Over 100 years into the historic series between the University of Rhode Island and Brown University football programs, the Rams took a record sixth-straight win against the Bears in the 42nd Governor’s Cup over the weekend with a 31-21 victory.
Rhode Island defeated Brown 31-21 on Saturday, concluding with a seven-point comeback victory in the fourth quarter.
“It was a really good football game,” URI Head Coach Jim Fleming said. “Brown played their tails off, James [Perry, Brown’s head coach] managed that game extremely well, but we were able to make more plays than they did.”
The victory marks the Rams’ sixth-straight over their in-state rival, the first time that has been achieved since the Governor’s Cup was introduced in 1981.
“It means a lot to me, I think it means a lot to our program,” Fleming said. “It’s extremely important to me. That cup is a mainstay in our office, [we] still need to shine it up a little bit.”
URI third-year wideout Marquis Buchanan put together his first 100-yard game of the season, and the fourth of his career on Saturday. For Buchanan, the cup was especially significant, as he is a Providence native and a graduate of Classical High School.
“Feels great, just like last year,” Buchanan said. “Came in with a mindset to dominate Brown and keep the cup home.”
The Rams did not completely dominate Brown at Meade Stadium, as the visitors jumped out to a 21-14 lead, but for the Rams that’s something they’ve seen before. URI has trailed in the fourth quarter and come out on top four times in six games this season, three of which have come in consecutive games.
“We talk about preparation, we talk about never flinching, we talk about winning the game on the last play of the game,” Fleming said. “In training camp we talk about playing the full 60 [minutes], not looking at the scoreboard at any point in time, playing the next play.”
The Rams would come back and take a 24-21 lead, but the visitors threatened again, setting up a 37-yard field goal. Most thought it would become a tie game, but Rams fourth-year linebacker Gabe Salomons had other ideas, blocking the kick and retaining Rhody’s lead.
“I’m thankful for the guys inside of me because they were the ones who brought the field goal block unit down and gave me a crease to be able to go,” Salomons said. “Coach [Chris] Lorenti sent us and we knew we had to go get it. It was a crucial part of the game and I just threw my hand up and it connected.”
The Rams would close the game out on the ensuing drive with a nine-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Rams third-year quarterback Devin Farrell rushing it into the endzone for the score. The touchdown gave URI a 31-21 lead and the victory over their in-state rival.
“[This project is] coming together,” Buchanan said. “We still got a long road ahead to get this thing perfect, but I believe in us, I believe in the coaching staff so we’ll be fine.”
Up next, the Rams have a tough road test up next when they travel to Durham, New Hampshire to take on #19 University of New Hampshire on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game is available to be streamed on FloFootball.