Sept. 30, 2006

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KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island fullback Joe Casey rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Rams to a 28-21 victory over Brown at Meade Stadium in the annual Governor's Cup game. Ram quarterback Derek Cassidy ran for 91 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing for a career-high 141 yards and another score in the 91st meeting between the two teams.

Rhode Island totaled 375 yards of offense, including 234 on the ground, while Brown ended the game with 364 total yards, including 288 in the air.

Rhode Island won the toss drove the opening kick-off 80 yards on 12 plays, capped by a one-yard Casey rush, to take a 7-0 lead. Brown looked to answer, but a 15-play 75-yard drive stalled on the URI 18 and a 35-yard field goal attempt by Steve Morgan sailed left as the Bears trailed, 7-0, after the first quarter.

Rhode Island totaled 21 points in the second quarter. After stopping Brown on 4th-and-1 on their own 38, the Rams would drive 62 yards on seven plays and score on a 37-yard Cassidy pass to wide out Shawn Leonard to make the score 14-0 with 11:30 on the clock. On the ensuing Brown drive, Ram defensive back Raquan Pride would intercept Joe DiGiacomo for the first of two times on the afternoon and return it to the Brown 40. After picking up six yards on first down, Casey rumbled 34 yards for his second touchdown of the day to make it a 21-0 game with 9:03 to play in the half.

Brown got on the scoreboard with a 13-play 79-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard rush by Matt Muzzo, to make the score 21-7 after one half of play.

The second half turned out to be all Brown as the Bears held URI scoreless for the final 30 minutes of play. DiGiacomo connected with Paul Raymond for an 11-yard touchdown with 3:43 remaining in the third quarter, and then again for a 61-yard strike to pull the Bears within seven points with 10:22 on the fourth quarter clock.

Brown looked to be driving for the winning score when Pride picked off DiGiacomo on the Ram 1-yardline and returned it to the Brown 49 yard line with 5:45 remaining in the game. Forcing Rhode Island to punt with 4:01 remaining in the game, Brown could not tally the equalizer and turned the ball over on downs as the Rams preserved the victory.

Brown linebacker Zak DeOssie led all tacklers with 15 stops, including 13 solo and two for a loss. Mizraim Farley led the Ram defensive corps with 10 tackles, including eight solo and two for a loss.

Rhode Island hits the road on Saturday, Oct. 7, to take on A-10-rival James Madison at 1:30 p.m.