Second Half Surge Lifts Nova Over URI

Second Half Surge Lifts Nova Over URI

For one half on Saturday, all was right with URI football.

The Rams, who were coming off of an embarrassing defeat at Monmouth two weeks ago were leading Villanova 10-7 in Philadelphia after two quarters. But then the Wildcats came to life. Nova outscored Rhody 24-0 in the game’s final 30 minutes en route to a 31-10 win in CAA action.

Things didn’t look good early for URI as Villanova’s Kevin Monangai out the Cats up 7-0 just over a minute into the contest with his 1-yard TD run making it 7-0.

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But URI settled down and answered with a touchdown drive of its own on the ensuing possession. QB Bob Bensten (14-23 for 128 yards, 1 TD 1 INT) hit Billy Morgan (5 rec. for 57 yards, 1 TD) from 25-yards out to tie the game at 7-7.

A Dylan Smith 25-yard field goal with less than 5 minutes to play in the half put Rhody up 10-7 at the break. But that was all she wrote!

A reenergized Villanova team rushed for 173 yards against the Rhody defense in the second half dominating the line of scrimmage. The Wildcats finished with 244 yards on the ground for the game.

Villanova improves to (2-1) with the win while Rhode Island falls to (0-2). Things don’t get any easier for the Rams who play their home opener next Saturday at Meade Stadium against 4th-ranked James Madison at 1pm.