The Spiders have averaged more rushing than passing yards per game this season, but on Saturday it was a 45-yard touchdown pass that got the University of Richmond offense started.
"Passing and running kind of works hand in hand," said junior quarterback Eric Ward, who had 245 passing yards. "We weren't able to establish the passing game too much in the first half. When we came back out we got moving as far as moving the ball through the air. It opened up the running game and vice versa."
The touchdown was sophomore wide receiver Kevin Grayson's second of the season and one of Ward's three touchdown passes during the Spiders' 38-10 defeat of Eastern Kentucky University at UR Stadium. It was the second-straight year the Spiders had beaten the Colonels during the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
"We knew they had to respect us both in the air and on the ground," said redshirt freshman wide receiver Tre Gray, who caught the other two receiving touchdowns. "Today the offense just clicked."
Eastern Kentucky's goal was to limit Richmond's running game, coach Dean Hood said, and it was the first time in seven weeks that senior running back Josh Vaughan rushed for fewer than 100 yards. Vaughan had 17 first-half rushing yards, but finished with 90 rushing yards on 23 carries, 12 receiving yards on two catches and two rushing touchdowns.
"You take that running back and put him in our league and I think he's the best running back in the league," Hood said. "I thought it was the best running back and linemen we've played all year."
Vaughan had to learn to adjust to the Eastern Kentucky defense, and Richmond coach Mike London said Vaughan did an outstanding job of taking the game on his shoulders during the second half.
"That's what big-time backs do," London said. "They make plays like that. ... I just told him that I was proud of him."
Both teams struggled offensively at the start; they combined for three turnovers, three penalties and no points during the first quarter. Eastern Kentucky was first to score on senior kicker Taylor Long's 49-yard field goal with 13 minutes and 13 seconds left during the second quarter.
Richmond had to play from behind for the rest of the quarter, but tied the score at 10 on junior kicker Andrew Howard's 27-yard field goal as time expired at the end of the first half. But the difference in the teams' second-half play determined the outcome of the game.
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"Right from the get-go with the second half" the game changed, Hood said. "I guess the turning point was when we came out of the locker room."
Eastern Kentucky had 17 rushing yards, 41 passing yards and no points during the second half. Richmond had 115 rushing yards, 106 passing yards and 28 points during the second half.
"At halftime I challenged the guys," London said. "I just felt that that first-half effort wasn't a championship effort and I challenged each of them individually."
Hood pointed to the number of turnovers -- Eastern Kentucky had four and Richmond had two -- as a game-changer. But at halftime, Richmond already had both its turnovers and Eastern Kentucky only had one.
"We didn't play terrible in the first half," London said. "We had some penalties, just silly little penalties and things like that, technique errors."
But in the end, the Colonels had made more costly errors. Senior quarterback Allan Holland threw interceptions to junior defensive back Derek Hatcher and sophomore linebacker Patrick Weldon.
"We hurt ourselves turning the football over today," Holland said. "We didn't make enough plays at the end of the game."
Weldon said Shawn White's 31-yard kickoff return to start the second half was a turning point. The offense's ability to score after the defense forced turnovers gave both sides confidence, Weldon said.
Sophomore defensive lineman Martin Parker recovered the ball when Holland fumbled because of sophomore linebacker Jordan Shoop's sack. Junior defensive back Seth Williams recovered the ball when sophomore linebacker Eric McBride forced a fumble from sophomore wide receiver Cody Watts.
"We knew coming in that they were a team that didn't lose games because of self-inflicted wounds," Hood said. "They won because they caused other people to turn the ball over."
Ward said the offense had gained momentum from those turnovers and put together scoring drives to capitalize on them. After two first-quarter first downs, Richmond finished with 20, including three fourth-down conversions and six third-down conversions.
"We've been working all week, working all year to play this game," Ward said. "I think we just came out in the second half and did what we had to do."
The win improved the Spiders' record to 10-3. The Colonels ended their season with an 8-4 record.
Next Saturday, Richmond will travel to Boone, N.C., to play second-seeded Appalachian State University, which is 11-2 this season, in the quarterfinals. During last year's semifinal game, Appalachian State beat Richmond 55-35 on its way to a third-straight FCS championship.
"It's going to be a challenge for us to go up there and play," London said. "We're looking forward to it. The objective is to win games whoever the opponent may be."
Contact staff writer Barrett Neale at barrett.neale@richmond.edu
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