How It Happened
A dominant defensive effort and a breakout performance from freshman running back Jaylen Smith sparked Rhode Island to a 28-3 victory over New Hampshire Saturday afternoon.

The Rams (7-3, 4-3 CAA Football) limited UNH (3-7, 2-5 CAA Football) to just 159 total yards of offense and 10 first downs. New Hampshire managed just 24 rushing yards, the fewest by any opponent this season. The Wildcats also had just 135 passing yards and converted just 3-of-13 on third down attempts, as the defense was clicking all day long.

Smith provided all the scoring the Rams needed on the third play from scrimmage. Taking a swing pass from Kasim Hill on third-and-from from the URI 19, Smith broke the play down the sideline 81 yards for the team's longest scoring play of the season.
 
From there, Rhode Island scored one touchdown in each quarter, all coming on touchdown passes from Hill, whose four scoring throws set a personal best. He found Matt Pires for a 6-yard touchdown in the second quarter, Smith for 2 yards on his second score of the day in the third and Ivory Frimpong for a 20-yard strike in the final quarter as Rhode Island methodically put the game away.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Jaylen Smith had his second straight 100-yard rushing performance, gaining 117 yards on 18 carries, good for 6.5 yards per attempt.
• He added three receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Over his last three games, Smith has scored four touchdowns, three of which have been on receptions.
• For the season, Smith has gone over 1,000 all-purpose yards. He has 513 kick return yards, 437 rushing yards and 108 receiving yards, good for a total of 1,058.
• Redshirt senior L.B. Mack III – the reigning CAA Defensive Player of the Week – had another dominant performance. He finished with eight tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
• Over the last two weeks, Mack has 5.5 sacks and he has moved into fourth place on URI's all-time list with 21.0 career sacks.
• It was the fifth time in his career Mack has recorded two or more sacks in a game.
• With 36.5 career tackles for loss, Mack is now second all time at URI, behind only Frank Ferrara (49 from 1994-97).
• Rhode Island's defense recorded six pass break ups, including three by Jordan Jones. URI has 46 break ups this season, the third most in a season in program history.
• The Rams also had five sacks, giving them nine over the last two weeks. Mack (2.0), Jones (1.0), Andre Bibeault (1.0), Jake Fire (0.5) and James Makszin (0.5) all got into the act.
• Coby Tippett had a 45-yard interception return in the fourth quarter to help set up the final touchdown of the game.
• Tippett also had a 35-yard punt return in the third quarter. He had 53 total punt return yards on the day, giving him 226 on the season.
• The 226 punt return yards are tied with Cy Butler (1996) for the fifth most in a season in program history.
• Kasim Hill was 12-of-23 for 221 yards and four touchdowns.
• For the season, he has passed for 1,775 yards and 15 touchdowns with just four interceptions.
• With his first of four extra points, kicker C.J. Carrick became Rhode Island's all-time leading scorer. He has 260 career points, passing quarterback Jayson Davis (256 from 2017-21).
• Game captains were Andre Blackett and Joey Kenny, while the anchor bearer was Henry Yianakopolos.

What's Next
Rhode Island finishes the regular season with a game at Elon on Saturday, Nov. 20. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.