Team effort enables Rhode Island win over Fordham
Trevor Dorchies
Issue date: 9/10/09 Section: Sports
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Rhode Island held off Fordham 41-28 at Meade Stadium.
The Rams got off to a fast start, scoring only 2:03 into the game. Junior running back and Cranston West product Anthony Ferrer struck first and scampered 1 yard for the score, opening the flood-gates.
A little more than four minutes later, sophomore kicker Louis Feinstein split the uprights from 25 yards out, pushing the Rams lead to 10-0.
Junior quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne led Rhody's offensive outburst by going 13-19 for 164 yards and throwing two touchdowns. He also rushed 81 yards and scored a touchdown. Before being replaced by senior quarterback D.J. Stefovich because of an injury, Paul-Etienne threw a short pass to senior wide receiver David Wilson. Wilson only needed one hand to reel the pass in.
Just before half-time, Fordham senior quarterback John Skelton raced three yards into the end zone, putting Fordham on the board. At half time, Rhode Island led 34-7.
The second half was slower production-wise, with the Rams scoring only once more in the third quarter. Fordham's offense seemed to have finally woken up and was giving Rhode Island's defense all it could handle.
Fordham scored once in the third quarter courtesy of Skelton rushing in 1-yard for the score. Fordham struck twice in the fourth quarter with a 6-yard rushing touchdown from junior running back Xavier Martin and a 9-yard receiving touchdown from Skelton to senior wide receiver Jason Caldwell. Those scores closed the gap, but it was not enough as Fordham went onto lose 41-28.
After the game, Fordham Head Coach Tom Masella summed up his team's performance. "They didn't show up in the first half," he said.
Fordham's slow start ultimately doomed the team, giving Rhode Island an early lead and never looking back.
Paul-Etienne was a focal point even after the game was over and Masella praised him for his efforts. "He's a D-1 athlete and it showed out there today," Marsella said.
Rhode Island sophomore wide receiver and fellow teammate Brandon Johnson-Farrell also showed admiration for the quarterback saying, "He's a great player. 'Amazing' is the only word I can think of right now."
The praises did not stop at Paul-Etienne. Masella also believes Coach Joe Foster and Rhode Island did a great job preparing for the game. Masella went onto say "Joe has [the team] going in the right direction," he said.
Rhode Island has the week off but will return to action the following week at The University of Massachusetts. Kick off is slated for 3:30 p.m.
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