slow third quarter was an aberration or a real warning sign.

Both teams walk away from Greene Stadium with something to build on. Richmond banked a win despite nearly blowing a 20-point lead. Howard proved it can hang with a ranked opponent even after falling behind by three touchdowns. How each program carries that forward will shape how this Richmond Howard result gets remembered by the time conference play begins.