BRONX, N.Y. — The University of Rhode Island football team finished with just 174 yards in total offense and were shut out at Fordham yesterday, 16-0. John Skelton threw touchdown passes of 87 and 50 yards for Fordham and finished 14-for-26 for 267 yards with one interception. Xavier Martin led URI with 169 yards on 29 carries.

Jason Caldwell’s 87-yard touchdown catch midway through the second quarter made it 10-0 for the home team and Asa Lucas went 50 yards with 7:12 left in the game. Senior quarterback Derek Cassidy finished 25-for-41 for 200 yards for Rhode Island.

“We lacked execution out there today,” head coach Darren Rizzi said. “We did some really good things –– I thought special teams made some great plays –– but we were 3-for-17 on third-down conversions. While we didn’t turn the ball over, if you can’t turn some of those third downs into firsts, it adds up.”

URI’s special teams blocked a punt and an extra-point and got a solid performance from freshman punter Tim Edger –– 10 punts for 428 yards, including a long of 53 yards and five punts inside the 20.

Cassidy attempted 41 passes, completing 25 of them, for 200 yards. Five for URI had at least three receptions led by Ty Bynum, who had five catches for 43 yards. Teammate Joe Bellini hauled in four catches for 62 yards.

“Joe Bellini has been a very consistent performer for us all season long,” Rizzi said. “Overall as a team, we had too many dropped passes and missed opportunities. Derek Cassidy was 25-for-41 and that very well could have been 35.”

“Our defense played very well, but let up a few big plays and those cost us in the end,” said Rizzi.

The first Sunday game in Fordham history was necessary because rain and wind from Tropical Storm Hannah on Saturday forced a postponement.Fordham

16

URI

0

Next Game

Saturday vs.

New Hampshire

Noon