University of Richmond Athletics
No. 4 Richmond Survives No. 9 Elon, 16-13: Postgame Notes
Nov. 28, 2009
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Team Notes
• The victory improved fourth-seeded Richmond to 10-6 all-time in NCAA Playoff action, including a record of 5-2 all-time at home in the Playoffs and 6-2 in the First Round.
• Richmond advances to the Second Round and hosts Appalachian State next Saturday at UR Stadium - the game time has yet to be determined - but the game will be televised on ESPN Regional Television, EPSN Game Plan and ESPN360.com.
• The win advanced the Spiders to the Second Round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship for the third-straight season and fourth time in the last five years.
• Next Saturday's game marks Appalachian State's first road playoff game since playing at Georgia Southern in the 2001 Quarterfinals (a 38-24 loss). All-time the Mountaineers are 3-7 in playoff games away from Kidd Brewer Stadium.
• Richmond improved to 3-0 all-time versus Elon, winning at Elon in 1928 and again last season. The Phoenix are scheduled to be the Spiders' first-ever opponent at the new Robins Stadium on Sept. 18, 2010.
• The Spiders extended their winning streak in NCAA Playoff action to five-consecutive games, which includes the four games Richmond won last season en route to the National Championship.
• Richmond out-gained Elon 260-27 in rushing yards, improving to 8-0 over the past two seasons when holding an opponent to less than 40 yards rushing. Elon gained 22 yards on 22 carries in last season's opener at Elon.
• Richmond entered Saturday with 20 takeaways in the last seven games and a plus-86 advantage in points-off-turnover-scoring on the season, but was held without a takeaway for the third time this season.
• The Spiders improved to 7-0 this season when leading at the half and to 4-1 when playing a ranked team.
• Richmond is now 4-1 this year in games decided by four points or less - 6-1 since the start of last season.
• Although the announced attendance of 6,143 is Richmond's smallest of the season, it does stand as the Spiders' largest NCAA First Round crowd at UR Stadium since 10,254 watched Lehigh beat Richmond, 24-23, in 1998.
• Richmond has now won the time of possession in all 12 games this season, but allowed 20 first downs for the first time in 2009 and just the third time over the last two years (2-1).
Player Notes
• Senior QB Eric Ward entered Saturday's game needing 154 yards of total offense to become just the 34th player in FCS history to amass 10,000 yards in career total offense.
• Ward posted 276 yards (136 rushing, 140 passing) and now stands 31st on the FCS all-time list for career total offense yards with 10,122. Next week's opposing QB - Armanti Edwards - is fourth on that same list.
• Ward set a career-high with his 136 yards rushing, surpassing his previous career-high of 91 yards at Appalachian State in last year's NCAA Quarterfinals. It marks the most yards rushed by a Richmond QB since Stacy Tutt gained 144 yards versus Towson in 2005.
• Ward's 74-yard TD rush on the first play of the seconds quarter gave the Spiders a 10-0 lead, was his longest career rush and Richmond's longest run from scrimmage this season.
• Ward, who improved to 7-1 as Richmond's starter in the Playoffs, 12-2 in November and 17-6 versus ranked teams, was held without a TD for just the second time in his Playoff career. He also threw three interceptions for the first time in the Playoffs.
• Senior TB Justin Forte missed his fifth career 100-yard rushing game (25 carries for 98 yards), but did set career-highs with catches (three) and receiving yards (45).
• Senior K Andrew Howard tied his career high with three made field goals, hitting from distances of 27, 33 and 42 yards. He has made 54 in his career, which is a school record and five shy of the CAA Football career record of 59 held by Greg Kuehn (2002-05).
• Howard has scored 353 points in his career, extending both his school record and the CAA Football career record for a kicker.
• Sophomore DB Tremayne Graham led the Spiders with his career-high eight tackles.
• Senior NG Parker Miles blocked his first career kick - Elon's 48-yard attempt to tie the game as time expired. It's the fourth blocked kick by the Spiders this year - two FGs, one punt and one PAT.