KINGSTON, R.I. - Junior quarterback
Derek Cassidy (Winter Haven, Fla.) scored four touchdowns and freshman back
Anthony Ferrer (West Greenwich, R.I.) rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown as the University of Rhode Island football team capped its 2007 season with a 35-30 win over Northeastern University in CAA Football action Saturday afternoon at Meade Stadium.
Cassidy rushed for two touchdowns and also threw scoring passes to junior Jimmy Hughes (Westport, Conn.) and sophomore Shawn Leonard (Stoughton, Mass.) as the Rams capped their season winning two of their last three games to finish the season at 3-8 (2-6 CAA). He gained 71 yards on 16 rushes and also passes for 123 yards.
"This was a total team effort," said URI head coach Tim Stowers. "Derek Cassidy continues to improve as a starting quarterback, and Anthony Ferrer stepped in for (injured RB) Joe Casey and played well. It's always great when a local guy rushes for over 100 yards."
The Huskies (3-8, 2-6 CAA) rushed out to a 14-0 lead behind a five-yard touchdown run from Alex Broomfield and a 14-yard sprint from Maurice Murray in the first quarter. Cassidy led the Rams on a scoring drive of their own just before the first quarter expired, capping off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to bring the Rams to within a touchdown at 14-7. Murray finished the opening stanza with 113 yards rushing, including a 47-yard burst that set up the Huskies second touchdown.
Mat Johnson booted a 38-yard field goal with 3:24 remaining in the second quarter to push the Northeastern lead to 10 at 17-7. Just 1:27 later, Cassidy threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Hughes that cut the deficit to three at 17-14. After senior Raji El-Amin (Rochester, N.Y.) recovered an on-sides kick for Rhode Island, Cassidy connected with Leonard on a four-yard touchdown pass in the right corner of the enzone to give the Rams a 21-14 lead heading to the locker room.
Northeastern opened the scoring in the second half when quarterback Anthony Orio rushed in from eight-yards out to the Huskies a 24-21 lead. The ensuring URI drive stalled, but the Rams regained momentum when senior Adrian Owen (Jacksonville, Fla.) picked off Orio and returned the pick four yards to the NU 20. Five plays later, Cassidy plunged into the endzone from two-yards out to give the Rams the lead for good at 28-24 with 42 seconds remaining in the third.
The Rhode Island defense answered the offensive touchdown with a solid stand of their own, and when the Huskies snapped the ball over punter Ron Conway's head on a fourth-and-six, the Rams took over possession at the Huskies 29-yard line. Five plays later, Ferrer scored his second-career touchdown with 12:09 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Rams a 35-24 lead.
NU climbed to within five points at 35-30 after Darryl Jones scooped up a blocked punt by Lloyd Clarke and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown with 5:24 remaining. URI converted three third-downs on their next drive and were able to run the clock out.
Senior running back Jerell Jones (Yonkers, N.Y.) picked up 51 yards on nine carries out of the backfield for URI and also returned a pair of punts for a combined 66 yards. Hughes, meanwhile, finished with a game-high 88 receiving yards. El-Amin and classmate Steve Marrella (Fitchburg, Mass.) each finished with seven tackles in their final game in keaney blue and white while another pair of seniors - Nick Levy (Pittstown, Pa.) and Ki'Ameer Johnson (Jersey City, N.J) - each finished with six tackles.
Murray finished with 182 rushing yards for the Huskies, and in the process became the school's all-time rushing leader. His first-quarter touchdown also gave him the school's all-time scoring mark. Orio finished the afternoon 10-of-21 for 104 yards and one interception.
