Post-Game - Rhode Island 38, Delaware 34

3rd-&-10.  Four of them on the final drive for the Rams.  The first one gets stopped, only to have a crazy punt situation give the ball back.  Then an offsides call.  And the last one was the killer field goal.  The big play and mistakes destroyed the Hens today.  Here's the rundown:

• Missing in Action - David Hayes has been suspended by the team for one game and did not make the trip to Kingston with the team.  I am debating whether this means less run plays for the Hens, a bigger work load for Pierce, or someone else getting a chance to step up.
• First Drive - The Rams start the game off at their own 28-yard line.  Bentsen is in at quarterback as Probst, one of the best in the conference, went down with a concussion last week.  A holding call sets URI back as they end up having to punt it away to the Hens.
• Lost Opportunity - Delaware begins its first drive on the URI 48-yard line after a kick-catch interference call.  Rob Jones catches Trevor Sasek's first pass of the day and the Hens have a first down at the URI 31.  Unfortunately, two plays for a loss left Delaware with a 3rd-&-16 pass play that Nihja White dropped (described as a sure touchdown).  The Hens elect to punt and down it at the URI 2-yard line.
• The Big Play Strikes Again - The Rams only need a handful of plays to move down the field.  A 20-yard pass after an offside call on the Hens got them out of their own end zone, and the next play was a big 73-yard pass play from Bentsen to Baskerville for the first score of the game.  The PAT snap was botched and Bentsen, the holder found enough space to run it in for two and URI takes an 8-0 lead with 10:16 remaining in the first.
• Wasted Chances - Delaware cannot do anything on their next drive and go 3-&-out, punting back to the Rams.  Luckily, the Rams struggle with the ball and their punt sets the Hens up at the Rhode Island 39-yard line with 7:16 remaining.  A couple of Pierce runs gets Delaware a first down at the 26.  Sasek to White for 9 yards, followed by another Pierce run gives the Hens a 1st-&-10 at the URI 13.  A big loss of 6 by Johnson on the next play leads to a Sasek interception and the Rams take the ball back at their own 20-yard line.
• Doink! - Rhode Island drives fairly easily down the field, getting deep into Delaware territory with a 30-yard pass to Baskerville.  On 3rd-&-3 from the Hens 22, Curry is able to break up a second straight pass and get a 4th down, setting up a 39-yard field goal attempt for Feinstein which goes off the upright in the Hens favor and the score remains 8-0 with 56 seconds left in the quarter.
• Hens with the ball... - After gaining a first down, Sasek is sacked to end the quarter.  It appears that Johnson is going to be getting Hayes carries today instead of distributing them to Pierce or the passing game.
• End of the 1st Quarter - Rhode Island 8, Delaware 0
• Points on the Board - Sasek keeps the drive alive on 3rd down with a 6-yard run to the URI 37.  However, 3rd-&-3 from the 30 sees Sasek pass to White, who again cannot make the catch (WDSD claimed there should have been a flag on the play).  Baner does convert the 47-yard field goal attempt to cut into the lead.  8-3 Rams, with 11:10 remaining in the half.
• Points off Turnover - On the kickoff, The Hens are able to force a fumble and Johnson recovers for Delaware at the URI 20-yard line.  The turnover pays big dividends as Andrew Pierce is able to stretch the ball out over the goal line on the 13-yard scoring play to put the Hens up by a point.  Delaware elects to go for two now with momentum, and a pass from Sasek to Pierce gets the job done.  The Hens take the lead with 9:45 left in the 2nd quarter, 11-8.
• Quick Answer - Rhode Island's next drive is helped by a facemask call against the Hens.  On 4th-&-2 from the Delaware 32, Bentsen completes a pass to Johnson-Farrell for 29 yards.  The Delaware defense holds strong on the next two plays, but 3rd-&-goal sees Johnson-Farrell make a diving catch in the end zone for a touchdown.  15-11, Rhode Island, with 4:58 left in the 1st half.
• The Glass Knee - Bad Luck Sasek goes down with an injury on a 2nd down pass play (incomplete) and in comes Tim Donnelly, who throws an incomplete pass on 3rd-&-10.  The Hens have to punt back to Rhode Island, but Travis Hawkins comes up with a huge interception and Delaware takes back over with 1:58 remaining in the half.  1st-&-10 from the URI sees a play action pass from Donnelly to White for a big Blue Hens touchdown! PAT is good as Delaware takes back the lead, 18-15, with 1:48 remaining.  Meanwhile, the word from the sideline was that they were looking at Sasek's right knee, the same one he injured vs. Navy.
• Field Position to Field Goal - The kickoff bounces out of bounds and URI takes over at their own 40.  A 14-yard pass on 3rd-&-6 puts the Rams in UD territory.  3rd-&-10 on the 27 yard line sees a Bentsen pass fall incomplete, and the Rams attempt a 44-yard field goal with 11 seconds left in the half.  Feinstein's kick is good, and the score is tied at 18 with 0:05 on the clock.
