URI Football Set to Open 2019 Season at Ohio on Saturday
GoLocalProv Sports Team
URI Football Set to Open 2019 Season at Ohio on Saturday
The Rams are looking to build off their 2018 campaign in which they went 6-5 overall, their first winning season in 17 years.
"We got a clean slate. We're undefeated. We have our goals and our plan to attain those goals, which is to win a CAA Championship. Now it's just monotonous drudgery you have to embrace as a player to get through days like this,” said head coach Jim Fleming earlier this week.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTGame time is set for 2 p.m.
The game can be seen on ESPN +
URI vs Ohio
Saturday will be the first meeting in history between Ohio and Rhode Island.
URI enters the game looking for their first win over an FBS team since 2000, when they beat Connecticut.
Rhode Island is 1-7 all-time against current members of the MAC. The Rams are 1-0 against Akron, 0-4 against Buffalo and 0-1 against both Bowling Green and Ball State.
The win over Akron came in the 1985 Division I-AA playoffs, before Akron moved up to the bowl level.
URI Offense
The URI offense is led by senior wide receiver Aaron Parker.
Last year, Parker led the CAA in total receiving yards (955) and receiving touchdowns (10).
His 61 total receptions ranked fourth in the conference.
The Rams offense will also be helped by junior wide receiver Isaiah Coulter.
Last year, Coulter hauled in 42 catches for 604 yards and three touchdowns, while averaging 14 yards per catch.
Under center, URI will have redshirt junior Vito Priore.
Prior played in six games for Rhode Island last season, completing 59 of 108 passes for 781 yards and seven touchdowns.
He also threw four interceptions.
URI Defense
On the defensive side of the ball, the Rams will be sparked by the return of defensive end Tez Wilson.
Wilson missed all of last season with an injury.
In 2017-18, Wilson racked up 26 tackles and five sacks.
Of his tackles, 12.5 of them were for a loss of yards.
Wilson will be assisted by second-year players James Makszin, Andre Bibeault and Keith Wells.
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