Virginia defeats Richmond.(Daily Press)

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.

In the end, Richmond's players walked proudly off Scott Stadium's field to a standing ovation from their followers. The Spiders spoke of gaining respect, of how what just happened should give them the confidence to accomplish just about anything this season.

Just imagine the scene if UR had won. Just imagine if Virginia, which plays literally on a different level, can award 22 more scholarships and has recruited kids away from Notre Dame and Penn State hadn't gotten at least its share of breaks in a 17-16 victory Saturday afternoon.

"That's all part of it," Cavalier coach Al Groh said. "Constantly, people say to the coach, `Good luck, coach.' And I always say, `Hey, I'll take all I can get' because that's part of it."

It was on this day. Had Doug Kirchner's point-after attempt not sailed wide left by a few inches, UR (0-1) would have tied the game at 17 with 8 minutes, 50 seconds remaining. Had wideout Ryan Tolhurst not been stripped of the ball by Cavaliers cornerback Rashad Roberson at the end of a 37-yard gain, the Spiders would have had a first down at the Virginia 19 with less than five minutes remaining.

The truth is, and nobody in Virginia's locker room was denying it, Richmond came dangerously close to handing the Cavaliers a demoralizing defeat.

"If we would have lost this one," Virginia tailback Arlen Harris said, "we probably would have had to go back to Plan A."