URI Beats Central Connecticut State 21-17 in Opening Round of FCS Playoffs
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URI Beats Central Connecticut State 21-17 in Opening Round of FCS Playoffs
The tenth-ranked URI Rams (11-2) earned the victory on a 200-yard rushing performance by Malik Grant and three interceptions – including a pick-6 by safety Emmanual Gomes.
NEC-champion CCSU (7-6) was limited to 271 total yards of offense on Saturday in Kingston.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe next game for the Rams will be at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia on December 7 at 2 PM.
Game Notes
URI's Tommy Smith put the Rams on the scoreboard with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Helms with 2:31 left in the first quarter.
Then, 14 seconds later into the game, 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 took 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.