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RICHMOND, Va. -- The first football game at Robins Stadium was a memorable one. But Richmond's Spiders will remember it more fondly than the Elon Phoenix.

Richmond, ranked ninth among FCS teams, scored overtime's only points for a 27-21 victory Saturday afternoon. In the loss, No. 7 Elon's Aaron Mellette set a school record with 18 receptions, surpassing the mark of 16 by Terrell Hudgins on three occasions.

With the score tied at 14, Richmond drove 76 yards in 18 plays to take a 21-14 lead with 1:41 to play in the fourth quarter. Elon responded by tying the score on an athletic grab by Mellette as time expired in regulation and the ensuing extra-point kick.

The Phoenix (1-2) got the ball to start the overtime period and lined up for a 37-yard field-goal attempt by Adam Shreiner. The kick came out low and was blocked by Richmond's Casey Cooley.

Richmond (1-1) took its overtime possession and gained 9 yards on a Tyler Kirchoff run to move the ball to the Elon 16 on its first play. Kirchoff found the end zone on the next play to give the Spiders the victory.

"It was a very memorable football game," said coach Pete Lembo. "I'm just disappointed to be on the short side of it."

Mellette had a career day for the second consecutive game. The sophomore finished with 18 catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns. His receptions total tied for the second most in Southern Conference history with Chattanooga's Alonzo Nix (vs. Wofford on Oct. 4, 2003) and was two shy of the conference record of 20 held by Richmond's Walker Gillette (vs. Ohio on Dec. 27, 1968).

Elon 7 7 0 7 0 -- 21

Richmond 0 14 0 7 6 -- 27

Elon--Mellette 16 pass from Riddle (Shreiner kick)

Rich--Grayson 5 pass from Corp (Kamin kick)

Elon--A.Harris 6 pass from Riddle (Shreiner kick)

Rich--Wilkins 9 run (Kamin kick)

Rich--Gaskins 8 run (Kamin kick)

Elon--Mellette 25 pass from Riddle (Shreiner kick)

Rich--Kirchoff 16 run

A--3,021.

Elon Richmond

First downs 25 25

Rushes-Yards 17-73 37-91

Passing 319 265

Comp-Att-Int 34-56-1 24-41-2

Return yards 19 23

Punts-Avg. 4-35.5 3-30.3

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-Yards 11-92 7-75

Time of possession 24:58 35:02

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Elon, A. Harris 9-34, Reece 1-27, Newsome 4-13, Riddle 3-(minus 1). Richmond, Wilkins 9-33, Gaskins 9-29, Corp 9-28, Laub 2-16, Graham 1-5, Smith 1-2, Kirchoff 4-1, team 2-(minus 23).

PASSING--Elon, Riddle 34-55-1-319, team 0-1-0-0. Richmond, Corp 19-32-0-207, Laub 5-9-2-58.

RECEIVING--Elon, Mellette 18-195, Jeffcoat 7-50, Peterson 2-17, A. Harris 2-11, Camp 1-12, Eastman 1-12, Berry 1-11, K. Brown 1-6, Labinowicz 1-5. Richmond, Gray 6-73, Grayson 6-57, D. Boston 3-57, Gaskins 3-17, Roller 2-19, Thompson 2-12, Edwards 1-27, Smith 1-3.