Defense and special teams lead No. 16/17 Rams to fifth straight win

Connor Caldon

26

winner

Rhode Island
URI

6-1, 3-0

9

New Hampshire
UNH

4-3, 2-1

winner

Rhode Island
URI

6-1, 3-0

26

9

New Hampshire
UNH

4-3, 2-1

Points by quarters

team	1	2	3	4	F
URI Rhode Island	0	2	17	7	26
UNH New Hampshire	0	3	0	6	9

Match Review: Football | Oct 19, 2024 4:06 p.m

How it happened

No. 16/17 Rhode Island (6-1, 3-0 CAA Football) dominated defense and special teams as it defeated No. 19/24 New Hampshire 26-9 on Saturday afternoon.

The defense held New Hampshire without a touchdown until the final minute of the game. Rhode Island's punt coverage team had a blocked punt for a safety and a fumble recovery for a touchdown on a day where scoring was difficult for much of the game. It was the team's first road win against the Wildcats in nearly three decades, dating back to 1995.

Rhode Island broke the scoreless tie when Moses Meus broke through and blocked a special teams attack. The Rams had a chance to get the ball back in the end zone, but couldn't drop it. New Hampshire recovered, but the play went to a safety, giving Rhody a 2-0 lead.

No. 19/24 New Hampshire responded on its next possession by driving 57 yards in 11 plays. After failing to score a first down on their first six possessions, the Wildcats (4-3, 2-1 CAA Football) converted four times on the drive. However, the drive stalled at the Rhode Island 27-yard line, and UNH settled for a 45-yard field goal from Nick Mazzie to take a 3-2 halftime lead.

Cornerback on the first drive of the second half Frederick Mallay intercepted UNH quarterback Seth Morgan, giving Rhody a first down at the New Hampshire 48-yard line. Malik Grant had a 35-yard catch-and-run to put the Rams in the red for the first time, but the drive stalled at the UNH 3-yard line. Ty Groff hit a 20-yard field goal to put the Rams back in the lead, 5-3.

For Rhode Island, it was special teams that came up big again. Devin Walter hit the ball to the New Hampshire 10-yard line, where Casey McKinney deflected the punt. Freddie Camp recovered the ball in the end zone for the game's first touchdown, giving Rhody a 12-3 lead with 6:33 left in the third quarter.

After another defensive stand, Rhody began a drive at their own 15-yard line. After several running moves softened up the UNH defense, Devin Farrell Marquise Buchanan hit deep over the middle for a 57-yard touchdown strike that extended the lead to 19-3 just before the end of the third quarter.

Rhode Island capped the game with a short-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown run Tommy Smith. After Grant ran 22 yards for the first score, Smith fired straight to the Wildcat for the game-winning score. UNH scored an inconsequential touchdown in the final minute.

Inside the Box Score

• Since 2021, Rhode Island is now 6-7 against ranked opponents. Previously, the Rams were 15:90 against top 25 teams.
• With the victory, the Rams have won six or more games in four consecutive seasons for the first time in five straight years from 1981 to 1985.
• The Rams have won five games in a row.
• Linebackers Cole Brockwell – CAA Football's leading tackler – had nine tackles, including a tackle for loss.
• Linebackers Devin Hightower and cornerback Frederick Mallay each had eight tackles. Mallay also had his first interception of the season.
• Linebackers Gift of Solomon had six tackles and combined with Cole Brockwell on a sack.
• Defensive back Emmanuel Gomes made seven stops and broke up one pass.
• Linebackers AJ Pena had two sacks that resulted in a loss of 20 yards.
• Pena is now fourth in program history with 21.5 career sacks. He trails only Frank Ferrara (33.0), Lou D'Agostino (24.0) and LaJhon Jones (23.0).
• The Rams didn't allow a first down until 4:40 left in the second quarter as New Hampshire didn't have a first down on its first six drives.
• The defense held New Hampshire to 2-15 on third down and 1-4 on fourth down. The Wildcats went 5-9, their fourth loss of the year.
• URI's defense limited New Hampshire to 94 offensive yards in the first half.
• Run back Malik Grant rushed for 127 yards and added two catches for 47 yards. It was his third 100-yard rushing game of the year, all of which came in the last four contests.
• Kicker Ty Groff This season they are now 5-6 on field goals and 21-21 on extra points
• Wide receiver Marquise Buchanan's 57-yard touchdown catch was his longest reception of the season. He has caught a touchdown pass in three straight games and four of the last five.
• Buchanan finished the game with four catches for 62 yards.
• The safety for Rhode Island in the second quarter was the first for the team since Jake Fire 27 games ago at Bryant in 2022.
• Tight end Brady Roark and defensive back Seun Filaoye served as game captain and as wide receiver Marquis Buchanan was the anchor carrier.
• The scout team players of the week were defensive lineman Bless Nyanneh and wide receivers Tyler Poirier. It is the second time in three weeks that Poirier has received this award.
• After being flagged five times for 55 yards in the first quarter. Rhode Island settled down and was fumbled just three times for 20 yards in the final three periods.

Next

Rhode Island hosts Maine in the Homecoming Game on Saturday, October 26th. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. on FloFootball.com.