UMass QB Liam Coen, handing off during yesterday’s game against URI in Kingston, sparked the Minutemen by throwing three touchdown passes. For a gallery of photos, go to: projosports.com.

THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / John Freidah

SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Liam Coen threw three touchdown passes, including two to Victor Cruz, leading Massachusetts to a 49-0 victory over the University of Rhode Island yesterday.

Coen was 15-for-17 for 241 yards for UMass (6-3 overall, 3-2 Colonial Athletic Association). Coen’s 88.2- percent completion rate was the second-best single-game performance in school history.

Cruz finished with seven receptions for 129 yards.

URI quarterback Derek Cassidy completed 13 of 24 passes for 185 yards and two interceptions.

Massachusetts put the game away early, jumping to a 35-0 halftime lead. UMass averaged 7.2 yards per play for the game, compared to just 3.2 for the Rams (2-8, 0-6).

Tony Nelson opened the scoring less than three minutes into the first quarter on a two-yard run. Nelson, who finished with 65 yards on 12 carries, scored again on a 13-yard run, giving the Minutemen a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

Coen hit Chris Zaerdas with a two-yard touchdown pass in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Coen then hit Cruz for a two-yard score, increasing the lead to 28-0.

UMass linebacker Josh Jennings closed out the first-half scoring when he picked off a Cassidy pass and ran it back 40 yards for a touchdown.

Coen and Cruz connected again early in the third quarter on a 35-yard touchdown pass that closed out the scoring.UMass

49

URI

0

Next Game

Nov. 15

vs. Maine

12 p.m.