• Time Killer - Delaware's kick return kills the last of the time left in the half and the teams go into the locker rooms tied up.
• End of the 1st Half - Delaware 18, Rhode Island 18
• Quick Notes - Gino Gradkowski was seen going to the locker room before the half, and that kick out of bounds is killer as URI had enough time to tie it up before the half.  The interview with Asst. Coach Brian Ginn coming back out of the locker room doesn't give any more info on Sasek's injury, just that it was a direct shot to the knee that caused the re-injury.
• Weak Start - Delaware returned the kick to the 25 and the Hens will start there with Donnelly back on the field.  A false start is followed by a delay of game, putting the Hens in 1st-&-20 right away.  Delaware can only gain back the lost yardage and are forced to punt.  The URI return gets the ball to midfield.
• Update - By the way, Gradkowski is back, but Sasek has his knee on ice.  He has yet to be completely ruled out of the game.  In my opinion, this means that if Donnelly struggles, they might test Sasek and ask him to return.
• Taking the Lead - Rhode Island gets to the Delaware 24-yard line after a few good run plays, but stall there and Feinstein comes on to attempt a 41-yarder, which he makes.  URI leads 21-18 with 10:31 left in the 3rd quarter.
• Stopped again - Donnelly on the field starting at the UD 30-yard line, and a pass to Russo gains a 1st down for the Hens, but they stall there and have to punt back to the Rams.  The upside is the change in field position, as the URI drive will begin from their own 17.
• Breaking Our Way - 2nd-&-5 from the URI 22, Bentsen completes to Johnson-Farrell for 31 yads to the Delaware 47, giving the field position back to the Rams.  However, the following play sees Tim Breaker get his first pick of the year and the Hens take over at the Delaware 42.
• Luck of the Blue Hen - The Hens cannot take advantage of the turnover and are forced to punt, but a muff by Johnson-Farrell ends up being a fumble recovery by the Hens at the Rhode Island 12-yard line.  3rd-&-5 from the 7, Pierce cannot gain the first down and the Hens bring on Baner who hits the tying 22-yard field goal with 1:11 left in the quarter.  All knotted up at 21 a piece!
• Ground Gain - Rhode Island gets a huge 60-yard run from Johnson on the first play from scrimmage and the Rams have a 1st-&-10 at the Delaware 13.  A no-gain run play ends the quarter.
• End of the 3rd Quarter - Delaware 21, Rhode Island 21
• Home Response - On 3rd-&-10, Bentsen hits Johnson-Farrell for the 13-yard touchdown to put the Rams back on top, 28-21, just two plays into the 4th quarter.
• Getting Worse - Delaware cannot get the run game going and on 3rd-&-14 at the Hens 49, Donnelly throws an interception.  The Rams take over at their own 40.  Sasek also now officially out for the game.
• Knockout Blow? - With 2nd-&-7 on the Delaware 42 for the Rams, Hurd runs for 29 yards to the Delaware 13, and Travis Hawkins took the brunt of the big hit, but was moving and eventually walked off the field.  The next play sees Johnson run the ball right in for the Rams.  With the PAT good, Rhode Island leads 35-21 with 11:21 remaining in the 4th quarter.
• Important Score - A big 3rd down pass to White gets Delaware into Rhode Island's side of the field, and on 3rd-&-2 for the Hens at the URI 30, and Pierce is able to grab 5 yards for the 1st down.  Another first down has the Hens at the URI 15, followed by a pass interference on the Rams, and its 1st-&-goal for the Hens at the 2.  Andrew Pierce goes in for his 2nd touchdown of the day and with the PAT, Delaware trails 35-28 with 8:06 remaining in the 4th quarter.
• The Drive - Important drive for the Delaware defense sees the Rams start at their own 32.  Two run stops by the Hens have URI in a 3rd-&-10, and a pass to Baskerville only gains 9 yards and the Rams have to punt.  The punt goes over Feinstein's head and he's able to get it back and get it away, but Jones can't handle the ball and Rhode Island recovers at their own 46.  Another 3rd down play falls just short for the Rams and on 4th-&-1 at the Delaware 45, the Hens jump offsides on the hard count and give URI the first down as even more time comes off the clock.  The Hens get another two stops, setting up 3rd-&-10 at the Delaware 40, with 2:54 remaining in the quarter.  A pass from Bentsen to Bynum gets just enough for the 1st down.  A FOURTH 3rd-&-10 for the Rams with 1:32 left on the clock (after Delaware's 2nd timeout), Hurd gains only 7 yards and the Hens burn their last timeout.  Feinstein comes on to kick 39-yard field goal and makes it, extending the lead to 10 with 1:19 remaining.  Killer drive.
• Saving Face - After a touchback, Donnelly comes out throwing trying to get the Hens down the field quickly.  Unfortunately, it's just not fast enough.  A touchdown pass on the final play of the game to Jones saves some face, but a miserable loss for the Blue Hens.
• FINAL SCORE: Rhode Island 38, Delaware 34.

