Spiders drop Duke

DURHAM — This one is going to hurt, perhaps even more than Duke's previous loss to Richmond in 2006

Once again, the Spiders visited Wallace Wade Stadium and took a victory from the Blue Devils in a season opener. They walked away with a 24-16 win and stunned a Devils team that was convinced things would be different this time

They were not.

The Spiders entered this season as the defending NCAA Football Championship Subdivision champions. They played like it. Marked by the swagger of a champion, the Spiders asserted themselves as a confident team capable of competing with any opponent regardless of conference. They also played with the confidence of a team familiar with beating their opponent, having claimed a 13-0 victory over the Devils in 2006.

Eventually on Saturday, the Spiders smothered the Devils, who posted 369 yards yet could not consistently find the end zone.

The Devils entered the season with talk about becoming bowl eligible by the end of the season. While that is still an attainable goal, they must answer many offensive, defensive and special teams questions if they are to find that happy place.

Bolstered by a stout offensive line, the Spiders hammered the Devils in the third and fourth quarters, finally taking control of this game with a little over nine minutes remaining.

A six-minute, 12-play, 83-yard drive placed the Spiders ahead 21-9 and put the contest out of reach. Richmond showed its versatility on the drive, combining the heady play of senior quarterback Eric Ward and the power of its offensive line. Ward found freshman Chase Boyer for a 34-yard completion.   
Later, with Duke trying to defend its goal line, Richmond running back Tyler Kirchoff crashed into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown. Ward completed 12 of 23 passes for 143 yards.

The Spiders went ahead 14-2 with 10:26 remaining in the second quarter after moving steadily downfield on a six-minute, 13-play, 80-yard drive. The drive was capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by David Horton and a PAT by Andrew Howard.

It was a drive where the Spiders showed their patience and experience, considering they started 15 redshirt seniors and seven redshirt juniors.

Duke never seemed to find continuity in the air or on the ground. While Thaddeus Lewis completed passes and Re'quan Boyette seemed to pick up yards, the Devils never seemed to have any substantial steam in their attack.

Even when they pulled within scoring distance, the Devils were disappointed. Junior kicker Nick Maggio missed two field goal attempts — from 38 yards in the first quarter and 36 yards in the third quarter. Both sailed wide left.

Duke trailed Richmond 14-9 when Maggio missed his second field goal attempt with 10 minutes remaining in the quarter.

Meanwhile, the Devils' offensive line seemed to lack the punch needed to drive on a feisty Spiders defense. There were highlights from the Devils, though they came in spurts.

Just as it seemed the Devils were going to rely on short passes to the sidelines, Lewis connected with sophomore wide receiver Johnny Williams on a 54-yard downfield strike.

The play gave a listless Devils team life in the second quarter. The four-play scoring drive covered 71-yards in 1:12. It was Williams' first career touchdown reception. He finished the night with seven catches for 115 yards.

Richmond took an early 7-0 lead after capitalizing on a Duke special teams error with 8:45 remaining in the first quarter.

The Spiders' Kirchoff blocked a punt attempt by Duke junior Kevin Jones. Richmond's Jonathan Mayfield scooped up the loose ball rolling toward the Devils' end zone and sprinted five yards for the touchdown.

With its offense struggling, Duke's special teams helped put the Devils on the scoreboard in the first quarter. Richmond long snapper Colin Pehanick sent a snap over punter Brett Weigand's head and out of the back of the end zone.