University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
Rhode Island
Delaware Offense Falters, Blue Hens Drop 20-0 Decision at Rhode Island
10/10/2015 2:08:00 PM | Football
• Boxscore
KINGSTON, R.I. -- Just one week after a watershed victory by the young University of Delaware football squad, the Blue Hens suffered an unlikely loss Saturday against previously winless Rhode Island at Meade Stadium.
The Hens, coming off a thrilling 24-23 last second win over William & Mary a week ago, lost some of that momentum on a sunny New England afternoon as Delaware was intercepted three times and missed two field goals en route to a 20-0 setback to the Rams.
Delaware (2-4, 1-2 Colonial Athletic Association) did outgain the Rams 283-239, but two field goals by Justin Rohrwasser and a 26-yard interception return by freshman Tez Wilson in the third quarter sealed the deal for Rhody.
The Hens had two long-standing scoring streaks snapped as Delaware suffered just its second shutout since the 1997 season. Delaware had scored in 211 straight games vs. NCAA FCS opponents and in 156 straight games against conference foes since a 27-0 setback at Vilanova in 1996. The Hens were also shutout in last year's season opener vs. FBS foe Pitt.
Rhode Island (1-5, 1-2 CAA), which got 123 yards rushing and a touchdown from running back Harold Cooper, won for just the second time in its last 18 games under head coach Jim Fleming. The Rams had also won just once in their last 11 league games.
Dave BrockDelaware redshirt freshman quarterback Joe Walker ran for a team and career-high 76 yards but he hit on just 8 of 21 passes for 70 yards and was picked off three times, once for a URI touchdown and another time in the end zone. Two of the interceptions came after a UD receiver got his hand on the ball but tipped it into the hands of a URI defender.
The Blue Hens finished below their average of 250 yards rushing per game with 213, but 192 of them came in the opening half. Thomas Jefferson, coming off back-to-back 100-yard efforts, picked up 65 yards on the ground and caught three passes on the day while Kareem Williams added 64 yards on the ground for the contest.
Delaware's defense came up with a solid effort despite suffering the setback. The unit allowed just 239 total yards, its best effort this season and least amount allowed since giving up 221 to Rhode Island in a 28-13 victory last season at Delaware Stadium.
Sophomore middle linebacker Charles Bell led the effort with 11 tackles and was in on two sacks, but the UD defense could not cause a turnover against a team that had committed a league worst 15 entering the game. Redshirt freshman linebacker Anthony Jackson also tallied a career-high eight stops on the day.
Two interceptions and two missed field goals finished off a tough first half for the Blue Hens as Delaware headed into the lockerroom down 10-0. It marked just the second time since 2009 that the Hens were held scoreless in the first half - a span of 78 games.
Delaware moved the ball well at times, piling up 192 yards on the ground, but two interceptions thrown by Walker - both off tipped balls - put an end to promising drives.
Rhode Island's Naiquan Thomas picked off Walker at the Delaware 29 to set up the first score of the game - a 27-yard field goal by Justin Rohrwasser with 2:46 left in the opening stanza. Delaware came back on its next possesion and drove to the Ram 28-yard line but Frank Raggo's 45-yard field goal attempt was wide left.
Walker was picked off again, this time in the URI end zone, when his pass tipped off the hands of DeAndre Davis and into the hands of Ahkema Evans with 11:23 left in the second quarter. Delaware held and forced the Rams to punt but couldn't take advantage. After moving swiftly down to the URI 27-yard line, the drive stalled and another 45-yard field goal attempt by Raggo went awry.
Rhode Island then drove 72 yards on nine plays and took a 10-0 lead into halftime as Cooper scored on a one-yard burst with just six seconds left in the half. URI got a big break on a 3rd-and-10 at the 21 when Delaware's Mark Doe was called for pass interference in the end zone. The penalty took the ball down to the six and Cooper scored two plays later.
The Hens fared no better in the second half as they gained just 79 total yards over the final 30 minutes and never got closer than the URI 45-yard line.
Rhode Island built on its lead as Wilson ran back an interception 25 yards for a pick-six with 6:24 left in the third quarter and Rorhwasser converted a 41-yard field goal with 8:58 left in the game.
HEN SCRATCHINGS:
• Delaware will be off this Saturday before returning home to host New Hampshire for Parents & Family Weekend on Oct. 24 at 3:30 p.m.
• Delaware freshman WR Vinny Papale caught his first career reception - an 28-yarder in the second half.
• Redshirt freshman WR Tre Jones left the game in the opening series with an injury and did not returm
• Delaware had won three straight and seven of the last eight over Rhode Island with Rhody's only victory in that span a 38-34 at Meade Stadium in 2011. The shutout marked the first time URI shutout Delaware since a 7-0 win in the first meeting back in 1922
• All-American punter Eric Enderson was outstanding, averaging 45.8 yards on five kicks, inculding a 59-yarder and two that landed inside the URI 20-yard line
• Delaware, which entered the game ranked No. 4 in the NCAA in time of possession, lost the TOP battle for the first time this season (30:16 to 29:44)
