Central Connecticut Blue Devils at Rhode Island Rams
· FCS Championship - First Round
Grant rushes for 223 yards, Smith scores twice and Rhode Island beats CCSU in FCS first round 21-17
The Rams will play at seventh-seeded Mercer (10-2) next Saturday at noon Eastern. The victory was the program-record 11th for Rhode Island (11-2) and came in the Rams' first postseason appearance since the 1985 NCAA I-AA playoffs.
Smith, a senior who has been on the roster as a quarterback and tight end during his Rhode Island career, scored out of the wildcat on a 6-yard run to snap at 14-all tie with 9:42 remaining. The 32-yard drive was set up by Shawn Harris Jr.’s 23-yard punt return to the CCSU 32.
The Blue Devils (7-6) reached the Rams' 4-yard line but Brady Olson was sacked for a 10-yard loss on third down and Jack Barnum kicked a 32-yard field goal with 4:47 left. They didn’t get the ball back until there were 43 seconds left and on their first play Olson’s pass was tipped by Carson Primrose and lineman Wesley Neal Jr. snagged the interception.
Grant finished 5 yards shy of his career high on 29 carries but did have a career-best 75-yard run. Hunter Helms was 18-of-28 passing for 208 yards, a 38-yard TD pass to Smith and one interception.
Olson was 11 of 23 for 148 yards passing with two touchdowns to Isaac Boston and three interceptions. Elijah Howard had 101 yards on 19 carries.
Emmanuel Gomes' 41-yard pick-6 gave the Rams a 14-0 lead and it was 14-7 at halftime. Olson's 6-yard TD toss to Boston tied the game at 14-all late in the third quarter.
How To Watch
How can I watch Central Connecticut Blue Devils vs. Rhode Island Rams?
- TV Channel: Blue Devils at Rams 2021 College Football, week 14, is broadcasted on ESPN+.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Scoring Summary
 |
TD | 1st Period 2:31 | Tommy Smith 38 Yd pass from Hunter Helms (Ty Groff Kick) |
|
TD | 1st Period 2:17 | Emmanuel Gomes 42 Yd Interception Return (Ty Groff Kick) |
 |
TD | 2nd Period 7:25 | Isaac Boston 11 Yd pass from Brady Olson (Jack Barnum Kick) |
|
TD | 3rd Period 1:27 | Isaac Boston 6 Yd pass from Brady Olson (Jack Barnum Kick) |
|
TD | 4th Period 9:42 | Tommy Smith 6 Yd Run (Ty Groff Kick) |
|
FG | 4th Period 4:47 | Jack Barnum 32 Yd Field Goal |
Statistics
 CCSU |
 URI |
|
|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1st Downs | 19 |
| 4-12 | 3rd down efficiency | 8-14 |
| 0-1 | 4th down efficiency | 0-2 |
| 271 | Total Yards | 434 |
| 148 | Passing | 208 |
| 11/23 | Comp/Att | 18/28 |
| 6.4 | Yards per pass | 7.4 |
| 123 | Rushing | 226 |
| 32 | Rushing Attempts | 41 |
| 3.8 | Yards per rush | 5.5 |
| 0-0 | Penalties | 3-15 |
| 3 | Turnovers | 2 |
| 0 | Fumbles lost | 0 |
| 3 | Interceptions thrown | 2 |
| 28:21 | Possession | 31:39 |
Game Information
Location: Kingston, RI
Attendance: 3,522 · Capacity:
College Football News
2026 recruiting: Ranking Elite 11 Finals quarterbacks by fit
These are signal-callers best aligned with their future college systems.
Michigan adds depth with transfer QB Jake Garcia
Michigan added depth to its quarterback room on Monday, adding well-traveled transfer Jake Garcia.
Vols earn 2027 commitment from Phillip Fulmer's grandson
Linebacker prospect JP Peace, grandson of national champion head coach and former Vols athletic director Phillip Fulmer, announced his commitment to the Tennessee program on Monday.
College realignment intel: Texas State, cryptic posts and the Pac-12's next move
Texas State looms as the favorite to join the Pac-12. Why could that happen? What would come next? And what about Memphis?
ESPN 300 linebacker Talanoa Ili chooses USC over UCLA
Four-star linebacker Talanoa Ili, No. 53 in the 2026 ESPN 300, has committed to USC over UCLA, he told ESPN on Sunday, the latest high-profile addition in the Trojans' class, as coach Lincoln Riley prepares for the program's second season in the Big Ten.