How it Happened
In what took the shape of a postseason game, No. 21/25 New Hampshire handed a gut-wrenching loss to No. 22/22 Rhode Island. The host Wildcats scored the game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds left to beat URI 31-28 Saturday.

Quarterback Max Brosmer connected with D.J. Linkins for a 26-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-9 to deliver the crushing blow. The score came just minutes after Ed Lee had put Rhode Island ahead with a 15-yard touchdown catch.

Both defenses started strong, as neither team moved the ball much on their first three possessions. No. 22/22 Rhode Island (6-4, 4-3 CAA Football) finally got traction on its fourth drive. Using a two-tight end set, a 5-yard run by Jaylen Smith followed by a 26-yard gain by quarterback Kasim Hill began to soften the defense. Hill hit Kahtero Summers for 18 yards to set up a first-and-goal from the 7-yard line, and two plays later Hill dove across the goal line for a 5-yard touchdown run to give URI a 7-0 lead just five seconds into the second quarter.

No. 21/25 New Hampshire (7-3, 6-1) responded with an 11-play drive that culminated in a 30-yard field goal by Nick Mazzie. Rhody got the ball at the UNH 47 3:49 to go in the half after Darius Savedge recovered a failed onside kick attempt. On third-and-10, Hill hit John Erby for 25 yards to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Marques DeShields broke off a 19-yard touchdown run, extending the URI lead to 14-3 with 1:53 left in the half.

The Wildcats came right back with a 10-play, 79-yard drive that took just 1:42 to complete. Max Brosmer found Caleb Burke for a 4-yard touchdown pass as New Hampshire pulled within 14-10 just seven seconds before the half. Mazzie added a 40-yard field goal on the first drive of the third quarter to further trim the URI lead to 14-13.

With UNH holding momentum, Rhode Island put together its best drive of the day. Hill orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Hill to Summers. Along the way, Hill was 5-of-6 for 53 yards, including strikes of 18 yards to Summers, 14 yards to Ed Lee and 12 yards to Caleb Warren. The drive put the Rams up 21-13 with 3:49 to go in the third.

It was New Hamsphire's turn to respond, as the Wildcats drove 54 yards in six plays. Dylan Laube scored from 4-yards out, and quarterback Brosmer followed with a two-point conversion run to tie the score at 21-21 with 34 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Wildcat defense came up with a big play early in the fourth. With Rhody facing third-and-15, Dylan Ruiz strip sacked Hill, and UNH's Bryce Shaw recovered at the URI 23-yard line. With its backs against the wall, the URI defense limited the Wildcats to a 22-yard Mazzie field goal, which gave New Hampshire its first lead of the day, 24-21, with 10:46 to go.

Needing a score, Ed Lee took over for the Rams. He caught four passes for 53 yards, the last of which was a 15-yard touchdown from Hill. Twice on the drive Lee had third-down receptions that extended the drive for the Rams. His fifth touchdown of the season put the Rams back in front, 28-24, with 7:07 to go.

Unfortunately, New Hampshire got the last laugh. Brosmer conducted a 10-play, 89-yard drive in 2:04. Facing fourth-and-9 from the URI 26-yard line, he hit D.J. Linkins in the end zone for the winning points, allowing the Wildcats to pull out the victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Wide receiver Ed Lee continued his stellar season, catching a career-high nine passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.
• Cornerback Jordan Jones recorded his 27th career pass defensed in the second quarter to become URI's all-time leader. Jones later added a three more pass break ups, extending his record to 30 passes defensed.
• Jones now has 10 pass break ups this season.
• Quarterback Kasim Hill passed for 222 yards and two touchdowns while adding 43 yards and one touchdown on the ground. He surpassed 5,000 career passing yards. He had 5,051, which ranks third in program history.
• The rushing touchdown for Hill was his seventh of the season and 15th of his career at Rhode Island.
• Running back Marques DeShields rushed for 77 yards and his 11th rushing touchdown of the season.
• Wide receiver Kahtero Summers caught four passes for 68 yards and his fifth touchdown of the season.
• Cornerback Antonio Carter II matched his career high with eight tackles and added one pass break up.
• Safety Buzz Robinson recorded eight tackles, including his first sack of the season.
• Defensive lineman Matt Thomas and linebacker Evan Stewart each had 1.5 sacks.
• Also recording a sack was linebacker A.J. Pena
• Linebacker Jake Fire led the team with 10 tackles. His first stop of the game was the 200th of his career.
• Linebacker Jarrett Martin added seven tackles.
• The anchor bearer for URI was right tackle Ajani Cornelius, and the game captain was linebacker Evan Stewart.
• The attendance was 8,045.

What's Next
Rhode Island closes out the regular season with a home game against UAlbany on Saturday, Nov. 19. Before the game, the team will honor the 2022 seniors. Game time is 1:05 p.m.