[Careless Whisper]

Classic Barnburner Falls Rhode Island’s Way in Double Overtime
CMU made up a 31-14 gap to force overtime, but Justin Keyes’ two-point pass was batted down in the extra frame

by Jayson Thomas, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Trailing 31-14 in the third quarter, Carnegie Mellon scored 31 points over the final 20 minutes of regulation to force overtime, but ultimately fell in the second extra frame after a failed two-point conversion in a 55-54 defeat to Rhode Island this evening from Gesling Stadium.

“At that moment coming back the way that we did,” said second-year head coach John Elliott. “We wanted to win the game right then and there. I’m so proud of the guys for never giving up, and I know it hurts more that we couldn’t finish the job but they have to keep their heads high. We don’t do this last year.”

In what is normally a night of exciting WPIAL action, Carnegie Mellon (1-4) and Rhode Island (3-2) provided the most fireworks in Allegheny County on a Friday. Freshman duo Jim Manning and Justin Keyes had breakout performances, combining for 299 rushing yards and five touchdowns between the two, with Keyes adding 168 yards and a score through the air.

The big plays came early and often, with Derek Cassidy connecting with Jimmy Hughes for a 72-yard touchdown on the Rams’ first offensive play. The Tartans answered with a Keyes 61-yard scamper on the option, but Cassidy then found Shawn Leonard for a 34-yard score to make it 14-7.

URI’s advantage grew to 21-7 before Robert Riley punched a touchdown in from one yard out. CMU then forced a three-and-out to get another chance to cut into the visitors’ lead, but Pete Carlson fumbled the punt to give it back to the Rams. A holding call on the one-yard-line negated a touchdown, but Colin Gallagher booted it between the uprights to make it 24-14 at halftime.

After another Cassidy touchdown toss, the Tartans responded with Keyes finding Carlson for a six-yard score to pull the hosts within 10 at the end of the third quarter. Manning then broke off a 79-yard touchdown run off a great block from Ali Concecpion to make it 31-28 early in the fourth, but URI had an immediate answer after Sean Day misread a deep throw from Cassidy to Tolbert Evans for 71 yards.

Keyes continued his strong evening with a 20-yard score on a busted play, trimming the deficit to 38-35 with 4:11 left in regulation. Aaron Crosby then forced a fumble from Joe Casey a minute later, and Brent Matthews fell on top of it to give CMU all the momentum. That led to an extended touchdown drive on the back of Manning, with Keyes finding paydirt from eight yards out to give the Tartans their first lead with 1:49 on the clock.

Cassidy made his first big mistake of the night seconds later, as he threw a pass right into the arms of Crosby that seemingly sealed the game. But the Rams forced a three-and-out and used all three timeouts, leaving Justin Thompson to convert a 21-yard field goal with 1:01 remaining in regulation.

“At that point I thought we had it,” said Elliott. “Justin (Thompson) nailing that field goal, and Aaron (Crosby) getting a pick on the previous drive felt like the icing on top of our comeback.”

URI lost Cassidy to a back injury on the desperation drive, forcing D.J. Stefkovich into action cold. But he quickly warmed up, moving the ball down the field before finding Marcel Robinson from nine yards out to force overtime with five seconds on the clock.

Both teams went three-and-out and converted field goals on their first possessions of overtime, then Stefkovich hit Evans on a third-and-four play to put the Rams ahead 55-48. Keyes kept CMU’s hopes alive by finding Carlson for 12 yards on a third-and-eight, and the drive ultimately ended in a Manning two-yard punch. Elliott made the call to go for two and the win, but Keyes’ throw to Concepcion was batted away at the last second to give URI the win.

Carlson finished with 121 yards and a touchdown on 11 catches. Crosby netted 10 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.

Cassidy threw for 355 yards and four touchdowns before leaving on the Rams’ last drive of regulation. Stefkovich went 4-of-7 for 60 yards and two scores in his place.

Shawn Leonard (7 catches, 112 yards, 2 TD), Jimmy Hughes (5 catches, 108 yards, 1 TD), and Tolbert Evans (4 catches, 123 yards, 2 TD) all had over 100 yards receiving for the visitors. Mizraim Farley tallied 20 tackles – four for loss – defensively.

Carnegie Mellon finishes off a two-game home stand next Saturday, Oct. 7 against Southeast Missouri State.

Rhode Island Rams at Carnegie Mellon Tartans
Sep 28, 2007	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	OT	SCORE
Rhode Island Rams (3-2)	21	3	7	14	10	55
Carnegie Mellon Tartans (1-4)	7	7	7	24	9	54

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		URI	CMU
14:49	(URI) Derek Cassidy 72-yard pass to Jimmy Hughes (Colin Gallagher kick)	7	0
10:55	(CMU) Justin Keyes 61-yard run (Justin Thompson kick)	7	7
5:16	(URI) Derek Cassidy 34-yard pass to Shawn Leonard (Colin Gallagher kick)	14	7
2:07	(URI) Joe Casey 2-yard run (Colin Gallagher kick)	21	7
SECOND QUARTER SCORING		URI	CMU
4:29	(CMU) Robert Riley 1-yard run (Justin Thompson kick)	21	14
0:21	(URI) Colin Gallagher 29-yard field goal	24	14
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		URI	CMU
5:21	(URI) Derek Cassidy 4-yard pass to Shawn Leonard (Colin Gallagher kick)	31	14
0:29	(CMU) Justin Keyes 6-yard pass to Pete Carlson (Justin Thompson kick)	31	21
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		URI	CMU
9:42	(CMU) Jim Manning 79-yard run (Justin Thompson kick)	31	28
8:08	(URI) Derek Cassidy 71-yard pass to Tolbert Evans (Colin Gallagher kick)	38	28
4:11	(CMU) Justin Keyes 20-yard run (Justin Thompson kick)	38	35
1:49	(CMU) Justin Keyes 8-yard run (Justin Thompson kick)	38	42
1:01	(CMU) Justin Thompson 21-yard field goal	38	45
0:05	(URI) D.J. Stefkovich 9-yard pass to Marcel Robinson (Colin Gallagher kick)	45	45
OVERTIME SCORING		URI	CMU
OT1	(CMU) Justin Thompson 35-yard field goal	45	48
OT1	(URI) Colin Gallagher 41-yard field goal	48	48
OT2	(URI) D.J. Stefkovich 18-yard pass to Tolbert Evans (Colin Gallagher kick)	55	48
OT2	(CMU) Jim Manning 1-yard run (pass failed)	55	54

Rhode Island Rams

Carnegie Mellon Tartans PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Justin Keyes 15/24 168 1 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Jim Manning 31 179 5.8 2 Justin Keyes 14 120 8.6 3 Robert Riley 11 17 1.5 1 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Pete Carlson 11 121 11.0 1 Ali Concepcion 2 42 21.0 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Aaron Crosby 10 0 2 0 Sean Day 3 0 0 0 Eric Holloway 3 0 0 0 Bobby Smith 3 0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG Justin Thompson 2/2 6/6 12 35