How it Happened
No. 11/10 Rhode Island (8-2, 5-1 CAA Football) ran out of fourth quarter magic, coming up short in a 24-21 loss at Delaware Saturday afternoon. The host Blue Hens (8-1, 5-1 CAA Football) scored 17 unanswered points and then held off the Rams, snapping URI's seven-game winning streak in the process.

Delaware scored on its opening possession, moving the ball 92 yards in seven plays, with Nick Minicucci scoring on a 1-yard quarterback keeper. The drive was keyed by a 44-yard run by Marcus Yarns through the middle of the defense.

Rhody's defense came up with two big plays late in the quarter to help the Rams score 14 unanswered points. A strip sack by linebacker Harold Miles III gave Rhode Island the ball at the Delaware 35-yard line. Three plays later, Hunter Helms - who came on for an injured Devin Farrell - found Marquis Buchanan for a 22-yard touchdown pass on his first attempt of the day, helping Rhody tie the game.

On the ensuing Delaware possession, Minicucci fumbled on a 2-yard rush. URI linebacker Devin Hightower recovered the ball at the 21-yard line and returned it for Rhody's second touchdown in 13 seconds of game time.

Delaware came right back on its next possession. Yarns took a direct snap and ran for a 27-yard touchdown to once again tie the score at 14-14 just three plays into the second quarter. The Blue Hens added a 25-yard field goal just before the half for a 17-14 lead heading into the break.

Minicucci hit Jake Thaw with a 7-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone. The fourth-and-3 play with 3:56 to go in the third was reviewed and it appeared the ball moved in Thaw's hands as he slid out of bounds.

Facing a 10-point deficit, Rhode Island got a 20-yard touchdown catch from Greg Gaines III with 6:23 remaining to cut the lead to 24-21. A fortunate bounce on the ensuing kickoff meant Delaware started at its own 7-yard line. The Blue Hens converted a key third-and-12 from their own 5-yard line, which allowed them to eat more than five minutes off the clock as Delaware drove to the URI 38.

The Rams got the ball at their own 11-yard line with 59 seconds to go, but linebacker Gavin Moul picked off Hunter Helms to seal the victory for Delaware.

Inside the Box Score

• Despite the loss, Rhode Island can still win a share of the CAA Football title by winning against UAlbany and at Bryant. Because Delaware is transitioning to FBS, games against the Blue Hens do not count in terms of the league championship. So if URI wins its final two games and Richmond also wins out, the teams would share the title.
• The Delaware results would still impact the league automatic bid to the FCS postseason. If Richmond and URI both win out, the Spiders' win over Delaware would give them the edge for the automatic bid.
• Other teams could potentially finish 7-1, but because the loss was to someone other than Delaware, those teams would not share the title.
• Wide receiver Marquis Buchanan had another big day, catching five passes for 85 yards and a touchdown.
• Quarterback Hunter Helms was 15-of-23 for 181 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
• Linebacker Devin Hightower led the defense with 10 tackles, a 21-yard fumble return for a touchdown and two quarterback hurries.
• Linebacker Gabe Salomons had five tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass break up.
• Delaware had 17 points on three red zone trips. Rhody had a touchdown on its lone trip inside the 20.
• The Blue Hens were 8-for-16 on third downs and 2-for-2 on fourth-down conversions.
• The game captains were linebacker A.J. Pena and center Tre Alexander, while the anchor bearer was wide receiver Tommy Smith.
• Tight end Jeremy Caspe and linebacker Gage Hinkley were the scout team players of the week.

Up Next
Rhode Island returns home for Senior Day against UAlbany on Saturday, Nov. 16. Kickoff is 1 p.m. on FloFootball.com.