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University of Rhode Island

McKenzie NC A&T Touchdown
Christopher Cost-Kirkpatrick
24
N.C. A&T NCA 1-9 , 0-7
31
Winner Rhode Island URI 6-4 , 4-3
N.C. A&T NCA
1-9 , 0-7
24
Final
31
Rhode Island URI
6-4 , 4-3
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
NCA N.C. A&T 7 3 0 14 24
URI Rhode Island 7 10 7 7 31

Game Recap: Football |

McKenzie Powers Rams to Win Over North Carolina A&T

How It Happened
Ja'den McKenzie ran over, through and around the North Carolina A&T defense to lead Rhode Island to a 31-24 victory on Senior Day Saturday afternoon.

McKenzie rushed for 233 yards and three touchdowns, the last of which proved to be the game winner with 2:55 to go in the fourth quarter. His final score of the day provided the winning margin after North Carolina A&T (1-9, 0-7 CAA Football) had scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull even.

Rhode Island (6-4, 4-3 CAA Football) led 24-10 after a 30-yard McKenzie touchdown run with 38 seconds to go in the third quarter. However, the visitors got a 1-yard touchdown plunge from Kenji Christian to make it 24-17 with 9:13 to go. On Rhody's ensuing possession, quarterback Kasim Hill lost the ball while scrambling, setting up NC A&T with a first down at the URI 27. Three plays later, quarterback Eli Brickhandler ran it in from 14 yards out to help tie the game.

Despite the sudden momentum swing, Rhode Island punched back, driving 73 yards in six plays for the winning score. McKenzie rushed four times for 60 yards on the drive, including the touchdown run.

Needing a score to tie, NC A&T was driving deep in URI territory before safety Brent Jackson forced a fumble by running back Kenji Christian at the Rhody 27-yard line. Malachi Burby recovered the ball for the Rams, and the offense was able to run out the final 1:15 of the game to secure the program's fourth consecutive winning season.

Inside the Box Score
  • With the win, Rhode Island clinched its fourth consecutive winning season.
  • With a victory at Towson next week, the Rams would win seven games in three consecutive seasons for the first time in program history.
  • Running back Ja'Den McKenzie's 233 rushing yards were the third most in a single game in program history. Only Pat Abbruzzi (306 vs. New Hampshire in 1954) and David Jamison (260 vs. New Hampshire in 2001) have had more in one game.
  • McKenzie now has 11 rushing touchdowns on the season, one shy of the Rhode Island record. Abbruzzi had 12 in 1954 and Marques DeShields matched that last season.
  • Over the last two weeks, McKenzie has rushed for 368 yards and seven touchdowns.
  • Wide receiver Kahtero Summers had three catches for 69 yards and one touchdown. He has 864 receiving yards and six touchdowns this year.
  • Safety Jarrett Martin had 10 tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass break up. He combined with A.J. Pena on a sack.
  • Fellow safety Brent Jackson had 10 tackles and the pivotal forced fumble for the defense.
  • Defensive lineman Malachi Burby had one sack and the fumble recovery that sealed the win.
  • Linebacker Declan Williams had six tackles, including one sack.
  • Defensive lineman Gabe Salomons had seven tackles.
  • Defensive tackle Jasyn Andrews had four tackles and combined with linebacker Evan Stewart on a sack.
  • Defensive lineman Malachi Burby was the game captain for the Rams and center Sebastian Delasoudas was the anchor bearer.
  • Linebacker A.J. Pena was the team's flag bearer, as it was the Salute to Service game.
What's Next
Rhode Island closes out the regular season with a game at Towson on Saturday, Nov. 18. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. and will stream on FloFootball.com


 
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