#10 URI Wins First Playoff Game in 39 Years

How It Happened
No. 10 Rhode Island used a dominant defensive effort and a second straight 200-yard rushing performance by Malik Grant to defeat Central Connecticut State 21-17 in the opening round of the FCS playoffs Saturday. It was the first postseason game in 39 years for the program.

The Rams (11-2) had three interceptions – including a pick-6 by safety Emmanual Gomes – and limited NEC-champion CCSU (7-6) to 271 total yards of offense. With the defense stifling the Blue Devils, Grant churned out 223 yards on the ground to move the chains for Rhode Island.

While Grant carried the bulk of the load, Rhody’s offensive Swiss army knife Tommy Smith had a 38-yard touchdown catch and a 6-yard touchdown run out of the Wildcat formation to provide the scoring by the offense.

Smith got the Rams on the scoreboard with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Helms with 2:31 left in the first quarter. Just 14 seconds of game clock later, Gomes picked off Brady Olson for a 42-yard touchdown return for a 14-0 lead.

CCSU got touchdown passes from Olson to wide receiver Isaac Boston in the second and third quarters to tie the score. The score was again tied to start the fourth quarter. A 23-yard punt return by Shawn Harris, Jr. set up Rhody at the CCSU 32-yard line.

Six plays later, Smith took a direct snap at the 6-yard line and ran through the right side of the line for what turned out to be the game’s winning touchdown. CCSU got a 32-yard field goal with 4:47 to go, but the URI offense picked up two first downs and chewed nearly four minutes off the clock before punting to the Blue Devils.

On first-and-10 from his own 20, Olson dropped back to pass, but Carson Primrose batted the ball into the air and lineman Westley Neal, Jr. picked the ball off to secure the win.

Inside the Box Score
Rhode Island set a program record with its 11th win. The Rams are 3-0 all time in home playoff games.
Running back Malik Grant broke Rhode Island’s single-season rushing record by going for 223 yards on the ground. He now has 1,390 rushing yards, breaking David Jamison’s mark of 1,302 in 2001.
Grant also became the first player in program history with back-to-back 200-yard games. He had 204 at Bryant in the regular season finale.
Grant joined Pat Abbruzzi as the only players in program history with multiple 200-yard games.
Linebacker A.J. Pena had five tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
He has 20 tackles for loss this year, the third most in program history.
Safety Emmanuel Gomes, defensive tackle Westley Neal, Jr. and defensive back D.J. Cureton each had an interception.
Linebacker Gabe Salomons and defensive back Braden Price had five tackles each. Price also broke up a pass.
Nine different players had at least three tackles as the URI defense swarmed the ball all game.
Wide receiver Greg Gaines III had five catches for 71 yards to lead Rhody.
Fellow wideout Marquis Buchanan caught five passes for 24 yards. He now has 1,005 receiving yards on the season, making this the first time in program history the Rams have had a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver in the same season.
Quarterback Hunter Helms was 18-of-28 for 208 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He has now passed for 1,004 yards on the year, giving Rhody two 1,000-yard passers in the same year. Devin Farrell passed for 1,670 yards before suffering an injury at Delaware.
The anchor bearer for the game was cornerback Fredrick Mallay.
Tight end Tommy Smith and safety Emmanuel Gomes were the game captains.
Linebackers Gabe Franco and Marquese Avery were the scout team players of the week.
Up Next
Rhode Island travels to No. 7 seed Mercer for a second-round match up on Saturday, Dec. 7. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.