Spring Break
Homecoming bittersweet, URI football loses to Richmond 31-6
Craig Flanagan
Issue date: 10/17/06 Section: Sports
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10/17/06 -Once again the University of Rhode Island football team's offense couldn't get it done.
The Rams managed 125 passing yards and a season low 123 yards rushing as the Richmond Spiders trounced Rhode Island 31-6 in the annual homecoming game.
Freshman quarterback John Butler, replacing injured starter Derek Cassidy, completed four of 10 passes for 64 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the loss.
"This was a difficult homecoming loss and we were beat by a better football team," head coach Tim Stowers said. "This is a team that beat [Duke University] earlier in the year and that's saying something. They were just better."
Sophomore running back Joe Casey rushed for 65 yards and caught a pass for 14 yards in the game.
"We faced teams just as difficult as [Richmond] before and I just need to work on making play," Casey said. "The offensive line did the best they could but you could tell they were well coached."
Also playing in the game was true freshman D.J. Stefkovich, who entered the game in the fourth quarter after Butler left with an apparent shoulder injury, was four-for-eight passing for 61 yards.
"D.J. wasn't expecting to play today and I thought he responded well," Stowers said. "For a true freshman he showed a lot of presence out there."
After moving the ball past the 50-yard line, the Spiders opening drive was stopped at the Ram 25-yard line on an interception by senior Raquan Pride.
After the interception, Butler completed a pass to Jimmy Hughes for a 19-yard gain, setting up a 36-yard pass to freshman Marcel Roberson. The Rams came out with a 6-0 lead after senior Colin Gallagher's extra point attempt failed.
At the beginning of the second quarter, the Spiders responded with a 23-yard pass from quarterback Eric Ward to Matt Hale, which was set up by a key fourth and 5 conversion. Richmond took the lead 7-6 and added a 25-yard field goal with 52 seconds left to add to their lead, as the Rams were unable to get any offense going.
The Rams managed 125 passing yards and a season low 123 yards rushing as the Richmond Spiders trounced Rhode Island 31-6 in the annual homecoming game.
Freshman quarterback John Butler, replacing injured starter Derek Cassidy, completed four of 10 passes for 64 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the loss.
"This was a difficult homecoming loss and we were beat by a better football team," head coach Tim Stowers said. "This is a team that beat [Duke University] earlier in the year and that's saying something. They were just better."
Sophomore running back Joe Casey rushed for 65 yards and caught a pass for 14 yards in the game.
"We faced teams just as difficult as [Richmond] before and I just need to work on making play," Casey said. "The offensive line did the best they could but you could tell they were well coached."
Also playing in the game was true freshman D.J. Stefkovich, who entered the game in the fourth quarter after Butler left with an apparent shoulder injury, was four-for-eight passing for 61 yards.
"D.J. wasn't expecting to play today and I thought he responded well," Stowers said. "For a true freshman he showed a lot of presence out there."
After moving the ball past the 50-yard line, the Spiders opening drive was stopped at the Ram 25-yard line on an interception by senior Raquan Pride.
After the interception, Butler completed a pass to Jimmy Hughes for a 19-yard gain, setting up a 36-yard pass to freshman Marcel Roberson. The Rams came out with a 6-0 lead after senior Colin Gallagher's extra point attempt failed.
At the beginning of the second quarter, the Spiders responded with a 23-yard pass from quarterback Eric Ward to Matt Hale, which was set up by a key fourth and 5 conversion. Richmond took the lead 7-6 and added a 25-yard field goal with 52 seconds left to add to their lead, as the Rams were unable to get any offense going.
