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Elon opened the 2008 season with high hopes and a preseason ranking of 15 in FCS play.

But a visit from the fourth-ranked Richmond Spiders was more than the Phoenix could handle. Richmond dominated on both sides of the line of scrimmage, kept Elon quarterback Scott Riddle in check and emerged with a 28-10 win in front of 10,847 fans at Rhodes Stadium, the second-largest crowd in stadium history.

The Phoenix averaged over 36 points a game a year ago with Riddle throwing for 357 yards per game. But the Spiders shut down the running game, limited Riddle to underneath throws and did a solid job of tackling to prevent yards after the catch.

The Spiders had a 21-10 lead early in the fourth quarter but Elon was driving.

A botched snap led to a turnover deep in Richmond territory. On the next play, Josh Vaughn broke a 72-yard touchdown run right up the middle of the field to clinch the game.

"One of the things we've preached here the last two-and-a-half years is we never accept losing," Phoenix coach Pete Lembo said. "We're expecting to win and we're expecting excellence."

However, excellence was in short supply Saturday night. The Spiders jumped out to a 14-point lead. They used a quick-strike offense for their first score, with Kevin Grayson scoring on an 80-yard pass play in which he broke one tackle, picked up a block and ran up the right sideline with 6:15 to go in the first quarter.

"It was a play we had scripted," quarterback Eric Ward said. "Coming into the game we wanted to take a shot early. Coming off the punt we knew we wanted to take it right then."

Richmond's second drive took 15 plays and 7:44 off the clock. Vaughn scored from two yards out to give the Spiders a 14-0 lead.

Riddle got the Phoenix back in the game on the next drive, as he connected on all four pass attempts, the final one a 31-yard TD pass to Bo Williamson.

Sean Jeffcoat helped Elon get a score right before the half. He stormed up the middle and blocked a punt attempt with 13 seconds remaining in the half, giving the Phoenix the ball with seven seconds remaining on the Spiders' 31. Terrell Hudgins ran a quick out, which picked up six yards and Andrew Wilcox booted a 42-yard field goal as time expired.

Richmond 7 7 7 7 -- 28

Elon 0 10 0 0 -- 10

Rich--Grayson 80 pass from Ward (Howard kick)

Rich--Vaughan 2 run (Howard kick)

Elon--B.Williamson 31 pass from Riddle (Wilcox kick)

Elon--FG Wilcox 42

Rich--Stewart 12 pass from Ward (Howard kick)

Rich--Vaughan 72 run (Howard kick)

A--10,847

Richmond Elon

First downs 18 15

Rushes-yards 44-216 22-22

Passing 236 243

Comp-Att-Int 17-22-0 23-39-1

Return Yards 38 56

Punts-Avg. 6-34.5 6-36.2

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1

Penalties-Yards 10-95 4-20

Time of Possession 34:53 25:07

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Richmond, Vaughan 16-119, Ward 14-59, Forte 10-34, Crone 2-5, Keating 1-0, Team 1-(minus 1). Elon, A.Harris 13-48, Jeffcoat 1-4, B.Williamson 1-4, Newsome 2-4, Riddle 5-(minus 38).

PASSING--Richmond, Ward 17-22-0-236. Elon, Riddle 23-39-1-243.

RECEIVING--Richmond, Grayson 7-121, Gray 5-40, Stewart 2-16, Mitchell 1-38, Forte 1-12, Crone 1-9. Elon, Hudgins 10-78, B.Williamson 5-92, A.Harris 4-25, Jeffcoat 2-26, Applegate 2-22.