Nov. 7, 2009

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DURHAM, N.H. - Senior quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne threw for a career-high 424 yards through the air, but it was not enough as Rhode Island fell 55-42 at No. 8 New Hampshire.

Paul-Etienne also threw a career-high four touchdown passes three of which went to senior wide receiver Shawn Leonard, who finished with a game and career-high 275 yards receiving.

As team, Rhody outgained the Wildcats 535-496. Defensively, URI forced three fumbles, recovering two. The Rams also intercepted UNH quarterback R.J. Toman once.

UNH scored on its opening drive of the second half to take a 35-16 lead and appeared to have the game well in hand.

Rhody had other ideas as it went on to outscore UNH 14-3 for the remainder of the third quarter to cut UNH's lead to 38-30, heading into the fourth quarter.

Paul-Etienne threw touchdown passes to Leonard (30 yards) and senior Joe Bellini (20 yards) in the third quarter.

Rhody would then cut the UNH lead to 38-36, as Paul-Etienne hit Leonard on a slant pattern, which the Massachusetts native then raced 72 yards to the endzone for his second score of the afternoon.

The Rams went for two following the score, but were unable to convert and the score remained 38-36 with just over 12 and a half minutes remaining.

UNH then scored a pair of touchdowns in the next minutes to take 52-36 lead with 10:39 remaining in the game. URI would not go quietly as Paul-Etienne hit Leonard in the endzone for the third time, which capped a six-play, 72-yard drive.

The Wildcats added a field goal with just under six minutes remaining to take a 55-42 lead that it would not relinquish.

In the first half, Rhody wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as it drove 71 yards on its opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. Paul-Etienne capped the drive with a one-yard rush up the middle. Junior running back Anthony Ferrer had the key play on the drive as he rushed 21 yards down the sideline to set up the score.

Rhody would not hold the lead for long as the Wildcats drove 70 yards in four plays to tie the game at seven. UNH running back Chad Kackert rushed in from 57 yards out to even the score.

URI re-claimed the lead as sophomore kicker Louis Feinstein connected on a 39-yard field goal to give the Rams a 10-7 lead.

UNH would then go on to score 21 unanswered points to take a 28-10 with just under four and a half minutes remaining. Two of UNH's touchdowns were courtesy of running back Sean Jellison.

Following Jellison's second touchdown run, the Wildcats got the ball back after UNH defensive back Dino Vasso picked off Paul-Etienne.

URI got the ball back on the following play as junior Joe Harris a forced fumble, which fellow junior linebacker Rob Damon recovered to give the Rams a first and 10 situation on the UNH 41-yard line.

Rhody would then go drive 41 yards in six plays to cut the UNH lead to 28-16 heading into the locker room.

URI returns to action next week as it heads North to take on Maine. Kickoff is set for Noon.