The University of Richmond’s offense, working like a well-oiled machine through its first seven games this season, stayed on track with a 30-10 win against Elon University Oct. 25 at Rhodes Stadium.
The Spiders entered the game as the top offense in the Colonial Athletic Association, averaging 493 yards per game. They nearly hit that mark exactly on the head against Elon, gaining 499 total yards.
Senior quarterback Michael Rocco, starting in place of injured quarterback Michael Strauss, was 21-of-33 passing for 296 yards and two interceptions. Richmond scored all three of its touchdowns on the ground, as redshirt freshman Porter Abell and juniors Seth Fisher and Jacobi Green each found the end zone for a score.
“[Richmond] came out prepared,” Elon redshirt freshman safety Chris Blair said. “It was a wake-up call for us. You can’t just let somebody come up in your house and knock on the door and let them in, you know. You have to stop them.”
Blair was forced to transition from safety to cornerback after junior Jeremy Gloston was injured the first quarter, but was far from the problem on defense as he racked up a team-high 14 tackles.
Richmond (6-2, 3-1 CAA) needed just four plays and 1:39 to go 69 yards on their opening drive of the game, capped off by a 39-yard Green touchdown scamper. Sophomore Peter Yoder booted a 40-yard field goal, one of three on the game, on Richmond’s second possession to make it 10-0.
Following the field goal, Elon’s offense was thrown into a loop when senior quarterback Mike Quinn left the game after two series. Elon head coach Rich Skrosky didn’t know the extent of the injury, only confirming that it was to his right throwing arm.
Sophomore John Loughery played the rest of the game in place of Quinn – his first extended action of the season – but was under pressure for most of the afternoon. Richmond had seven sacks on the game after coming in with nine total on the season.
Loughery finished the game 15-of-24 for 110 yards and an interception.
“[Loughery] has been phenomenal all year long,” Skrosky said. “I think he’s been one of [Quinn’s] best assets throughout. There’s no question when he got in the game, he was more than prepared. There wasn’t anything on the call sheet and the game plan that I didn’t think he could execute.”
Skrosky noted that in practice, the offensive repetitions are split 65 percent to 35 percent between Quinn, the starter, and Loughery.
“You’ve got to prepare every week like you’re the starter,” Loughery said. “If you prepare, watch film and do the things you need to do throughout the week, when the game comes regardless of the situation you’re going to be confident when your number is called. I’m definitely not pleased with the performance but in terms of preparation that’s something that you need to do.”
Under the direction of Loughery, the Elon offense looked much the same as it has under Quinn. Yards were at a premium, as the Phoenix finished with just 141 of them.
“I think the last couple weeks, [Richmond’s] defense has turned it up a notch, and they certainly did in the first half today,” Skrosky said. “We obviously struggled moving the ball throughout.”
Redshirt freshman running back Kelly Brooks-Muse scored Elon’s only touchdown of the game with under a minute to play. The 3-yard rush, which made it a 30-10 game, was Brooks-Muse’s first score of his career.
Elon drops to 1-7 and 0-4 in the CAA with the loss, the team’s fifth straight. The Phoenix will travel to Towson University next Saturday Nov. 1 for a matchup against the Tigers. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m at Johnny Unitas Stadium.