Rams end two-game losing streak going into bye
Sophomore running back Jaylen Smith contributed to a rushing attack that ran for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns. PHOTO CREDIT: Aidan Cahill | Staff Photographer
For the fourth year in a row, the Governor’s Cup will remain in Kingston.
On Saturday, the University of Rhode Island football team defeated in-state rival Brown in dominant fashion with a final score of 38-10, taking home the 40th annual Governor’s Cup.
Rhody held control the entire way, scoring on their first three drives and not looking back. In a nearly flawless first half, the Rams were playing their best in all facets of the game, according to URI Head Coach Jim Fleming.
“I thought we played close to an impeccable first half,” Fleming said. “I’m really thrilled for our guys. I thought Brown has gotten better, they’re a tough minded football team.”
The Rams came away with points on each of their first three drives, taking a 17-3 lead going into the second quarter.
The first score of the night went to Marques DeShields, who picked up right where he left off after his two-touchdown performance the week before against Pittsburgh. The Clemonton, N.J. native turned his 21-yard scamper into a highlight of the season, hurdling over a defender en route to the endzone.
“I never think about it,” DeShields said on his hurdle attempt. “It’s really a reaction. I say that as humbly as possible, it’s just a reaction.”
DeShields was followed up with a rushing score from his running mate, Jaylen Smith, before Harrison Leonard connected on a 36 yard-field goal. In the second quarter, Rhody continued to pile on the offense, adding another 21 points. DeShields found the endzone for the second time in the game — his second-straight outing with multiple scores — before the offense closed out the half with two touchdowns over the final 43 seconds.
Up by 21 points, Rams quarterback Kasim Hill found tight end Caleb Warren for his first touchdown of the year to make it 31-3. On the ensuing kickoff, the Bears couldn’t secure a clean possession on the return, giving Rhody the ball back in prime position to score. Two plays later, Hill found Warren again just 16 seconds after his first score, cushioning the Rhody lead to 38-3 at the half.
The Rams forced three interceptions from Bears’ quarterback Jake Willcox as well, with Emmanuel Gomes, Antonio Carter II and Jake Fire all taking the ball away once. Gomes’ pick was the first of his career; a special moment for the Woonsocket native playing in the state’s premier game.
“I just feel blessed because Rhode Island is the smallest state, we don’t get a ton of recognition,” Gomes said. “To come from Rhode Island and play D1 here, along with my other brothers who are also from Rhode Island, we’re all just blessed to be here because we’re really changing the culture for Rhode Island.”
Only one touchdown came from either team in the second half, as Brown found the endzone on a short rushing score late in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late for the Bears.
The Rams finished with a staggering 541 yards of total offense, with Hill contributing 232 yards in the air. Both DeShields and Kahtero Summers each posted season highs in yardage, with the former grinding out 109 on the ground while Summers added 112 more receiving.
After a big win, Rhody will head into their bye week before facing off against the Elon Phoenix on Oct. 15 for URI’s Alumni Weekend game. The week off came at “the perfect time” for the team, according to Fleming, as the Rams hope to return a number of key players back from injury, including defensive tackle Westley Neal Jr.
“I felt that the midseason bye was earned,” he said. “This is a good, good time for us. We can heal up.”
Action against Elon will begin at 1 p.m., with the game being available locally on YurView New England and streaming live on FloSports and the Varsity Network.