Rhode Island football rights the ship, rallies to beat New Hampshire. Here’s how

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Saturday afternoon was the latest example of what University of Rhode Island football has become. 

Rams coach Jim Fleming would like to make it easier on himself and the fans at Meade Stadium. He knows trailing by 10 points entering the fourth quarter against New Hampshire isn’t what anybody wanted to see. 

The end result, however, was an increasingly common one for the reigning Coastal Athletic Association champions. No. 17 URI used its playmakers on offense and a defense that generated some clutch stops to post a 38-27 victory over the Wildcats. 

It’s the 12^th straight triumph in Kingston for the Rams, matching a program record set from 1929-31 and equaled during the last golden age from 1984-85. Devin Farrell’s 16-yard scramble with 2:12 left put URI in front for good and Rohan Davy’s 45-yard fumble return for a score just 67 seconds later finally allowed the Rams to breathe easy. 

“We all stay in the seats and watch these games and everybody has been saying the same thing for two years – ‘Hey, let’s make this easy,’” Fleming said. “And we want to make it easy too, but no one is just going to go ahead and give it up. That was a tough out.” 

URI faced a 27-17 deficit into the fourth and was running out of chances to snap a two-game skid. Farrell’s rush to the left and pass down the middle to Marquis Buchanan – his first catch of the afternoon – gave the Rams a pair of key conversions on third down. Brendon Barrow followed the 27-yard hit to Buchanan with a 19-yard touchdown dash up the middle, and it was a 27-24 game. 

“The biggest thing is I’m just glad as a team that we’re back on track,” Barrow said after a career-high 111 rushing yards and two scores. “The last two weeks we had a hiccup.” 

URI’s defense kept it there thanks to consecutive stops, the second coming after AJ Peña drew a holding penalty on a bull rush off right end. Angel Sanchez returned a line-drive punt across midfield and Farrell hit Buchanan again for 14 yards and a first down at the New Hampshire 38. Three rushing plays covered the rest of the short scoring drive, with Farrell taking off and eluding four defenders before a dive across the goal line. 

“We were able to get it done when it counted,” Farrell said. 

The Wildcats (3-4, 1-2 CAA) picked up a couple first downs in their own territory before the Rams defense put a cap on this one. Matt Vezza stepped up in the pocket and was nailed by former St. Raphael star Moses Meus, with the ball popping out and rolling toward the right sideline. Davy scooped it up and raced for the pylon to finish a day that also included six tackles and a sack. 

“Score,” Davy said of his first thought with open field in front of him. “Score for the offense like they do for us.” 

The Rams (5-2, 3-0 CAA) could have been in a deeper hole early while attempting to bury losses against Western Michigan and Brown. A blocked punt in the first quarter and ensuing missed short field goal by New Hampshire kept it a 7-0 deficit. URI took a 17-14 lead into the half that turned on its head over the next 15 minutes, with Vezza finding Peyton Strickland for a 2-yard touchdown and Nick Reed connecting on field goals of 46 and 31 yards. 

“The kids hung in there and found a way to get it done,” Fleming said. “I couldn’t be happier for Rhody Nation.” 

Buchanan (lower back) returned after a heavy hit forced him to miss the majority of the opening half, and that was good news for the 5,192 fans on hand under the sunshine. The Rams have already announced a sellout for their Oct. 25 meeting with Bryant, a game that comes after a road test at Albany. URI will be looking to extend its momentum against the Great Danes and make some new program history against the Bulldogs. 

“I think our talent level has grown over the years,” Fleming said. “I think our expectation level to win has grown over the years. The whole program has taken phenomenal steps forward.  

“I couldn’t be prouder of being able to win close games.”

New Hampshire  7 7 13 0 – 27  

Rhode Island  0 17 0 21 – 38  

NH – Myles Thomason 5 run (Nick Reed kick) 

RI – Antwain Littleton Jr. 3 run (Garth White kick) 

RI – White 45 field goal 

NH – Chase Wilson 20 pass from Matt Vezza (Reed kick) 

RI – Brendon Barrow 28 run (White kick) 

NH – Peyton Strickland 2 pass from Vezza (Reed kick) 

NH – Reed 46 field goal 

NH – Reed 31 field goal  

RI – Barrow 19 run (White kick) 

RI – Devin Farrell 16 run (White kick) 

RI – Rohan Davy 45 fumble return (White kick) 

Rushing: NH, 36-127 (Matt Vezza 16-54, Denzell Gibson 10-52, Myles Thomason 9-22); RI, 41-220 (Brendon Barrow 14-111, Antwain Littleton Jr. 15-62, Devin Farrell 12-47). 

Passing: NH, 16-32-0 193 (Vezza 16-32-0 193); RI, 15-23-1 164 (Farrell 15-23-1 164). 

Receiving: NH, 16-193 (Chase Wilson 5-69, Casey McKinney 3-53, Myles Thomason 3-43, Peyton Strickland 3-12); RI, 15-164 (Aboraa Kwarteng 3-47, Omari Walker 3-12, Marquis Buchanan 2-41, Barrow 2-11). 

bkoch@providencejournal.com 

On X: @BillKoch25