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University of Rhode Island

malik grant at liu 092124 action
Connor Caldon
28
Winner Rhode Island URI 3-1 , 1-0
21
LIU LIU 0-4 , 0-0
Winner
Rhode Island URI
3-1 , 1-0
28
Final
21
LIU LIU
0-4 , 0-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
URI Rhode Island 7 0 0 21 28
LIU LIU 0 14 0 7 21

Game Recap: Football |

Grant Leads Rams to Victory

How it Happened
A trio of touchdowns from Malik Grant helped Rhode Island Football defeat LIU, 28-21, at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

Grant's final score, an 8-yard rush with 1:08 left, was the difference in Rhody's (3-1) first road win of the 2024 season.  

The lead was URI's first over the Sharks (0-4) since Grant capped off the team's opening drive with a 7-yard score as part of a run-heavy quarter that took just 23 minutes to complete. 

LIU had control in the second, scoring once in the air (28-yard pass) and once on the ground (7-yard run) to take a 14-7 lead. Outside of Grant's touchdown, the Rhody offense struggled to find its rhythm in the first half and possessed the ball for 8:46 compared to the Sharks' 21:14. 

The home team came out of the break looking to keep momentum on its side and got as close to taking a two-possession lead as the 1-yard line, but the defense came up with a huge fourth-down stop to terminate the threat. 

Eventually, Rhode Island's offense started to click with Hunter Helms under center. At the start of the fourth quarter, he orchestrated a nine-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in Grant's second touchdown of the afternoon, an 11-yard run that tied the game at 14 apiece. 

Both sides added additional scores to push the score to 21-21, with URI's coming on a four-yard keeper by Helms following a Cole Brockwell fumble recovery. After the defense forced the Sharks to punt on their ensuing possession, Grant found the end zone for the third and final time.

LIU earned a couple of first downs and tried to work the clock to its advantage down the stretch, but the Rams held on for the victory. 

Inside the Box Score
  • Running back Malik Grant's initial touchdown in the opening quarter was his first as a Ram. 
  • He carried the ball 20 times for 141 yards and became the first URI player to rush for three scores since Ja'Den McKenzie did so against North Carolina A&T five games ago (Oct. 28, 2023). 
  • As a team, URI ran the ball for a season-best 210 yards. 
  • Quarterback Hunter Helms completed 7-of-10 attempted passes for 90 yards, while Devin Farrell was 4-for-9 for 44 yards. 
  • A Clemson transfer, Helms' rushing touchdown was the first of his career.
  • Linebacker Cole Brockwell recorded a career-high 14 tackles while adding 1.5 tackles for loss for three yards. He was also credited with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. 
  • Linebacker A.J. Pena had 2.0 or more sacks in a game for the ninth time in his career (2.0). He added five stops.
  • Linebacker Devin Hightower notched a career-best nine tackles.
  • In total, nine players combined for 9.0 TFLs.
  • Kicker Ty Groff was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra points and is now tied with Ralph Guerriero (1980-82) for 10th in program history with 48 in his career. 
  • Adam Okonowicz made his debut as a true freshman, handling kickoff duties for the Rams. 
  • Wide receiver Greg Gaines III and defensive lineman Carson Primrose served as game captains. 
  • Defensive back Fredrick Mallay was the anchor bearer.
  • Running back Kamalie Pemberton and defensive back Antonio Morgan were named Scout Team Players of the Week. 
Up Next
The bye week. Rhode Island will continue its schedule with a game at CAA Football foe Hampton on Saturday, Oct. 5. 

 
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