SOUTH KINGSTOWN –– Rhode Island fell, 37-7, to nationally-ranked Maine yesterday on a wet, muddy day at Meade Stadium.

Both teams were unable to score in the first quarter, but URI would break the scoreless tie in the second quarter as it engineered a 10-play, 80-yard drive that spanned 4:39. Jimmy Hughes capped the drive with a 16-yard rush. Senior quarterback Derek Cassidy was 4-for-5 for 46 yards on the drive. Cassidy finished the day 18-of-31 for 128 yards.

Hughes led the way offensively for the Rams as he rushed for 54 yards on 12 carries (4.5 yards per carry).

Maine responded with a drive of its own as it went 66 yards in five plays to even the score at seven points apiece.

The Black Bears would then take a 9-7 lead when its defense tackled Cassidy in the end zone for a safety.

Following the Rams’ kickoff from their own 20-yard line, Maine would score seven plays later as quarterback Michael Brusko hit wide receiver Tyrell Jones for a 12-yard touchdown pass.

In the second half, Maine (8-3) shut out Rhode Island, 21-0, to secure the win. Redshirt freshman Jared Turcotte scored a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Black Bears.

Defensively for the URI, sophomore linebacker Matt Hansen (Providence) led the way for the Rams as he tallied career-high 15 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. Fellow URI linebacker Jeff Ball (Lansdale, Pa.) also recorded double-digit tackles on the day as he finished with 11.

Hansen leads the team with 105 tackles, this season.

URI (2-9 overall, 0-7 CAA) returns to action on Nov. 22, as it travels Northeastern for a 1 p.m. game that closes out this season.