McClelland and Buchanan with career highs, lead Rhode Island over Yale 41-23

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Alex McClelland threw for a career-high 285 yards and four touchdown passes to lead Rhode Island to a 41-23 victory over Yale on Saturday.

McClelland completed 11 of 16 passes and added a career-best 92 yards rushing on 13 carries. Marquis Buchanan had two touchdown catches and finished with a career-high 193 yards on seven receptions for Rhode Island (4-3). The pair connected for a 79-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter.

Jamall Mensah and Sean Byrd each made a touchdown catch for the Rams.

Yale (3-2) entered ranked No. 25 in the Stats Perform poll and averaging 33 points a game, trailed by 17 points midway through the second quarter and 20-7 at the break. The Bulldogs scored 13 points in the fourth quarter that included Dante Reno’s short touchdown pass to Jaxton Santiago to pull to 34-23 with 4:30 left.

Gabe Winowich scored on a 9-yard run for the Rams about a minute later for the final tally.

Reno was 15-of-38 passing for 105 yards and threw two touchdown passes and an interception for Yale. Hugo Djeumeni Kemeni, who leads the Ivy League in yards rushing with 416, finished with 233 yards on 36 carries that included a 36-yard touchdown run.

It was the first meeting between the teams.

Up next

Rhode Island: Hosts Albany on Saturday.

Yale: At Pennsylvania on Friday.

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