The University of Rhode Island football team hosted its annual Spring Blue-White Game on Saturday at Meade Stadium.
The scrimmage marked the first time that the defending Coastal Athletic Association co-champions put the pads on since Dec. 7, 2024. The Rams are coming off a historic season that featured the most victories in program history, a playoff appearance and a playoff victory for the first time since the 1985 season.
Third-year quarterback Devin Farrell took snaps for the first time after suffering a season-ending injury in a loss against the University of Delaware on Nov. 9, 2024. Farrell missed the last four games of the season, including the playoffs, and underwent surgery on his right thumb in November 2024.
“[It] felt great,” Farrell said. “Just all glory to God, the injury process was tough for me, and just being patient, and he got me through it. And now I’m back here, so it’s the best feeling ever.”
Farrell picked up right where he left off before the injury as he went 15 for 21 on pass attempts and threw for 178 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Each quarter in the game spanned 10 minutes with a running clock. The defense started with a 28-0 lead, as the offense attempted to make a comeback.
Fourth-year transfer running back Antwain Littleton Jr. made his Rams debut on Saturday. Littleton started his career at the University of Maryland, where he spent three seasons after utilizing a redshirt in his first season. He then took his talents to Temple University for the 2024 season before entering the transfer portal and landing at URI. Littleton finished his day with nine rushes for 42 yards and a touchdown.
“It was a good day,” URI Head Coach Jim Fleming said. “I thought there were really some spectacular plays. You saw some guys step up we haven’t seen… It’s a good day and caps a good spring.”
Third-year wide receiver Marquis Buchanan had five catches for 88 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown. Buchanan finished his historic 2024 season with 1,124 receiving yards, which is fifth all-time in Rhode Island history, and 82 catches, which is fourth all-time in program history. Buchanan wasn’t the only Rhody wide receiver who made his impact felt; third-year Greg Gaines III had six catches for 32 yards and a touchdown, along with second-year Eddie Combs, who tallied 84 yards on only four catches. The offense played a clean game, not turning the ball over a single time.
On the other side of the ball, a bright spot for the Rhody defense on Saturday was third-year Moses Mues, who recorded a sack and had five tackles in the game. Third-year Case Mankins also recorded a sack, which resulted in a safety to give the defense an extra two points. The URI defense put together a second-half shutout to come away with a 30-24 win.
“There’s always a target on our backs now,” third-year defensive back Andre DePina-Gray said. “We’ve always been trying to climb the mountain; we’re finally at the top. It’s hard to stay on the top when you get up there, so we have a mindset to not dwell on the past.”
One of the biggest stories of the day, however, had nothing to do with the game itself. Third-year linebacker A.J. Pena, who entered the transfer portal at the end of the 2024 season, was in attendance. Pena had 82 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks. He was First Team All-CAA, a Football Championship Subdivision Football Central First Team All-American, Associated Press First Team All-American, Phil Steele First Team All-American and a Stats Perform First Team All-American. Pena has one year of eligibility left in his career, which gives him the opportunity to come back to the Rams in the fall for one more season.
Rhode Island will begin its 2025 season at Meade Stadium on Aug. 29 against Campbell University.
