URI wins 1st, Bryant drops 1st

URI wins 1st, Bryant drops 1st

The two local college football teams in action Saturday ended with a .500 collective batting average.

Ok, so that's mixing sports metaphors...but when you win one, and you lose one, it's the best way to describe it.  For URI, it's a day they've been waiting for...for some time.  URI's 19-13 overtime win over Albany snaps a 15-game losing streak for the football Rams, as senior cornerback Mackenzie Elliott broke up a pass in the end zone to end the game and clinch Rhode Island's first victory of this season. 

After Justin Semmes scored a one-yard touchdown to give Rhode Island (1-2, 1-1 CAA) the lead, Albany (1-2, 0-1 CAA) took over at the URI 25 yard line, as per the rules in college overtime games. A holding penalty on second-and-5 pushed Albany back to the 30. The Great Danes picked up seven yards to set up third-and-8. Senior James Timmins came up with an 11-yard sack to force Albany into fourth-and-19.

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Albany quarterback Will Fiacchi targeted receiver Kevin Chillis in the corner of the end zone, but Elliott broke the pass up, ending Rhode Island's 15-game losing streak in the process.

As for Bryant, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 16-7 lead but the University of Maine scored 28-straight points to hand Bryant a 35-22 defeat Saturday afternoon at Alfond Stadium in Orono, ME. The Bulldogs (2-1) dominated a majority of the first half before the Black Bears (3-0) started a string of 28-straight points with two scores in the final three minutes of the first half.

A year after being outmatched by Maine at home, Bryant more than held it's own on Saturday, outgaining the Black Bears, 460-444. Sophomore RB Paul Canevari's 96 yards rushing led the way on the ground.

Bryant takes next week off, and will face Wagner on the road September 28th.  URI faces William & Mary on the road next Saturday...while Brown opens up its season next Saturday, September 21 at Brown Stadium in Providence against Georgetown.