VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Matt Szczur ran for a touchdown and threw for one to lead Villanova to a 36-7 victory over Rhode Island on
Saturday, giving coach Andy Talley his 200th career victory.

The Wildcats (7-1, 4-1 Colonial Athletic Association) rushed for
376 yards behind Chris Whitney, who had 124 yards on 17 carries and
Aaron Ball, who added 99 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. It
was the third time Villanova has rushed for 300 or more yards in a
game.

Villanova had 500 yards of offense.

Talley is 200-120-2 in his 30th season. He was 28-18-1 in five
seasons at St. Lawrence and is 172-102-1 since arriving at
Villanova in 1985.

Szczur scored on a 1-yard run and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mikey Reynolds to help Villanova build a 21-0 lead.

Rhode Island (1-6, 0-4) scored when Chris Paul-Etienne hit Ty
Bynum on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 9:59 left in the third
quarter.

Rhode Island Football Defeated at Villanova, 36-7
Junior quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne threw for 121 yards

URI NEWS RELEASE:

Oct. 24, 2009

VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Rhode Island football team (1-6; 0-4 CAA) was defeated 36-7 at Villanova Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium.

Heavy rain covered the field for much of the game as URI managed just 151 yards of total offense.

Junior quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne led the way offensively as he went 15-of-33 for 121 yards through the air. He also threw his fourth touchdown pass of the year.

Defensively, senior Steve Weedon led the way with a career-high 14 tackles. Weedon also registered a sack and one tackle for loss.

As a team, URI forced three fumbles and recovered two of the Villanova miscues. Rhody has forced 15 fumbles and has recovered 11 this season.

Rhody’s lone score came in the third quarter as sophomore wide receiver Ty Bynum hauled in a seven-yard pass on a fade route from Paul-Etienne, which cut the Villanova lead to 21-7 with just under six minutes remaining the quarter.

Junior linebacker Dan O’Connell set up the Rams scoring drive as he recovered a fumble forced by Weedon. Paul-Etienne then directed the Rams 46 yards in nine plays for the score.

The Wildcats came right back on their next offensive series as they put together a seven-play 80 yard drive, which put Villanova back up by three scores at 28-7.

In the fourth quarter, Villanova was on the move again and was threatening to go up by 28 points as it had the ball at first and 10 on the Rhody 15-yard line.

The Rams however stopped the Wildcats drive as junior linebacker Joe Harris forced Rhody’s third fumble of the game, which fellow junior Rob Damon returned 45 yards to the Villanova 40-yard line.

Following the turnover, Rhody moved the ball to the Villanova 20-yard, but was unable to find the endzone.

Villanova opened the scoring in the first quarter as running back Matt Szczur leaped into the endzone from a yard out, which capped an 11-play 82 yard drive, spanning nearly six minutes.

The Wildcats found the endzone twice in the second quarter to increase its lead to 21-0 at the half.

Rhody was held scoreless in the first half for just the second time this season as it trailed 21-0. Villanova outgained URI 228-60 in the opening half.

URI returns to action next week as it welcomes William and Mary to Meade Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.’