University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
No. 9 Eastern Kentucky
Richmond Runs Over Eastern Kentucky, 31-14, In NCAA First Round
11/24/2007 | Football
Nov. 24, 2007
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RICHMOND, Va. - Tim Hightower ran for a Richmond postseason record 180 yards and a touchdown, while the Spiders turned four Eastern Kentucky turnovers into 14 points in winning an NCAA FCS First Round game, 31-14, at UR Stadium Saturday night. No. 6 Richmond will play at No. 11 Wofford next Saturday in Spartanburg, S.C.
Hightower was one of six different Spiders to put points on the board, helping Richmond (10-2) advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the second time in three years. The senior Walter Payton Award finalist carried the ball 31 times for 180 yards - setting the school's single-season and career rushing records in the process. Hightower broke the previous postseason mark of 152 yards (28 carries) by Jasper Pendergrass set in a first-round loss to Lehigh in 1998.
His touchdown carry on the first play of the second quarter gave the Spiders a 10-0 lead after sophomore kicker Andrew Howard booted a 25-yard field goal at the 5:03 mark of the opening quarter to draw first blood for the CAA Football champions, who won their seventh-consecutive game and improved to 5-0 this season against Top-25 opponents (4-0 versus the Top 11).
Ninth-ranked Eastern Kentucky (9-3) entered its NCAA-record 18th postseason as the nation's leader in both interceptions (24) and turnover margin (+22). But the Colonels, who had forced three or more turnovers in five consecutive games, found themselves minus-four Saturday night thanks to interceptions by David Horton and Andrew Harris and fumble recoveries from Horton and Stephen Howell.
The opportunistic Spiders parlayed both interceptions into points - touchdown runs from Hightower and Josh Vaughan - and those proved to be the difference. The Colonels had allowed just six points off turnovers before Saturday.
Vaughan had another impressive game, carrying nine times for 85 yards and a TD, allowing the Spiders to outgain the Ohio Valley Conference champions (and the league's best rushing offense) 278-54 on the ground. His 40-yard TD run put the Spiders up 24-7 late in the third quarter. The junior hometown product has scored at least once in four consecutive contests.
After a Josh Greco touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal to Quinton Williams pulled the Colonels within 24-14 early in the fourth quarter, the Spiders answered on the ensuing drive with a six-yard TD pass of their own from Eric Ward to Kevin Grayson and never looked back.
Ward finished 13-for-18 passing with 139 yards and a touchdown, playing his fifth game of the last seven without an interception. His completion percentage of 62.1 this season is currently a Richmond record (61.8 by Bob Bleier in 1985). Ward also ran for a score.
The CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year, Grayson reeled in four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. Fullback John Crone tied his career high with three catches for 40 yards.
Howell was in on a team-leading 10 tackles, while CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year Eric McBride and Collin McConaghy each collected nine. The Spiders' defense accounted for two sacks and five tackles for loss (23 yards) to go along with the takeaways.
Freshman Justin Rogers, the NCAA's second-leading kickoff returner (32.6) and the CAA Special Teams Player of the Year, averaged 29 yards on his three returns, helping Richmond to an average drive start at the EKU 36.
Bobby Washington, who was averaging 91 yards on the ground, was held to just 23 on eight carries. Greco was 12-of-23 passing for 203 yards, taking over the quarterback duties for injured starter Allan Holland. Holland left the game after completing just five-of-12 passes for 28 yards.
Washington's two-yard TD run in the final minute of the second quarter answered Ward's score on the previous drive, cutting EKU's deficit at the half to 17-7.
