Box Score KINGSTON, R.I.
Box Score
KINGSTON, R.I. - The University of Rhode Island suffered a 44-27 loss on Homecoming weekend to James Madison University Saturday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association action at Meade Stadium. The loss moves the Dukes to 6-1 (4-0 CAA) while the Rams fall to 1-5 (0-3 CAA).
Senior Jerell Jones (Yonkers, N.Y.) led the Rams offense with 117 rushing yards - including an 84-yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter - and also scored on a 24-yard burst in the third quarter. The 84-yard run was the seventh-longest in school history.
James Madison opened the game with a bang, scoring on a 56-yard pass from Rodney Landers to Rockeed McCarter 37 seconds into the contest. The Rams came right back and put up six points when Jones scampered 84 yards on the opening play of the ensuing drive to bring URI to within six at 7-6 following a failed PAT.
James Madison scored on their next possession, moving the ball 64 yards in nine plays and finishing with a two-yard touchdown run from Scott Noble to give the Dukes a 14-6 lead.
The Dukes booted three field goals in the second quarter to build their lead to 23-6. Jason Pritchard kicked his first-career field goal - a 50-yarder - 55 seconds into the second stanza, and Dave Stannard followed with field goals from 25 and 24 yards, respectively. The Rams scored on the final drive of the second quarter to cut the Dukes' lead to 23-13 entering halftime. URI lined up for a field goal on fourth down, but sophomore holder Shawn Leonard (Stoughton, Mass.) kept the ball and ran it in from one yard out.
Mike Caussin scored the first touchdown of the third quarter, hauling in a nine-yard pass from Landers to stretch the JMU lead to 30-13 at 5:46. The Rams answered back once again, scoring on a 24-yard run from Jones to cut the lead to 30-20 at 2:33 of the third.
URI scored again to open the fourth on an 11-yard pass from junior Derek Cassidy (Winter Haven, Fla.) to junior Jimmy Hughes (Westport, Conn.) at 14:04 to bring the Rams to within three points at 30-27.
The Dukes put the game away with two touchdowns of their own in the fourth, a 31-yard touchdown pass from Landers to Marcus Turner and a one-yard run from Griff Yancey.
Cassidy finished 184 passing yards and one touchdown while Leonard caught four passes for 57 yards. Landers tallied 152 yards on the ground and 242 and three touchdowns through the air. Junior Joe Casey (Syracuse, N.Y.) also had a productive day for the Rams, finishing with 71 yards on 16 carries.
The Rams return to action next Saturday when they travel to Virginia to face Richmond at 3:30 p.m.
