ESSEX JUNCTION — Quarterback Tre Diemer threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third and the Rice Memorial Green Knights earned their first win of the season, rolling past the Essex Hornets 35-6 on Friday night on the Essex Field.

Essex scored first, jumping into the lead on their first posession as quarterback Cam Quinn connected with wideout Anthony Hope on a 27 yard touchdown pass with 8:26 left in the first quarter. But from there the Essex night collapsed into a morass of mistakes and penalties and the Green Knights took over.

The visitors tied it 5:40 before halftime on a five yard touchdown run by Ryan Byrnes and then took the lead with 14 seconds left before the half on a 12 yard pass from Diemer to John Rousseau.

Rice sealed the deal with three second half touchdowns … Byrnes finishing off a 95 yard drive with a 47 yard run with 32 seconds left in the third quarter … Diemer bolting up the middle for a 54 yard quarterback keeper TD with 8:41 left in the game … and then Diemer again, this time finishing off his night with another pass to Rousseau, 20 yards for the score with two and a half minutes left.

Joey Viner punctuated the score with five straight extra point kicks.

With win Rice is 1-4. Essex slips to 0-5.