Two RI schools and two players are recognized in weekly football announcements; who they are

Two of the state’s college football teams found their names on FCS poll ballots this week. 

The University of Rhode Island continued to climb in the rankings despite a bye week. Brown used contributions by a pair of Ivy League award winners to take a place just outside the national elite. 

The Rams check in at No. 20 ahead of their weekend trip to Hampton. The Bears are among teams receiving votes after a Saturday thriller with Harvard. 

URI needed a late Malik Grant rushing touchdown — his third of the game — to outlast Long Island entering its time off. The Rams improved to 3-1 overall and 3-0 against FCS foes. They’ll be back in Coastal Athletic Association action against the Pirates before a Governor’s Cup meeting against Brown set for Oct. 12 at Meade Stadium. 

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The Bears rallied for a signature win against Harvard, their first against the Crimson since 2010. Brown pounced on an errant field-goal snap in the final minute and Jake Willcox threw a touchdown pass to Mark Mahoney with 21 seconds left to cap a 31-28 classic. Willcox fired all three of his scoring strikes in the second half, the last two to Mahoney deep in the fourth quarter. 

Elias Archie and Matt Childs were key for the Bears while erasing a 21-3 deficit, and they were honored Monday as a result. Archie picked up conference Defensive Player of the Week honors while Childs earned a Rookie of the Week selection. Both made critical plays on either side of halftime. 

Archie’s interception and return to the Harvard 1 set up Brown’s opening touchdown late in the second quarter, as Nate Lussier crashed in on a direct snap. Childs caught a 75-yard bomb from Willcox down the middle for a score in the third quarter, escaping out of the backfield and eluding downfield coverage. The Bears moved to 2-0 entering an in-state home matchup with Bryant on Saturday. 

URI is one of four CAA teams ranked this week, joining No. 6 Villanova, No. 12 William & Mary and No. 21 New Hampshire. Richmond, Stony Brook and Monmouth are all receiving votes outside the top 25. Brown and Dartmouth are the only two Ivy teams that appeared on ballots this week, with both the Bears and Big Green off to 2-0 starts.  

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25