Oct. 7, 2006

Stats

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Rhode Island sophomore quarterback Derek Cassidy rushed for three touchdowns while throwing for a career-high 153 yards, but it was No. 13 James Madison holding off the Rams, 35-23, in Atlantic 10 football action this afternoon in Virginia.

Sophomore fullback Joe Casey rushed for 163 yards, while sophomore halfback Jimmy Hughes totaled 140 yards of total offense (87 rushing, 53 receiving) to lead the Rams.

The Rams got the ball first and jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead. A 20-yard run by Casey, followed by a 57-yard run by Hughes put the Rams on the JMU five-yard line. Three plays later, Cassidy would score from five yards out to put URI on top with 12:19 on the clock.

The two teams combined for 30 points in the second quarter. The Rams would piece together a 14-play, 49-yard drive to the Duke 30 to set up a 47-yard field goal by Colin Gallagher to make the score 10-0 with 7:06 to play in the first half.

JMU would answer, returning the kickoff to the URI 36 and punching it in with a three-play, :48-second drive capped by a seven-yard rush by Alvin Banks to make it 10-7 with 6:18 on the clock.

On the second play of the ensuing drive, a Cassidy interception led to a four-play 46-yard JMU scoring drive, finished off by a 26-yard TD pass from Justin Rascati to D.D. Boxley, to make it 14-10 with 4:23 to play in the half.

The Rams would bounce back with an 11-play, 79-yard drive, finished off by a two-yard scoring rush by Cassidy put URI back on top. The drive was highlighted by a 21-yard Cassidy pass completion to freshman Tolbert Evans on third-and-10 that was tipped by a JMU defender, and a 34-yard completion to Shawn Leonard that put the Rams on the JMU two-yardline. Gallagher's extra point attempt was blocked to make the score, 16-14, with :52 seconds remaining the half.

JMU only needed :46 seconds and four plays to go 64 yards and score on a 28-yard Rascati-to-Bransford touchdown pass to take a 21-16 lead into halftime.

After forcing the Dukes to punt to open the third quarter, The Rams would drive 91 yards on 13 plays and take a 23-21 lead on Cassidy's third score of the day from one yard out with 5:31 on the clock. The drive appeared to be stalled on fourth-and-five on the JMU 33 and the Rams lined up for a 47-yard field goal attempt. Holder Bryan Giannaccini pitched the ball to Casey who looked to be running for the first down, but instead threw a 19-yard completion to Hughes to get to the JMU 14.

In the fourth quarter, James Madison would retake the lead after a 64-yard run by Eugene Holloman made the score 28-23 with 10:29 to play in the game.

With URI driving with 1:46 to play in the game, JMU forced a Casey fumble on their own 26 and returned it for a touchdown for the final 35-23 score.