CELEBRATING 25 YEARS: The '84 URI Football Team - Part One

Sept. 4, 2009

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is part one of a 13-part series that will run on GoRhody.com throughout the fall celebrating the 25th anniversary of the 1984 Rhode Island football team, which advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA playoffs. The URI athletics department will honor the 1984 team at halftime of the Rams' Oct. 31 game against William and Mary.

KINGSTON, R.I. - Despite losing starting quarterback Tom Ehrhardt in the third quarter, Rhode Island still managed to come away with a 31-21 victory over Howard on Sept. 1, 1984.

Rhody running back Rich Kelley led the way offensively for the Rams as he scored a touchdown and rushed for a 96 yards on just 14 carries. Defensively, URI forced six Howard fumbles and them to just 82 yards passing.

Following Ehrhardt's departure, backup quarterbacks Mike Cassidy and Greg Farland came on in relief of the future all-American and led the Rams to their first win of the year.

URI jumped out to a commanding 28-6 shortly after halftime and appeared to have the game well in hand, but Howard responded with 15 unanswered points to cut URI's to just six points midway through the fourth quarter.

Rhody responded on the following drive as Farland went 6-of-8 for 55 yards. Paul Stringfellow's capped the drive with a 31-yard field goal, which secured the win for URI.