Painful game.  You would think it could not possibly be a trap game after you lost to UMass the previous week, but any realistic playoff hopes are far in the distance now as the Hens fall on the road yet again.  I am blown away that the Hens let a 1-win team score on them this easily, and that final URI drive where they had FOUR 3rd-&-10 situations, with only two stops, and one being the bizarre punt play.  Unbelievable.  Scared to see what happens vs. Towson State next week.

The worst part of all of this is looking at my preview of the game, and how Delaware failed all three of their points, and the Rams pulled off theirs.  Sasek did not look great early, the run game was awful again, and the big play destroyed the defense all day.  Rhode Island got the win at home that was desperately needed for them, Baskerville found space with 147 yards and a score, and they got after the quarterback enough to knock Sasek out of the game.

Just as a follow-up to injuries, Sasek's knee swelled up to the point they were not going to put him back in, and Travis Hawkins was probably unconscious for a bit, but was moving all extremities.

Reviewing my Predictions
My Over/Under for UD vs. URI

• Total Points: 37.5 points - 72 total points
• Rhode Island Rushing Yards: 139.5 yards - 206 yards on the ground
• Delaware Passing Yards: 249.5 yards - 241, but not from the QB we expected

Bold Prediction:  Trevor Sasek scores two or more touchdowns.
(The guy was given the job, then lost it)
Knocked out in the 2nd quarter with an injury
to the same knee that he hurt vs. Navy.  If you had
Donnelly with 2 scores, go play the lottery.

Projected Score: Delaware 24, Rhode Island 14
(Dire need of a road victory this season.
I also lack creativity and am going with the
same score I wanted last week.)
Epic fail.  This was both high scoring
and a loss for the Hens.

Game Articles

• Delaware Online - Hens lose at Rhode Island 38-34
• BlueHens.com - Blue Hens Can't Overcome Mistakes...
• BlueHens.com - Video Recap vs. Rhode Island (below)

Keywords: University of Delaware Blue Hens, UD, University of Rhode Island Rams, URI, Football, Colonial Athletic Association, CAA, NCAA