Oct. 11, 2008

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TOWSON, Md. - The Rhode Island football team (2-5 overall; 0-3 CAA Football) scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough as the Rams fell 37-32 on the road at Towson.

Senior quarterback Derek Cassidy (Winter Haven, Fla.) threw for over 250 yards for the second straight game as he went 22-of-45 through the air for 265 yards. Cassidy also rushed for 56 yards.

Junior wide receiver Shawn Leonard (Stoughton, Mass.) caught six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

The Rams 32 points mark the second straight game in which URI has scored 30 points or more in a game.

URI began the game by scoring nine points in the less than two and a half minutes in the first quarter without running a single offensive play.

The Rams held the Tigers to a three and out on their first offensive series, but on fourth down Towson long snapper Chris Mann snapped the ball over punter Bill Shears' head. Shears then kicked the ball out of the endzone for a safety to give the Rams a 2-0 lead.

URI would then add to its lead as freshman Brandon Johnson-Ferrell (Odenton, Md.) returned the ensuing free kick 72 yards for a touchdown to give the Rams a 9-0 lead.

Towson responded with a 40-yard field goal to cut the Rhode Island advantage to 9-3 with 6:10 remaining in the first quarter. The Tigers drove 56 yards in 13 plays on the scoring drive.

Towson would then tie the score at nine apiece as time expired in the first quarter as it drove 80 yards in eight plays. Quarterback Sean Schaefer hit wide receiver Casey Cegles for a 24-yard touchdown pass. The Tigers were unable to take the lead as the Rams blocked the extra point.

Both teams were held scoreless in the second quarter and the score remained 9-9 at halftime.

Towson took a 16-7 lead at the start of the third quarter as Schaefer hit wide receiver David Newsom for a 64-yard touchdown pass on their first offensive series of the second half.

Rhode Island closed the lead to four points thanks to a 20-yard field goal by freshman Louis Feinstein (Irvine, Calif.). URI's scoring drive was setup by junior Rodney Mitchell's (Virginia Beach, Va.) first interception of the year.

Following the turnover, Towson would then reach the endzone on its next two offensive possessions to take a 30-12 advantage.

The Rams would cut the Tigers lead to 30-19 as Cassidy hit Leonard for a 42-yard touchdown pass, which capped a three-play 67-yard scoring drive.

Towson once again answered the Rams scoring drive as it scored on its next offensive series going 46 yards in four plays to take a 37-19 lead. Schaefer hit tight end John Godlasky for a 38-yard touchdown pass on fourth down.

Rhode Island would not go away as the Rams went seven 82 yards in seven plays to cut the lead to 37-26 with 4:46 remaining. Senior Jimmy Hughes (Westport, Conn.) scored on a one-yard run.

The Rams would get the ball back just over a minute later as sophomore Joe Harris (Lowell, Mass.) recovered Schaefer's fumble, which set up Cassidy's second touchdown pass to Leonard. Cassidy hit Leonard on a 30-yard pass on the Rams' first play after recovering the fumble.

The Rams would get the ball back on the own 11-yard line with 2:24 to go in the game, but were unable to score.

Rhode Island returns to action Oct. 18 at Noon as it welcomes Villanova to Meade Stadium for its annual homecoming game.