URI Falls to Brown in Governor’s Cup
GoLocalProv Sports Team
URI Falls to Brown in Governor’s Cup
URI entered the game ranked #8/#10 in the country, while Brown came in having been blown out by Harvard.
The game played at the minor league soccer stadium in Pawtucket drew a disappointing crowd of 5,047 for the rivalry game — less than half of the stadium's capacity.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIt is the first win for the Bears in the Governor's Cup rivalry with URI since 2017, Brown's first win over a ranked opponent since 2009, and the first win over a nationally ranked top-10 opponent since they defeated URI in 1981.
Game Story
URI (4-2) turned the ball over four times, leading to 14 points for Brown (2-1). It started with an interception on URI’s opening possession that led to a quick touchdown for the Bears, as Matt Childs ran it in from 6 yards out two plays later.
The Rams responded with a touchdown drive that ended with Devin Farrell connecting with Marquis Buchanan on a 6-yard touchdown pass. Brown came right back with a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown to retake the lead when James Murphy hit Ty Pezza for an 18-yard touchdown pass late in the opening quarter.
Rhode Island again tied the score when Farrell found Omari Walker for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 9:25 left in the second quarter. However, Brown used an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to once again pull ahead. Childs ran it in from 3 yards out for his second touchdown of the night, making the score 21-14 before the half.
After the defense forced a three-and-out on the first drive of the second half, Rhode Island was on the verge of tying the game in third quarter when Farrell connected with Greg Gaines III on a 33-yard pass to the Brown goal line. However, as Gaines tried to fight to get in the end zone, the ball was knocked out of his hand and out of the end zone. Brown was given possession at its own 20-yard line.
The Bears chewed up more than seven minutes of game clock as they drove 80 yards in 17 plays. Quarterback James Murphy capped the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Solomon Miller for a 28-14 lead.
Rhode Island didn't go quietly, scoring on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Farrell to Matt Smith with 4:11 left in the game. After the defense forced a punt, URI had the ball first-and-10 at its own 10-yard line with 1:55 remaining.
Farrell was able to drive the ball to the 50-yard line with just under a minute to go. However, on third-and-10, his pass for Buchanan sailed high and was intercepted by Miles Brophy, sealing the victory for Brown.