Oct. 18, 2003

Final Stats

NEWARK, Del. - The University of Delaware defense forced six turnovers and held Rhode Island's triple-option attack to just 277 total yards on the way to a commanding 55-10 Atlantic 10 Conference football victory Saturday afternoon at Delaware Stadium.

The No. 4 ranked Blue Hens, who got four touchdown passes from senior quarterback Andy Hall and 268 total yards on the ground, remained undefeated at 7-0 (5-0 Atlantic 10), its best start since 8-0 in 2000, and won for the 10th time in its last 11 home games. A sun-drenched Homecoming crowd of 20,795 saw Delaware improve to 26-2 vs. Atlantic 10 opponents on Homecoming. The Hens led 35-0 at halftime and were up 45-0 before the Rams finally got on the board with 1:49 left in the third quarter.

"We had as good a week of practice as you can have," said Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler, a former Delaware standout who is now 28-3 all-time in games at Delaware Stadium as a player and coach. "Our defense was outstanding today. We did as good a job as you can do stopping their running game and our offense did a good job of moving the ball. Rhode Island is a pretty good football team."

Rhode Island, which had a three-game win streak snapped in last week's last minute 21-17 loss to No. 3 ranked Villanova, fell to 3-4, 2-3 Atlantic 10. The Rams lost three fumbles, threw three interceptions, two by Delaware junior safety Dave Camburn, and gave Delaware the ball at their own 19-yard line after a bad snap on a punt to set up another Blue Hen score. Rhode Island managed just 179 total yards rushing, well under their average of 353.3 yards per game that ranked No. 2 nationally in NCAA I-AA entering the game. Delaware's entered the game ranked fifth nationally in rushing defense at 85.7 yards per game.

Delaware posted 11 tackles for loss, including three sacks, led by senior defensive end Shawn Johnson's three tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Junior linebacker Mark Moore posted a game-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss.

Hall, a Walter Payton Award candidate, completed 16 of 22 passes for 153 yards and four touchdowns, the most touchdown passes by a Blue Hen since 1998, in just over a half of action. Junior wide receiver G.J. Crescione hauled in two touchdowns, a 19-yarder with 3:20 left in the first half that gave the Hens a 28-0 lead and a 57-yarder from Hall on the Hens' first drive of the second half. Hall also fired a two-yard touchdown pass to fullback Sean Bleiler and a five-yarder to David Boler just 19 seconds left before halftime.

Senior Germaine Bennett led a Delaware ground game that piled up 268 yards with 91 of his own while Hall added another 71 yards and freshman Niquan Lee added 58, including a 37-yard scoring jaunt up the middle with 12:18 left for his first career touchdown. Kicker Brad Shushman also converted two field goals to lead the UD charge.

Delaware reached a season-high for points, its fourth highest ever in an Atlantic 10 game, and its 463 yards was the second highest total this season. Delaware has now surpassed 400 total yards in eight straight games since last season. Rhode Island suffered its biggest loss vs. a I-AA opponent since a 51-0 setback to Idaho State in the 1981 NCAA I-AA playoffs.

"We did a poor job of preparing for this game, we just weren't ready to play," said Rhode Island head coach Tim Stowers, whose team had defeated Delaware in each of the last two meetings. "Coach Keeler has his team headed in the right direction. You can't stay on the field with a team like that when you turn the ball over like we did."

Jerell Jones leads the Rams with four carries for 60 yards rushing, including a 48-yard scoring run with 1:49 left in the third quarter that put URI on the board. Shane Laisle added a 25-yard field goal with 2:35 left.