Kirchoff rushes for TD, blocks punt leading to another score as Richmond beats Duke 24-16

Richmond beats Duke 24-16

DURHAM, N.C. — Tyler Kirchoff rushed for a touchdown and blocked a punt for another score to help Richmond defeat Duke 24-16 on Saturday night.

The Spiders, reigning champions of the Football Championship Subdivision, defeated the Blue Devils in a season opener for the second time in four years.

Kirchoff blocked a punt that teammate Jonathan Mayfield returned 5 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring midway through the first quarter. He then bulled his way for a 1-yard touchdown to put the Spiders ahead 21-9 with less than 10 minutes left in the game.

Thaddeus Lewis was 34 of 55 for 350 yards and two touchdowns for the Blue Devils in front of a crowd of 33,311, Duke’s largest at home since 2001.

The Blue Devils, who lost their opener for the sixth time in the last seven years, missed a pair of field goals in addition to the blocked punt.