SPIDERS SURVIVE! Richmond Edges Furman 13-9 in Defensive Family Weekend Thriller (9-26-26)

By: Xavier Jones

Headline Photo Credit: Richmond Spiders

Robins Stadium | September 26, 2026

The curse is broken.

For the first time since 1977, the Richmond Spiders beat Furman. And they did it the hard way. 

In a gritty, low-scoring defensive battle on Family Weekend, Richmond held on for a 13-9 victory over the Furman Paladins, improving to 4-1 while the Paladins dropped to 2-3.

Aziz Foster-Powell was the difference. The senior running back powered the Spiders with 125 yards on 25 carries, leading a ground attack that piled up 188 rushing yards and 355 total yards of offense. Richmond’s defense was even more dominant — sacking Furman quarterback Connor Ackerley five times and holding the Paladins to just 215 total yards (only 78 on the ground).

How It Went Down

Furman scored all nine of its points on the right foot of kicker Nathan Chapman, who drilled field goals from 33, 42, and a massive 49 yards as time expired in the first half. That made it Richmond 10, Furman 9 at the break. 

The only touchdown of the game came in the second quarter for the Spiders. Kyle Bitsko then added a 30-yard field goal with 5:34 left in the third quarter to push the lead to 13-9 — a score that would hold the rest of the way. 

The final 20 minutes were pure chaos and tension:

• Richmond fumbled at the goal line on first-and-goal, with Furman’s Ryan Earl recovering.

• Furman forced three interceptions total. 

• Late in the fourth, Caleb Easterling’s interception gave Furman the ball at the Richmond 27, but the Spiders’ defense forced a turnover on downs at the 20.

• With under a minute left, Furman drove from its own 15 to the Richmond 29. Ackerley’s final Hail Mary into the end zone was tipped and fell incomplete as time expired. 

The Bigger Picture

This wasn’t pretty. It was physical, messy, and exactly the kind of win ranked teams need in September. Richmond snapped a 49-year drought against Furman (the last win was 19-13 in 1977) and improved to 3-0 at Robins Stadium this season. The Spiders are now 4-0 against FCS opponents. 

Furman, which faced four ranked teams in September, showed fight until the final snap but couldn’t find the end zone. Ackerley finished 15-of-30 for 137 yards in his first start. 

Family Weekend in the 804 just got a whole lot sweeter. 

Richmond moves on to Lafayette next week. Furman returns home to host Wofford. 

Final: Richmond 13, Furman 9.

The Spiders are rolling. The drought is dead. Robins Stadium is rocking.