University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
No. 15 Elon
No. 4 Richmond Beats No. 15 Elon, 28-10
08/31/2008 | Football
Aug. 30, 2008
ELON, N.C. - The defense was as good as advertised and the offense struck for big plays as No. 4 Richmond opened the Mike London-era with a 28-10 win over No. 15 Elon Saturday night in Elon, N.C. Eric Ward had a career day, while the defense held a high-scoring Phoenix team to just 235 yards of total offense and 22 yards on the ground.
The Spiders (1-0) opened a 14-0 lead in the first half, and the defense blanked Elon (0-1) in the second half in front of a near-capacity crowd of 10,847 - the second-largest in history at Elon's Rhodes Stadium.
Ward threw for a career-high 236 yards on an efficient 17-of-22 passing, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. The junior also ran 14 times for 59 yards. Josh Vaughan rushed for 119 yards and two scores, while Kevin Grayson reeled in 121 yards receiving, including an 80-yard TD strike from Ward to open the scoring.
The Spiders out-gained the home-standing Phoenix 452-235 with a balanced attack of 236 yards in the air and 216 on the ground. Richmond converted eight of its 14 third-down plays and held a nearly 10-minute advantage in time of possession.
The Ward-to-Grayson 80-yard strike - a career-long play for both - was a highlight-reel pass-catch-and-run that more than doubled the Spiders' longest pass play from 2007 (35 yards). Grayson was streaking free down the far sideline after the defensive back bit on a pump-fake and Ward's pass hit him in stride at the Elon 48. The sophomore got key blocks downfield from tight ends Joe Monteverde and Joe Stewart to spring Richmond's sixth-longest pass play in history.
While it was a quick strike that put the Spiders on the board first, a clock-eating, 90-yard, 15-play trek resulted in Richmond's second score and a 14-0 lead with 11:17 left in the second quarter. Ward and Mitchell hooked up on a key 38-yard pass on 3rd-and-12 to keep the drive alive and Vaughan finished it off with a two-yard carry that capped the 7-minute, 44-second drive.
More downfield blocking set-up another big play in the third quarter that slammed the door on any Elon comeback bid. Richmond was leading 21-10, but the Phoenix were knocking on the door before a fumbled snap was recovered by Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. at the Richmond 18. Vaughan was in the end zone one play later with a dazzling, career-long 72 yard TD run, making the score 28-10.
Sidbury's fumble recovery was one of two turnovers forced by Richmond on the night with the other being an interception by Patrick Weldon late in the fourth quarter.
The defense sacked Elon QB Scott Riddle three times for a loss of 34 yards - including the 15th career sack by Sherman Logan (but his first since 2006). Pierre Turner was in on the other two sacks, while Sidbury made four tackles, including 1.5 behind the line of scrimmage. Weldon and Martin Parker each recorded a team-leading eight tackles.
Richmond's 14-0 second-quarter lead appeared to be safe, but Elon scored the final 10 points of the half and took momentum into the locker room with a 42-yard field goal in the half's closing seconds.
A 31-yard pass from Riddle to Bo Williamson put the Phoenix on the board with 6:13 left in the second, and then Elon blocked a Brian Radford punt with seven seconds left in the half deep in Richmond territory. Riddle hit a quick-out to Terrell Hudgins, stopping the clock at three seconds and Andrew Wilcox drilled a 42-yarder as time expired.
Hudgins finished with 10 catches for 78 yards and Riddle was 23-of-39 passing for 213 yards. The All-American duo averaged 134.0 yards receiving and 347.0 yards passing, respectively, last season.
Stewart reeled in the Spiders' TD that made the score 21-10 in the third. In his first collegiate game, freshman wideout Tre Gray caught five passes for 40 yards, including a 16-yard reception on third down early in the third quarter.
The Spiders are back in action next Saturday at Virginia, in the Spiders' first regular-season national TV appearance. The kickoff at Scott Stadium is set for 3:45 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
