Rhody Snaps Three Game Losing Streak with First FBS Win since 2000

Rhode Island recorded the second win over an FBS school in program history, drubbing Massachusetts 35-22 Saturday evening. URI beat Connecticut 26-21 in 2000, UConn’s first season at the FBS level.

Rhode Island (6-3) got on the board first when Coby Tippett’s 56-yard punt return set up the Rams inside the UMass 10-yard line. Rhody started the drive first-and-goal at the 8-yard line, and Kasim Hill ran it across for an early 7-0 lead.

UMass (1-8) came right back, riding burly running back Ellis Merriweather. He ran seven times for 53 yards on the ensuing possession. Quarterback Tyler Lytle ran it in from 3 yards out to pull UMass within 7-6, but the extra point failed. On the first Massachusetts possession of the second quarter, kicker Cameron Carson made a 39-yard field goal to put the Minutemen up, 9-7.

Rhode Island responded right away, driving 66 yards in seven plays for a touchdown when Kill found Ed Lee for a 5-yard strike, helping the Rams move back in front, 14-9, with 9:33 left in the quarter. The two big plays on the drive were a 34-yard pass from Hill to Joey Kenny and a roughing the passer call against UMass on a third-and-9 play that extended the drive.

Kenny later caught his first touchdown of the season on a 3-yard pass from Hill to push the Rhody lead to 21-9 with 2:45 left in the half. Hill passed for 54 yards on the drive. UMass struck just before the break when Lytle hit Josiah Johnson for a 3-yard touchdown pass with 12 second in the half, closing the gap to 21-16.

Hill found the end zone for the second time late in the third quarter. His 2-yard run on a run action play capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive. A 34-yard strike to Paul Woods was the big chunk play on the possession. The drive pushed URI’s lead to 28-16. Later in the quarter, Jaylen Smith broke off a 72-yard touchdown run to make the score 35-16.

Merriweather had a 1-yard plunge with 8:50 to go to trim the Rhode Island lead to 35-22. That was where the scoring ended as Rhode Island clinched its third winning season in four years.

Inside the Box Score
Redshirt senior L.B. Mack III had six tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. It was just the seventh time in program history a URI player had three or more sacks in a game, and the first since Brandon Ginnetti did so at UAlbany in 2017.
Mack moved into a tie for sixth place in program history with 19.0 career sacks and a tie for third in team history with 34.5 career tackles for loss.
Redshirt freshman Evan Stewart had a team-high seven tackles.
Freshman defensive tackle Westley Neal, Jr had two tackles for loss.
Redshirt junior Kasim Hill passed for 169 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 32 yards and two touchdowns.
Rhode Island improved to 6-0 when Hill rushes for 30 or more yards.
Freshman Jaylen Smith had his first career 100-yard rushing game, gaining 111 yards on 16 carries, including his first career rushing touchdown. The touchdown came on a 72-yard run.
The 72-yard rush was the longest for URI since Jerell Jones had an 84-yard run against James Madison on Oct. 13, 2007.
Redshirt junior Ed Lee’s touchdown catch was his first of the season and second of his career.
Redshirt senior Joey Kenny had two catches for 37 yards, including the third touchdown reception of his career.
Junior Paul Woods had three catches for 55 yards, while senior Ivory Frimpong had two catches for 47 yards.
Senior Coby Tippett had his second punt return of 50 yards or longer this season. His 56-yard punt return in the first quarter set up URI’s first touchdown, giving the Rams first-and-goal at the UMass 8-yard line.
Tippett now has 173 punt return yards on the season, the ninth-highest single-season total in program history.
Senior C.J. Carrick was 5-for-5 on extra points and now has 256 career points, tying him with Jayson Davis (2002-05) for the school record.
Redshirt freshman tight end Brady Roark made his first career start in place of Caleb Warren, who missed the game with injury.
Game captains were Caleb Warren and Coby Tippett, while the anchor bearer was L.B. Mack III.
What’s Next
Rhode Island plays its final home game of the season when it hosts New Hampshire on Saturday, Nov. 13. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. Before the game, the team will hold its Senior Day ceremony.