Sept. 23, 2006
Stats
KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island quarterback Derek Cassidy rushed for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns while halfback Jimmy Hughes totaled a game-high 106 yards on the ground, but it was No. 18 Delaware scoring 14 fourth-quarter points en route to a 24-17 victory in both teams' Atlantic 10 Conference opener, Saturday, at Meade Stadium.
On the Rams' first play from scrimmage, Hughes rambled 53 yards to the Delaware 29-yardline, but two penalties stalled the drive and URI would settle for a 29-yard field goal by Colin Gallagher to lead 3-0 with 11:54 to play in the quarter.
Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco started the ensuing Blue Hen drive by completing a 51-yard pass to Mark Duncan, but three consecutive incomplete passes led to a 36-yard field goal by Zach Hobby to tie the score, 3-3.
On its next drive, Rhode Island reached the Delaware 33, before Cassidy threw an interception to Kyle Campell. The Blue Hens would drive to the URI 35 before turning the ball over on downs, failing to convert on fourth-and-six. The Rams would capitalize, piecing together an 11-play, 65-yard drive capped by a Cassdiy scoring plunge that gave URI a 10-3 lead with :07 to play in the first quarter.
Flacco, who finished the day completing 15-of-30 passes for 205 yards, threw an interception to URI's Virgil Gray on Delaware's first drive of the second half. The Blue Hens forced a URI punt, and would score after a 13-play, 74-yard drive that culminated in an 11-yard scoring jaunt by Jared Bradley that made the score 10-10 after one half of play.
On Delaware's opening drive of the second half, URI's Nick Levy sacked Flacco for a seven-yard loss and also brought down running back Omar Cuff for a one-yard loss. Flacco was brought down again on third-down by Michael Bland for a five-yard loss forcing another Blue Hen punt. URI put together a 12-play, 38-yard scoring drive that ended with Cassidy's second touchdown of the day to put Rhode Island on top, 17-10, with 8:08 to play in the third quarter.
After holding Delaware without a first-down on its next three possessions, Rhode Island would open the fourth quarter with the ball its own 29-yard line. A costly fumble by Joe Casey on the first play of the drive gave the Blue Hens the ball that they drove 30 yards and into the endzone on a one-yard dive by Cuff to tie the score at 17-17 with 11:13 to play in the game.
After forcing Rhode Island to punt, Delaware would take the lead after a six-play, 62-yard drive, finished off by a three-yard Flacco rush, for the final 24-17 tally.
Rhode Island's L.T. Brantley led all defenders with 13 stops, including eight solo tackles.
The Rams return to action next Saturday, Sept. 30, hosting in-state rival Brown at 12:00 p.m. in the annual Governor's Cup contest.
