Homecoming marks fifth consecutive loss for Rams
Chris Smith
Issue date: 10/20/09 Section: Sports
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The Homecoming crowd at URI's Meade Stadium watched their team fall for 45th time on Homecoming weekend. The Hofstra offense gashed the Rhody defense, totaling 412 yards. The Pride held possession of the ball for 34 minutes as opposed to 25 minutes the Rams held the ball.
"Obviously we got beat very thoroughly today," head coach Joe Trainer said. "We really didn't give ourselves a chance to win the game. We are just not a good football team right now."
The Rams offense couldn't seem to find their rhythm despite the return of junior quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne who missed the last two weeks due to a knee injury. After the game he spoke about his return and the offensive struggles.
"I wasn't worried about my knee or elbow, I felt fine out there," Paul-Etienne said. "We knew our game plan. We knew what we had to do. We just didn't finish it today."
The offense scored only three points until late in the fourth quarter. As a team they were penalized nine times for 140 yards, turned the ball over twice, and allowed three sacks after only allowing five coming into the game.
"We had too many penalties in critical situations," Trainer said. "We dropped passes, we had protection problems, and we were not tackling well. We're not where we need to be in every aspect."
In the first half each team failed to get in gear offensively as they exchanged possessions from the middle of the field. Hofstra struck first with nine seconds remaining in the first quarter with a one-yard option toss on third and goal. The extra point was good and the Pride led 7-0 at the end of one quarter of play.
Early in the second quarter, Rhode Island got on the board when sophomore kicker Louis Feinstein connected on a 31-yard field goal to make it 7-3. The game remained tight as the score held for the rest of the half.
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