Aug. 31, 2006
Stats
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Rhode Island opened its 107th football season off with a 52-7 loss at Connecticut, Thursday, in East Hartford, Conn. The Rams (0-1) rolled up 293 yards of total offense, including a 25-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Derek Cassidy to sophomore Nick Del Grosso in the second quarter, but it was Connecticut compiling 568 yards en route to the victory.
Rhode Island started the game with a little trickery as sophomore Joe Bellini recovered an on-side kick to give the Rams possession on their own 46-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, the Rams, who finished third in the nation last season in rushing offense, picked up 18 yards on a pass as sophomore Derek Cassidy connected with sophomore halfback Marcel Roberson. Four plays later, a 51-yard field goal attempt by senior Colin Gallagher fell short and the Huskies took possession at their own 34-yard line.
UConn only needed three plays to find the end zone as D.J. Hernandez hooked up with Larry Taylor for a 24-yard pass play that gave the Huskies a 7-0 lead after the extra point with 11:28 to play in the quarter.
UConn would score 17-unanswered points to take a 24-0 lead with 7:19 to play in the second quarter.
Rhode Island would get on the board with a 10-play, 76-yard drive over 4:29 that was punctuated by the 25-yard Cassidy-Del Grosso touchdown connection to make the score 24-7 with 2:50 on the first-half clock.
The Huskies would bounce right back as Hernandez hooked up with Brandon Young for a 51-yard touchdown pass to make it a 31-7 UConn lead that it would take into halftime.
Connecticut would tack on another score after an 11-play, 63-yard drive finished off by a four-yard rush by Lou Allen to lead 38-7 with 2:30 to play in the third quarter.
After the ensuing URI drive stalled on its own 46, junior Bryan Giannecchini would pin the Huskies on their own 1-yard line with a 53-yard put. Connecticut would respond by driving the length of the field with a nine-play drive, resulting in a 3-yard touchdown run by Don Brown to make the score, 45-7, with 10:14 to play in the game.
The Rams return home next Saturday (Sept. 9) for a 12:00 p.m. kickoff with first-time opponent Merrimack.
