Gameday Game Plan: Week 2 vs. Wagner

Top 3 Individual Matchups
Cooper Taylor vs. Dominique Williams
The reigning National Defense Player of the Week (Taylor) and the National Offenisve Player of the Week (Williams) collide on Robins Stadium's turf Saturday night. Taylor bedeviled Duke's high-powered offense last Saturday as the junior safety made 14 tackles, one for loss, forced a key fumble, knocked down a pass and recorded a QB hurry, while Williams flashed and danced his way through St. Francis' defense to the tune of 180 yards and two TDs. Look for the winner of this individual battle to play a key part in Saturday's outcome.

Tre Gray vs. Torian Phillips
If senior WR Tre Gray's performance last week at Duke is any indication, Wagner junior CB Torian Phillips will have his hands full Saturday night. Gray reeled in career-highs in catches (eight) and yards (129) at Duke, passing the 2,000-yard career receiving mark at Richmond. Phillips, a former Syracuse transfer, was a running back last season for Wagner and gained 250 yards on 45 carries. Wagner's other starting CB Saturday, is sophomore Jarrett Dieudonne - a Purdue transfer.

Wayne Lineburg vs. Walt Hameline
Youth meets experience on the sidelines Saturday as Richmond interim head coach Wayne Lineburg is in just his second week at the helm, while Wagner's 31-year head coach Walt Hameline brings 201 career victories and a .633 career winning percentage to Robins Stadium. Hameline, who also serves as Wagner's director of athletics, ranks eighth nationally with his 201 career victories, trailing such FCS coaching legends as Appalachian State's Jerry Moore (238), Villanova's Andy Talley (216) and William & Mary's Jimmye Laycock (208).

Spider Advantages
Home Cookin'
Richmond went 5-1 in the inaugural season at Robins Stadium last year, and are 21-4 at home since the 2007 season. The Spiders have three home games in succession to keep the momentum rolling from last weekend's win at Duke that vaulted Richmond to No. 9 in the national polls. The fifth sell-out crowd in Robins Stadium's seven-game history will be on hand to produce an electric atmosphere in the Stadium's first-ever night game.

Offensive Line
Richmond's offensive line went through a complete transformation last season and was in constant turmoil due to injuries. But that unit beefed up in the off-season and returns a pair of All-Conference caliber seniors on the left side in guard Ryan Goss and tackle Richard Muldrow. True freshman Austin Gund was solid in his debut at center and senior QB Aaron Corp was not sacked last weekend at Duke. Look for this unit that averages 6-foot-5, 292-pounds to help get the running game rolling versus Wagner's 3-4 defense.

Stat of the Week
The Spiders have won their last six games versus first-time opponents and have not lost a non-conference FCS game in the regular season since the 2005 season (12-0 in that span).

Quotes of the Week
"With the leadership on this team, we shouldn't have any problem with that (a let down after the Duke win). Duke was a great win. It's always a great win when an FCS team beats a BCS team. With that being said, it was just the first game. We still have a season play."
-- senior DL Corey Jackson

"If we come out this Saturday and don't win this game, people are going to quickly forgot about what happened against Duke."
-- head coach Wayne Lineburg

Milestones In Reach
Senior QB Aaron Corp is 162 passing yards from 1,000 at Richmond... Corp is 94 all-purpose yards from 1,000 at Richmond... senior WR Tre Gray is 116 all-purpose yards shy of 2,500 career.

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