DURHAM, N.H. — Chad Kackert rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns as eighth-ranked New Hampshire defeated Rhode Island, 55-42, on Saturday.

Quarterback R.J. Toman completed 15 of 27 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns for the Wildcats (8-1, 5-1 Colonial Athletic Association). He also rushed for 56 yards as New Hampshire won its third straight game.

Not to be outdone, URI senior quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne threw for a career-high 424 yards and four touchdowns — three of which went to senior wide receiver Shawn Leonard, who finished with a game- and career-high 275 yards receiving.

As team, Rhody outgained the Wildcats, 535-496. Defensively, URI forced three fumbles, recovering one. The Rams also intercepted Toman once.

UNH scored on its opening drive of the second half to take a 35-16 lead and appeared to have the game well in hand.

Rhody had other ideas as it went on to outscore UNH, 14-3, for the remainder of the third quarter to cut UNH’s lead to 38-30, heading into the fourth period. Paul-Etienne threw touchdown passes to Leonard (30 yards) and senior Joe Bellini (20 yards).

Rhody would then cut the UNH lead to 38-36 as Paul-Etienne hit Leonard on a slant pattern and the Massachusetts native raced 77 yards to the end zone.

The Rams went for two following the score but were unable to convert and the score remained 38-36 with just over 12 1/2 minutes remaining.

UNH then scored a pair of touchdowns in the next minutes to take 52-36 lead with 10:39 remaining in the game. URI would not go quietly as Paul-Etienne hit Leonard in the end zone for the third time, which capped a six-play, 72-yard drive.

The Wildcats added a field goal with just under six minutes remaining to take a 55-42 lead.