The University of Rhode Island football team improved to 6-2 on the season with a convincing 58-17 road win over the University at Albany on Saturday, marking the first time since 2005 that URI has scored over 50 points in a single game.
Prior to Saturday’s game, the last time the Rams scored over 50 points was on Sept. 10, 2005, against Central Connecticut State University. The Rams remained undefeated in conference play with a 4-0 record, the best in the Coastal Athletic Association.
Although the Great Danes sit at the bottom of the CAA standings with a 1-6 record, the Rams’ offense showed up and did not slow down throughout the contest, with fourth-year quarterback Devin Farrell racking up four touchdown passes.
On the defensive side, fourth-year linebacker A.J. Pena picked up four sacks to become URI’s all-time leader in sacks with 34.5, surpassing Frank Ferrara’s record of 33 from 1995-1998.
“[Pena is] a special player, and the last one appropriately was just a tag off,” URI Head Coach Jim Fleming said. “He’s worked extremely hard. He’s been able to go down in history. That’s why he came back; he came back to be able to go ahead and make this marking Rhode Island football history.”
The Rams jumped out to a 10-0 start in the first quarter, as fifth-year kicker Garth White knocked down a 48-yard field goal, followed by a one-yard touchdown from fifth-year running back Antwain Littleton Jr.
While Rhody finished with 142 rushing yards in the afternoon, Farrell’s 20-21 on passing went for 335 yards in comparison to the Great Danes’ 192.
In the span of five minutes in the middle of the second quarter, Farrell connected with fourth-year wide receiver Greg Gaines III, who finished with 153 receiving yards, for two touchdowns.
“Greg has been busting his tail all year long, and when people work hard, good things happen to them, and they get the production,” Fleming said. “So, I was really happy for Greg. He showed up in a big way.”
At 2:49 remaining in the first half, third-year linebacker Moses Meus intercepted UAlbany fourth-year quarterback Jack Shields, setting up Rhody for a drive at their 31-yard line.
A six-play, 69-yard drive finished out the first half, as Farrell found fifth-year tight end Connor Finer for his first of two touchdowns in the contest.
Farrell and Finer picked up right where they left off in the second half, completing an 11-play drive with a five-yard pass to go up 38-3.
The Rams went without another point in the third quarter, as the Great Danes notched two touchdowns. In the final frame, URI held the Great Danes scoreless once again, as the Rhody offense had three different players pick up touchdown scores.
First-year running back Terrence Campbell ran two yards into the end zone at 13:12, followed by fourth-year Will Dixon catching a two-yard throw at 3:26. Then, fourth-year defensive back Leisaan Hibbert took advantage of a UAlbany fumble to earn Rhody’s final score of the game in the final minute.
“It felt great to be able to control a football game; that’s what our kids went out to do, and that’s what they accomplished,” Fleming said. “We have a very tough Bryant [University] team coming up, coming to our place.”
Rhody will host the in-state rival Bulldogs, who are 2-5 on the season, for Family Weekend at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The game will stream on FloSports and have radio broadcasts available on WRIU and The Varsity Network.
