Rhode Island Throws 90 Passes, Loses

Quarterback Bobby Lamb threw four touchdown passes as Furman routed Rhode Island, 59-15, Saturday despite some record passing by the Rams--who threw 90 times in the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinal playoff game.

Tom Ehrhardt of Rhode Island (10-3) completed 39 of 78 passes for 494 yards and 2 touchdowns, breaking the Division I-AA individual record of 75 attempts set by Willie Totten of Mississippi Valley State against Louisiana Tech on Nov. 24, 1984. The NCAA record for all divisions is 79 by Mike Wallace of Division III Ohio Wesleyan against Denison on Oct. 3, 1981.

Rhode Island, as a team, completed 45 of 90 passes for 592 yards but threw 7 interceptions. The attempts broke the NCAA team record of 79 set by Ohio Wesleyan (and Wallace). The yardage total was short of the 599 team mark set by Mississippi Valley (and Totten) against Prairie View on Oct. 27, 1984.

Furman (11-1) will play host to Nevada Reno (11-1) here in the semifinals next Saturday. The Wolf Pack escaped with a 24-23 victory over Arkansas State when linebacker Mike Dixon blocked an extra-point attempt with 3:10 left at Reno. A successful extra point by Arkansas State (9-3) would have sent the game into overtime.