#9 URI Football Wins Opener 31-20
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#9 URI Football Wins Opener 31-20
The Rams (1-0, 1-0 CAA Football) scored on the game's opening possession on a four-play, 75-yard drive that featured a 30-yard pass play to Marquis Buchanan and a 31-yard touchdown pass from Devin Farrell to tight end Kevin Schaeffer.
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Aided by three lost fumbles by the Rams, Campbell (0-1, 0-1 CAA Football) scored 17 unanswered points to build a 10-point lead. URI regained momentum just before the half when Antwain Littleton, Jr. capped a 75-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. A 59-yard reception by Buchanan set up the score.
The Ram defense took over in the second half. Rhode Island allowed just three points after the break and shut Campbell out on seven third-down attempts. Led by defensive lineman Case Mankins and linebacker Rohan Davy, the defense never let the visitors get back into the game. Mankins forced a fumble that led to a URI field goal and had a third-down sack to end another drive in the fourth quarter. Davy had six tackles, including a sack and a quarterback hurry that ended two other drives.
Littleton's second rushing touchdown, a 1-yard plunge, put Rhode Island in front 24-20 with 12 minutes to go. Buchanan iced the game three minutes later with a 46-yard catch-and-run down the right sideline from Farrell.
Inside the Box Score:
Wide receiver Marquis Buchanan had six catches for 167 yards and a touchdown.
It was his eighth career 100-yard receiving game, and he was just 4 yards shy of his career high.
Running back Antwain Littleton, Jr. had a workman-like 85 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.
Quarterback Devin Farrell was 15-of-28 for 275 yards and two touchdowns with no picks.
Wide receiver Greg Gaines III had six catches for 45 yards. Buchanan and Gaines combined to draw six pass interference calls that also moved the chains.
Tight end Kevin Schaeffer's touchdown catch on the opening drive was the first of his career.
Safety Leisaan Hibbert led the defense with eight tackles, five of which were solo stops.
Linebacker A.J. Pena had seven stops and was in one tackle for loss to go with a pass breakup.
Linebacker Moses Meus had a career-high seven tackles.
Linebacker Rohan Davy had six tackles, a fumble recovery, and a sack.
Defensive tackle Case Mankins had six tackles - three solo - one sack and one forced fumble. He had a second sack that was negated by a penalty.
Cornerback Ayinde Johnson was the game captain, while wide receiver Marquis Buchanan was the anchor bearer.
Next:
The Rams travel to Stony Brook for their second CAA Football contest on Saturday, Sept. 6. Kickoff is 6 p.m