Richmond captures FCS crown

After a 4-3 start, the Spiders won eight straight, beating Montana 24-7 in the final.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Mike London gave Richmond the perfect ending to his first season in charge at his alma mater.

Eric Ward caught a touchdown and threw for a touchdown, and the Spiders dominated Montana 24-7 on Friday for the school’s first Football Championship Subdivision national championship.

After starting the season 4-3, the Spiders were perhaps the only ones who thought they had a chance to win the title. The team held a players-only meeting on Oct. 12 after a loss to James Madison and pledged not to give up on making a playoff run.

Richmond (13-3) won its next eight games behind the calm coaching of London, who replaced Dave Clawson after two seasons as defensive coordinator at Virginia. The Spiders upset defending national champion Appalachian State in the playoff quarterfinals and hanging on to beat Northern Iowa in the semifinals before toppling two-time national champion Montana.

Another year

LOS ANGELES — Southern California guard Jeff Byers had his request for a sixth year of eligibility approved Friday by the NCAA, allowing him to return to the Trojans next season.

Because he missed two seasons with injuries, Byers petitioned the NCAA for a “clock extension waiver,” and his request was granted.

After appearing in all 13 USC games as a true freshman in 2004, Byers was sidelined with injuries the next two years. He had arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage in his right hip in 2005, forcing him to miss that season. Then, in 2006, after seeing action in the opener, he suffered a back sprain and was out the rest of that season.

Byers has been USC’s starting left guard the past two seasons. He was a second-team All Pac-10 performer this year.

Resolved

HONOLULU — Hawaii has resolved its financial dispute with former football coach June Jones over the early termination of his contract.

Under the agreement, the June Jones Foundation has donated $100,010 to a scholarship fund for students pursing degrees in Hawaiian studies or language.