Scores

Final

E Kentucky 14

(9-3, 7-0 OVC)

Richmond 31

(10-2, 7-1 CAA)

6:00 PM ET, November 24, 2007

UR Stadium, RICHMOND, VA

1 2 3 4 T
EKY 0 7 0 714
RICH 3 14 7 731

Top Performers

Passing: J. Greco (EKY) - 206 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: T. Hightower (RICH) - 31 CAR, 180 YDS, 1 TD

Receiving: K. Grayson (RICH) - 4 REC, 61 YDS, 1 TD

Richmond 31, E. Kentucky 14

Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Tim Hightower rushed for 180 yards and a touchdown and Eric Ward threw for one touchdown and ran for another Saturday night, leading Richmond past Eastern Kentucky 31-14 in the first round of the football championship subdivision playoffs.

The Spiders (10-2) will travel to Wofford next Saturday for a quarterfinal game. Eastern Kentucky, outgained 417-288, finished 9-3.

Ward was 13-for-18 for 139 yards and the Spiders' defense helped out with a pair of interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Richmond did not turn the ball over, becoming the first team this season not to commit a giveaway against the Colonels.

Hightower scored on a 2-yard run to give Richmond a 14-0 lead, capping a drive set up by David Horton's interception. Hightower also had a 30-yard burst on Richmond's opening drive, which ended with Andrew Howard's 25-yard field goal.

Ward's 9-yard scoring run made it 17-0 3:23 before halftime. Josh Vaughan added a 40-yard touchdown run and Ward hit Kevin Grayson for a 5-yard touchdown after halftime.

Eastern Kentucky's points came on a 2-yard run by Bobby Washington and a pass from Josh Greco to Quinton Williams, the latter on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The Spiders rushed for 278 yards, the Colonels just 54 yards.

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Team Stat Comparison

 
EKY
RICH
1st Downs1119
Total Yards288417
Passing234139
Rushing54278
Penalties4-295-30
3rd Down Conversions5-166-13
4th Down Conversions2-30-2
Turnovers40
Possession21:3438:26

Passing Leaders

Eastern KentuckyC/ATTYDSAVGTDINT
Greco12/232069.011
RichmondC/ATTYDSAVGTDINT
Ward13/181397.710

Rushing Leaders

Eastern KentuckyCARYDSAVGTDLG
Washington8232.919
Dunn7152.108
RichmondCARYDSAVGTDLG
Hightower311805.8130
Vaughan9859.4140

Receiving Leaders

Eastern KentuckyRECYDSAVGTDLG
Washington58216.4035
Barber46215.5051
RichmondRECYDSAVGTDLG
Grayson46115.3125
Crone34013.3021

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTEREKYRICH
FG05:03Andrew Howard 25 Yd
Drive: 11 plays, 62 yds, 5:29		03
SECOND QUARTEREKYRICH
TD14:55Tim Hightower 2 Yd Run (Andrew Howard Kick)
Drive: 7 plays, 52 yds, 2:42		010
TD03:23Eric Ward 9 Yd Run (Andrew Howard Kick)
Drive: 5 plays, 39 yds, :00		017
TD00:43Bobby Washington 2 Yd Run (Taylor Long Kick)
Drive: 9 plays, 55 yds, :00		717
THIRD QUARTEREKYRICH
TD03:35Josh Vaughan 40 Yd Run (Andrew Howard Kick)
Drive: 3 plays, 58 yds, 1:01		724
FOURTH QUARTEREKYRICH
TD14:55Quinton Williams 6 Yd Pass From Josh Greco (Taylor Long Kick)
Drive: 12 plays, 54 yds, 3:40		1424
TD11:13Kevin Grayson 6 Yd Pass From Eric Ward (Andrew Howard Kick)
Drive: 7 plays, 51 yds, 3:42		1431