University of Richmond Athletics
Postgame Notes: No. 7 Richmond 38, No. 21 EKU 10
11/29/2008 | Football
Nov. 29, 2008
• The victory advances the Spiders to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the second-consecutive season, the third time in four years and the fifth time in program history.
• All-time the Spiders are now 6-6 in the FCS Playoffs, including a 5-2 mark in the First Round.
• The victory is the 10th of the season for the Spiders (10-3), marking just the third 10-win campaign in the 126-year history of Spider Football - the team was 11-3 last season and 10-3 in 1998.
• Richmond improved to 28-39 when playing against a ranked team (Sports Network poll) since the 1995 season, but 10-3 since the start of 2007. The Spiders also improved to 50-27 when playing as a ranked team (Sports Network) since 1993, including a 19-5 mark since last year.
• The Richmond-EKU rematch in the FCS First Round marked the first playoff rematch since Montana and Northwestern State were paired in 2000 and 2001 - Montana won both match-ups.
• Richmond's 38 points tied a school playoff record, matching the 38-10 win over then-undefeated Hampton in the 2005 First Round.
• Richmond has scored 31 or more points in 12 consecutive home games (11-1) and is averaging 39.5 points/game at home this season (5-1). The Spiders improved to 8-1 this season (28-2 since 2005) when scoring 30+ points in game.
• Eastern Kentucky rushed 21 times for 84 yards as a team and became the sixth-consecutive Richmond opponent - and 10th this season - to gain less then 100 yards on the ground versus the Spiders.
• Eleven of Richmond's 13 opponents have failed to gain more than 300 yards of total offense.
• Richmond entered the game with the FCS' 10th-best turnover margin (+14) and forced four EKU turnovers - two fumbles and two interceptions, while committing two (fumble and interception).
• Two of Richmond's second-half touchdowns came on drives following a takeaway and for the season, the Spiders have scored 128 points off the 34 turnovers.
• With two more interceptions, the Spiders continued to build on their single-season team record, which is now at 23. The previous mark was 20 set in 1973. Junior FS Derek Hatcher picked off his fourth pass of the season and sophomore LB Patrick Weldon had his third.
• With his two rushing touchdowns, senior TB Josh Vaughan moved into second on the Spiders' career list with 30, surpassing Uly Scott's 29 (1991-94). Former All-American Tim Hightower, who now starts for the Arizona Cardinals and was in attendance at today's game, holds the career record of 34.
• Junior QB Eric Ward was 16-of-23 passing for 245 yards and three touchdowns, marking the second-best yardage game of his career (He threw for 273 against Maine earlier this season).
• For Ward, it also stands as the second-best single-game playoff performance by a Spider QB all-time, trailing the 265 yards by Bob Bleier (21-of-37, one TD, two INTs) during a 1984 quarterfinal loss at Rhode Island.
• Eric Ward pass efficiency rating of 193.39 stands as the fourth-highest in his three-year career -- four his top-five highest rated games have come this season.
• Ward is 27-10 all-time as Richmond's starting QB and 10-5 versus Top-25 ranked opponents with 21 TD passes and eight INTs.
• Richmond held EKU scoreless in the second half and now owns a 197-114 edge in second-half scoring this season.