Elon, NC -- (Sports Network) - There were just a handful of plays that separated No. 4-ranked Richmond from No. 15 Elon Saturday night

But they were enough to lift the Spiders to a 28-10 victory in the season- opening showcase for both teams, played before a crowd of 10,847 fans - the second largest crowd ever at Rhodes Stadium.

In capturing the first victory for new coach Mike London, the Spiders showed the ability to score on big plays and to also drive the ball down the field.

"It was awesome to get my first win as a college coach," said London, who played for Richmond as a defensive back from 1979-82 and also served as a Spider assistant coach for five years.

Kevin Grayson opened the scoring midway through the first quarter with a double move for an 80-yard scoring connection with Eric Ward. And Josh Vaughan sealed the victory after a huge Elon turnover with his 72-yard touchdown burst at the 12:35 mark of the fourth quarter.

Ward also had a 56-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter wiped out by a personal foul penalty.

Richmond took a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter when Vaughan ((16 carries, 119 yards, two TDs) finished off a 15-play, 90-yard drive with a two- yard scoring plunge.

Elon struck back for 10 points in the final seven minutes of the second quarter with Bo Williamson scoring on a 31-yard pass from Scott Riddle and Andrew Wilcox drilling a 42-yard field goal on the final play of the half after Sean Jeffcoat blocked a Richmond punt.

"Going into the half, we challenged our players," said London.

But the Spiders held the prodigious Phoenix offense scoreless in the second half and made enough plays to pull away.

"We played a good team tonight," said Elon coach Pete Lembo. "They made more plays and less mistakes than we did."

After Daronce Daniels forced and recovered a Ward fumble in the third quarter, Elon's Payton Award candidate Terrell Hudgins appeared momentarily to give the Phoenix the lead at 17-14 with a circus catch for 45 yards in the end zone. But officials ruled Hudgins (10 catches, 78 yards) had lost control of the ball and called it incomplete.

The Spiders extended their lead to 21-10 when Ward (17-of-22, 236 yards, two TDs passing, 14 carries, 59 yards rushing) fired a 12-yard scoring strike to Joe Stewart to cap a 12-play, 73-yard march.

Elon responded with a drive to the Richmond 24, but on first and five play, Riddle fumbled the snap from shotgun formation and Lawrence Sidbury recovered for the Spiders. Vaughan put an exclamation point on the game with his second touchdown of the night on the next play.

"We're real disappointed," said Lembo. "I don't like to lose and the kids don't like to lose."