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University of Rhode Island

120724 rhody at mercer postgame
Connor Caldon
10
Rhode Island URI 11-3 , 7-1
17
Winner Mercer MER 11-2 , 7-1
Rhode Island URI
11-3 , 7-1
10
Final
17
Mercer MER
11-2 , 7-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
URI Rhode Island 0 3 7 0 10
MER Mercer 7 0 0 10 17

Game Recap: Football |

Football Season Ends With 17-10 Loss at Mercer

How It Happened
No. 10 Rhode Island saw its storybook season come to an end with a 17-10 loss at No. 7 Mercer in the second round of the FCS playoffs Saturday.

Rhode Island (11-3) appeared to take a lead late in the first quarter when Shawn Harris returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown. Upon review, the play was overturned and URI was whistled for a fair-catch infraction. It was one of two first-half touchdowns called back for Rhode Island, as a Harris touchdown catch was wiped out by a penalty.

On the next snap. Mercer's Myles Redding intercepted Hunter Helms for a 25-yard interception return as the host Bears went ahead 7-0. Rhody closed the gap on the final play of the half when Ty Groff made a 17-yard field goal to make it 7-3 at the midpoint.

Rhode Island took its first lead of the game late in the third quarter. Helms connected with Marquis Buchanan on a 56-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline. The touchdown helped URI pull in front 10-7.

The fourth quarter was all Mercer. On the second snap of the quarter, Whitt Newbauer found Adjatay Dabbs for a 4-yard touchdown pass on third-and-4 to push the Bears back ahead, 14-10. A 24-yard field goal by Reice Griffith made it 17-10 with 6:10 to go.

Rhode Island had the makings of a potential game-tying drive. A 34-yard pass from Helmes to Greg Gaines III moved the ball into Mercer territory for the Rams. The drive stalled at the 32-yard line and URI was unable to convert on third-and-2 or fourth-and-2, giving the ball back to Mercer. The Bears were able to run out the final 2:56 to advance to the FCS quarterfinals.

Inside the Box Score
  • Wide receiver Marquis Buchanan had 11 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown.
  • He finished the season with 82 catches for 1,124 yards and eight trips to the end zone.
  • Fellow wideout Greg Gaines III added five catches for 81 yards.
  • Quarterback Hunter Helmes was 22-of-33 for 266 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
  • Linebackers Devin Hightower and A.J. Pena led the defense with seven tackles each. Hightower had one sack and Pena had 2.5 tackles for loss.
  • Defensive tackle Westley Neal, Jr. had five tackles, two sacks and one pass break up.
  • Mercer limited Rhode Island to 49 rushing yards.
  • URI was 3-of-14 on third downs.
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