INDEPENDENCE – Van Horn’s defense made it difficult for Richmond to get something going offensively, coach Nick Persell acknowledged after his Spartans’ 29-12 Sept. 15 road loss in varsity 11-man football. “Even watching them on film, I … was a little bit nervous about … just what they looked like defensively … – (a) bunch of good athletes that fly around and do a good job. … We hit a couple things in the option game, but we just couldn’t keep anything consistent enough to keep us going,” Persell commented. “But I knew, if we had to get into … more of a passing game, it was going to be kind of tough. … I think they have … some pretty high-level athletes in their defensive secondary.” Defensive stops helped the Falcons (40, including one forfeit victory) take a 14-0 lead. Taking possession on downs from their own 35-yard line after a fourth-and-4 incomplete pass had ended Richmond’s first possession, they staged a four-play, 65-yard scoring drive, capped by Sammie Bailey’s 2-yard TD…