KINGSTON, R.I. — Playing in cold and rainy conditions, the William & Mary football team fell at Rhode Island, 21-10, on Saturday afternoon.
Although W&M (3-5, 2-3) trailed by just four, 14-10, after a 34-yard field goal by Kris Hooper early in the third quarter, URI (5-3, 3-2) held the Tribe scoreless the rest of the way and sealed the victory with a 67-yard touchdown pass from Vito Priore to Aaron Parker with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter.
The Rams capitalized on four W&M turnovers in the first quarter en route to building a 14-7 lead. URI’s touchdowns combined to cover just 17 total yards, as Momodou Mbye recovered a muffed punt in the end zone and Nai Jones punched in a 1-yard touchdown run shortly after James Makszin intercepted quarterback Ted Hefter at the W&M 17.
The Tribe’s lone touchdown came early in the first quarter when Hefter was intercepted by Branyan Javier-Castillo, but running back Nate Evans stripped the ball back from the URI linebacker and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown.
Largely due to the tough playing conditions, both teams combined for just 349 total yards and 18 first downs.
Tribe standouts
In addition to Evans’ 71-yard touchdown, running back Jaret Anderson led W&M with 31 rushing yards on 10 carries, while wideout DeVonte Dedmon recorded a pair of catches for 38 yards.
Defensively, linebacker Nate Atkins posted a team-high 10 tackles and 2.0 TFL, while defensive tackle Bill Murray recorded a career-high nine tackles with 2.0 TFL.
Defensive tackle Will Kiely also came up big with five stops, a sack and 2.5 TFL.
Inside the numbers
URI outgained W&M, 248-101, with its biggest advantage coming on the ground (154-37).
Although the Rams were 4 of 15 on third downs and managed just 12 first downs, they held W&M to 3 of 13 on third downs and just six first downs.
The Tribe committed six turnovers, compared to just one by URI.
The Rams owned more than a 10-minute advantage in time of possession (35:23-24:32).
W&M posted a season-high 10.0 TFL.
The opposition
Jones led the Rams with 152 yards on 37 carries and a touchdown, while Priore completed 7 of 12 passes for 94 yards with a score.
Parker posted a game-high four catches for 83 yards, highlighted by his 67-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Notes
Cornerback Ryan Poole made his collegiate debut and blocked a punt … W&M is now 13-4 all-time against URI, including a 6-4 mark in Kingston … W&M’s six turnovers doubled its total of three during the previous three contests.
Up next
After a bye next week, the Tribe will close out its conference road slate at Villanova on Nov. 10.
