Rhode Island football makes opening statement in first-ever Friday night game
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — The first Friday night football game in University of Rhode Island history will be worth remembering.
The Rams delivered a performance that just about matched the occasion, outclassing Stony Brook from start to finish.
Kasim Hill enjoyed a strong evening through the air and his array of playmakers did the rest. No. 22 URI was cruising long before the sold-out student section started to file out, notching a 35-14 victory to open its Coastal Athletic Association schedule.
Hill threw for 299 yards and a pair of touchdowns before leaving in the fourth quarter with a lower body injury. Jordan Colbert forced a pair of turnovers – an interception on the first Seawolves drive and a fumble recovery he carried 49 yards to the end zone. Jaden Griffin and Ja’Den McKenzie added rushing scores as the Rams opened a 21-point halftime lead and eased home from there.
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“We want to go ahead and win a championship,” URI coach Jim Fleming said. “We had to go ahead and put ourselves in a position by taking on a quality CAA opponent and playing in all three phases.”
URI won for the sixth time in seven games here, and it did so in front of a strong crowd of 5,452 fans. Student tickets were gone long before the 7 p.m. kick on a steamy night, and performances like these should attract a casual fan or two if the Rams can make a sustained run at a long-awaited FCS playoff berth.
“We could definitely feel the energy out on the field,” Hill said. “Rhody Ruckus sitting right behind us, right behind the offensive and defensive benches – we could definitely feel their energy.”
More: URI football comes up short in offensive shootout at Georgia State in season opener
Here’s a quick look how URI got off to a successful start on a night decades in the making.
Spreading the love
Hill hit five different receivers during his time in the game, and it was often for chunks of yardage at a time.
Kahtero Summers raced 70 yards down the middle to set up Griffin’s short scoring run early in the second quarter. Marquis Buchanan’s only catch of the night came on a double move up the left hash, a 70-yard touchdown that was the second of the former Classical standout’s young career. Darius Savedge pulled in eight of his 10 targets for 90 yards and another score in the opening quarter.
“You should see us at practice every day,” Savedge said. “We get after it every day. Stretching, running, everything – we’re doing it.
“It’s always competition. I think that’s what pushes us up so much.”
Hill averaged 17.6 yards per completion a week after shredding Georgia State on the road. He hit the Panthers for 408 passing yards and four touchdowns, as URI came up just shy against an FBS opponent. The Rams flushed that 42-35 defeat while returning to FCS competition, and now they visit Maine in a critical early-season meeting next Saturday.
“Our receiver group is a monster,” Hill said. “We’ve definitely seen that over the first two weeks. We’ve known that since everybody got here.”
Rams forced turnovers, and made them count
URI didn’t force a turnover last week, something noted by Fleming during his regular Monday morning media availability.
The Rams were better on this night, converting each of their takeaways into points. Colbert’s grab deep in the middle of the field preceded an 11-play, 82-yard scoring march. Hill found Savedge on a slant off the right from 13 yards out and URI took a quick 7-0 lead.
“It’s been a foundation stone for our whole program,” Fleming said. “Ball security on offense, taking it from them on defense.”
The second takeaway came just before halftime. Anthony Johnson caught a slant off the right and fumbled the ball in traffic near midfield. Colbert picked it up, didn’t hear a whistle halting play and raced past Stony Brook’s would-be tacklers to the end zone. The result stood as called after a replay review, and the Rams enjoyed a three-score cushion into the locker room.
“Coaches always teach us to finish the play,” Colbert said. “They can go back and review it. You don’t want to miss any opportunities.”
Rams defense locked things up
URI played tighter defense over the final three quarters.
The Seawolves were moving the ball prior to going deep on a first down out by midfield. Stony Brook totaled 86 yards and more than eight minutes of possession during the opening 15.
That changed the rest of the way. The Rams limited the Seawolves to 162 yards and just over 22 minutes of possession in the final three quarters. URI was sharper and more physical than in its opener last Thursday.
“I think the key for completing our mission is going to come on the defensive side of the ball,” Fleming said. “We’ve got guys who are in there battling.”
Casey Case’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Cook with 3:02 left was consolation. Stony Brook’s quarterback averaged just 4.6 yards per attempt, and no Seawolves rusher finished with more than 45 yards on the ground.
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island football opens conference play by beating Stony Brook
