Nov. 8, 2003

Final Stats

KINGSTON, R.I. - The University of Rhode Island football team gave Division I-A Cincinnati all it could handle, taking a 17-10 first-quarter lead. But the Bearcats came back to take 31-24 win

Rhode Island's 17 points in the first quarter were the most surrendered in the first period by UC this year and the second-most given up in any quarter this season.

UC amassed a season-high 560 yards of total offense. Gino Guidugli recorded the 10th 300-yard passing performance of his career, completing 20-of-28 passes for a season-high 332 yards and three touchdowns.

Carl Jones, who played most of the game at running back for the limping Richard Hall, ran for 187 yards-the most by a Bearcat since Russell Cooper's 204-yard day vs. Memphis in 1999-on 27 carries, also a career high.

Thaddeus Lewis, recently converted from cornerback to wide receiver, led the receivers with career bests of seven receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. The big play returned to the UC pass attack as Derick Ross hauled in a perfect 64-yard scoring strike and Hannibal Thomas caught a 55-yard TD pass.

Cincinnati's nationally-ranked defense came away bloodied and bruised. Rhode Island's flex-bone attack ravaged the Bearcats, who entered the game ranked 11th nationally against the run (87.9 yards per game) and 16th in total defense, for 429 yards of total offense, 371 of those on the ground.

Miscues kept the Bearcats from making the final outcome more convincing. Jones fumbled the ball away while trying to reach the end zone in the second quarter. Chet Ervin was wide on a 47-yard field goal attempt. There were at least two dropped passes.

The first half was a good, old-fashioned offensive shootout with the teams scoring on their first five possessions.

The Rams took the opening kickoff and marched 51 yards to set up a 41-yard field goal by Shane Laisle. The Bearcats hit the scoreboard on their second play from scrimmage. Guidugli launched a 65-yard TD bomb to Derick Ross, who had gotten behind the URI secondary.

Rhode Island retaliated 18 seconds later when Davis hit Wendall Williams on a screen pass and the senior, who entered the game ranked fourth nationally in Division I-AA in all-purpose running, broke free for a 50-yard touchdown.

Chris Manfredini hit a 25-yard field goal on UC's next possession to tie the game at 10.

Davis capped a 12-play, 72-yard scoring drive with a 20-yard run to give Rhode Island a 17-10 lead with 1:56 to play in the first quarter. Daven Holley thwarted another Ram scoring attempt when he blocked a 29-yard field goal try midway through the second period.

Guidugli found Hannibal Thomas down the middle for a 55-yard TD strike that tied the game at 17 with 6:07 to play in the half.

Rhode Island mounted a scoring drive which the Bearcats turned back on their four. Zach Norton blocked the Rams' 21-yard field goal try-UC's second block of the day and fourth of the season.