Massachusetts pounds Rhode Island, 49-0
Posted November 02, 2008
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For more on this game, see the Postgame Stats
KINGSTON, R.I.(AP) Liam Coen threw three touchdown passes, including two scores to Victor Cruz, to lead Massachusetts to a 49-0 rout over Rhode Island on Saturday.
Coen was 15-of-17 for 241 yards for Massachusetts (6-3, 3-2 Colonial Athletic Association). Coen's 88.2 percent completion rate was the second-best single game performance in school history.
Cruz finished with seven receptions for 129 yards.
Rhode Island quarterback Derek Cassidy completed 13-of-24 passes for 185 yards and two interceptions.
Massachusetts put the game away early, jumping to a 35-0 halftime lead. UMass averaged 7.2 yards per play for the game, compared to just 3.2 for Rhode Island (2-8, 0-6).
Tony Nelson opened the scoring less than three minutes into the first quarter with a 2-yard run. Nelson, who finished with 65 yards on 12 carries, scored again on a 13-yard run that gave UMass a 14-0 first quarter lead.
Coen found Chris Zaerdas with a 2-yard touchdown pass in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Coen then hit Victor Cruz for a 2-yard score, increasing the lead to 28-0. UMass linebacker Josh Jennings closed out the first half scoring when he picked off a Cassidy pass and ran 40 yards for a touchdown.
Coen and Cruz connected again early in the third quarter on a 35-yard touchdown that finished the scoring.
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