University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
No. 21 Eastern Kentucky
No. 7 Richmond Scores 31 Unanswered To Beat No. 21 EKU In NCAA First Round
11/29/2008 | Football
Nov. 29, 2008
RICHMOND - Junior QB Eric Ward threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns as No. 7 Richmond scored 31 unanswered points and defeated No. 21 Eastern Kentucky, 38-10, Saturday in an FCS Playoff First Round game at UR Stadium.
The win, Richmond's sixth-consecutive, moves the Spiders (10-3) into the NCAA Quarterfinals for the third time in four years and sets up a playoff rematch with No. 2 Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. next Saturday at noon ET.
Ward and redshirt freshman WR Kevin Grayson reeled in a game-high 107 yards on five receptions. Senior TB Josh Vaughan scored twice on the ground and gained 90 yards on 23 carries.
The Richmond defense limited the Colonels (8-4) to just 84 yards rushing on 21 attempts and forced four turnovers - two interceptions and two fumbles. EKU, which saw its seven-game winning streak snapped, became the sixth-consecutive opponent - and 10th this season - to gain less than 100 yards on the ground versus the Spiders.
Richmond owned a 412-268 advantage in total yards, while topping the 31-point mark for its 12th-consecutive home game (11-1).
Junior K Andrew Howard booted a 27-yard field to draw the Spiders even at 10-10 on the final play of the first half, and the Spiders seized control of the contest by scoring on their first two possessions after halftime.
Vaughan put Richmond up 17-10 with his 11-yard jaunt that capped a six-play, 34-yard drive to open the third quarter.
But another Spider interception - the team's record 23rd of the season - proved to be the backbreaker.
Sophomore LB Patrick Weldon picked off an Allan Holland pass on the ensuing drive and Richmond cashed in five plays later as Ward and Gray hooked up for a 14-yard TD pass, making the scoring 24-10.
Weldon finished the day with seven tackles, the interception and a pass breakup. Sophomore LB Eric McBride led the Spiders with 11 tackles and forced a fumble, while sophomore LB Jordan Shoop had eight stops, a sack and a forced fumble. Sophomore DT Martin Parker and junior CB Seth Williams scooped up the fumbles and junior FS Derek Hatcher had the other interception.
The Spiders kept their foot on the gas in the fourth and Ward found Gray again, this time for a 23-yard TD pass early in the period. Vaughan capped the scoring with 17-yard run at the 9:58 mark.
The seven catches and two TDs for Gray both stand as career-highs for the Cuero, Texas native. Grayson's 107 yards receiving marked his seventh career 100-yard game. For Ward, his 245 yards passing stands as the second-best single-game total in his career.
The game was a back-and-fourth struggle early and following a scoreless first quarter, the visitors drew first blood when Taylor Long boomed a 49-yard field goal at the 13:13 mark of the second quarter.
Richmond answered with just over five minutes remaining when Ward found Grayson down the seam for a dazzling 45-yard TD pass. The catch was just the second TD of the season for Grayson and his first since the season-opener at Elon - an 80-yard strike.
Holland rushed from a yard out to put EKU back in front, but the Colonels' short kickoff gave the Spiders good field position with 30 second left. Ward took advantage with a quick 27-yard pass to Grayson and a 19-yard pass to senior TE Joe Stewart, setting up Howard's field goal as the first half expired.
Last season, behind a 417-288 advantage in total offense, the Spiders defeated the Colonels, 31-14, in the FCS First Round at UR Stadium. That game saw the Spiders out-gain the Colonels 278-54 on the ground, thanks to a Richmond playoff record 180 yards rushing from former All-American Tim Hightower.
Ward's arm was the difference this season as the Spiders tied their playoff record with 38 points (38-10 win at Hampton in the 2005 First Round) and passed for the most postseason yards since Bob Bleier's 265 at Rhode Island in the 1984 NCAA Quarterfinals.
Richmond fell to Appalachian State last season in Boone during the Spiders' first-ever NCAA Semifinals appearance, 55-35. The Mountaineers, who went on to win their third-straight National Championship, pulled away after the Spiders rallied to tie the game at 35-35.
