Nov. 20, 2010

Box Score |  Notes |  Photo Gallery  | UMass Highlights

KINGSTON, R.I. - The Rhode Island football team (5-6: 4-4 CAA) rallied past No. 19/19 Massachusetts to claim a 37-34 victory Saturday afternoon at Meade Stadium to pick up its third win in its last four games.

Quarterback Steve Probst tied a season-high with three touchdown passes and ran for another. Senior Anthony Ferrer also chipped offensively as he rushed for a career-high 125 yards.

With the win, URI improved to 4-1 at Meade Stadium and downed its third nationally-ranked opponent at home this season.

Rhody jumped out to a 3-0 lead as junior Louis Feinstein connected on a 34-yard field goal. Feinstein's field goal capped a seven-play, 53-yard drive, which spanned 3:30.

The Minutemen fired right back as it proceeded to score on its first offensive possession to take a 7-3 lead. UMass senior Dan Sheeran hauled in a four-yard pass from senior quarterback Kyle Havens, which concluded an 11-play, 80-yard drive.

UMass would then go on to increase its lead to 14-3 thanks to a 30-yard touchdown pass from Havens to senior wide receiver Anthony Nelson. Rhody responded on its next offensive series as Feinstein drilled a season-best 45-yard field, making the count 14-6.

Feinstein's 45-yard field goal was his first field goal from beyond 40 yards since 2008.

Rhody struck again just before the half as Probst found Ferrer for a nine-yard pitch and catch, which made the score 14-13. URI's drive was set up by Jarrod Williams' third blocked punt of the year, giving the Rams great field position at the UMass.

The Rams went into the locker room trailing by just one point despite being outgained 295-155. URI's defense did limit the Minutemen to just one score in four trips to the redzone.

URI scored on its first possession of the second half as Probst found junior wide receiver Anthony Baskerville in the corner of the endzone for 25-yard strike, which gave the Rams a 20-14 lead. Baskerville's touchdown reception was his team-leading third on the year.

UMass re-claimed the lead 25 seconds later as Havens led a two play, 60-yard drive to give the Minutemen a 21-20 lead. The Minutemen found the endzone again as Hernandez raced into the endzone from 30 yards out to make the score 28-20 heading into the final frame.

In the fourth quarter, Rhody outscored the Minutemen 17-6. The Rams first score came on Feinstein's third field of the game, this one coming from 27 yards out. Rhody would then engineer its longest drive of the year as it drove 90 yards in 13 plays to take a 29-28 lead. Probst capped the drive as he plunged in from four yards out.

Following another UMass score, the Rams would then find the endzone again as Probst found Brandon Johnson-Farrell in the endzone on fourth and goal to give the Rams a 37-34 lead they would not relinquish.

The Minutemen would get one last chance as they got the ball back with 1:03 to go in the game, but junior cornerback Evan Shields intercepted Havens to secure the win.