Nov 22, 2003

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) - Jeff Krohn threw two touchdown passes to Jason Peebler as Massachusetts beat Rhode Island 31-17 in the teams' regular season finale on Saturday.

Krohn completed 15-of-24 passes for 219 yards for playoff-bound Massachusetts (10-2, 8-1 Atlantic 10). Peebler caught five passes for 65 yards.

Rhode Island, which lost six of its last seven games, ended 4-8 overall and 3-6 in the conference.

Massachusetts led 31-14 at halftime, but never scored again. The only points in the second half came on a 33-yard field goal by Rhode Island's Shane Laisle early in the third quarter.

Massachusetts took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a 5-yard run by Steve Baylark, and a 28-yard scoring pass from Krohn to Peebler. Rhode Island bounced back with a 93-yard drive capped by Calvin Poole's 9-yard run.

Massachusetts put the game away before halftime after Rich Demers scored on a 30-yard scoring run, Michael Torres hit a 26-yard field goal and Peebler caught a 10-yard touchdown reception.

Rhode Island's Keith Brown caught a 40-yard scoring pass from Jayson Davis to make it 31-14 with just over a minute left in the half.

Rhode Island finished with 345 yards rushing to set an Atlantic 10 single season rushing record with 3,971 yards.