The University of Rhode Island football team defeated Hampton University 38-10 in the final game of the regular season on Saturday to punch its ticket to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.
Rhode Island came into the game with a 9-2 record and a perfect 7-0 mark in Coastal Athletic Association play. The Rams were also riding a 13-game winning streak at Meade Stadium dating back to the 2023 season. Hampton came into the game 2-9 and 0-7 in CAA play.
Fifth-year running back Antwain Littleton Jr. broke free for a 65-yard rushing touchdown on Rhode Island’s second offensive snap of the game to give the Rams an early 7-0 lead. On the following URI drive, fourth-year running back Brendon Barrow added to the lead with a 28-yard rushing touchdown. Littleton Jr. found the end zone one more time to make it 21-0 Rhode Island at the end of the first quarter.
After scoring a touchdown on their first three drives of the game, the URI offense was set up with a short field early in the second quarter thanks to an interception by fourth-year defensive lineman Tosin Akinsulire. However, the Hampton defense came up with a key stop on fourth-and-four from the five-yard line to get the ball back. On the ensuing drive, third-year quarterback Earl Woods III scrambled for a 44-yard touchdown to get the Pirates on the board and cut the URI lead to 14.
After getting taken down for a sack while rolling out to his right, fourth-year quarterback Devin Farrell exited the game due to a toe injury. Third-year quarterback Conner Kenyon came in to replace Farrell for the Rams. During Kenyon’s first drive, URI was at its own eight-yard line with 1:10 left in the half and two timeouts. Kenyon led the Rams down the field and set up fifth-year kicker Garth White for a 29-yard field goal. White split the uprights, and Rhode Island took a 24-7 lead into the half.
Hampton forced a three-and-out on Rhode Island’s opening drive of the second half, then kicked a field goal to make it a 24-10 game. On the following URI drive, Littleton Jr. was looking for his third rushing touchdown of the game, but fumbled the ball at the goal line. The Pirates recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback to come up with a takeaway.
Hampton couldn’t capitalize off the turnover, though, as the Pirates went three-and-out and punted the ball back to URI, keeping it a 14-point game. Rhode Island drove down the field, and Kenyon connected with fifth-year tight end Connor Finer for a four-yard touchdown to extend Rhode Island’s lead to 21.
In the fourth quarter, Kenyon connected with fifth-year wide receiver Omari Walker for a 62-yard touchdown to finish off the Pirates and make it 38-10, which was ultimately the final score.
“You never know when your number is going to get called,” URI Head Coach Jim Fleming said. “You have to be ready to perform. [Kenyon] steps in, goes 21/32 for 258 [passing yards] and two touchdowns… When you can put your second-string quarterback in there and still win a game convincingly, I think that speaks volumes to the quality of this football team.”
With the win, URI clinched its second straight CAA title and won the conference outright for the first time in program history. It was also Rhode Island’s first outright conference title since 1985. URI waited to see if it would be one of the eight teams to receive a first-round bye in the postseason.
“I think that this team is certainly worthy of and deserving of a first-round bye,” Fleming said following the victory on Saturday. “If it doesn’t happen that way, I’ll be very disappointed. But we won’t care because we’ll line up whoever comes into this stadium next, and we’ll play again.”
Fleming also provided an update regarding Farrell after he was taken out of the game in the second quarter, talking about his readiness for the postseason.
“It was a decision by us; Devin’s fine,” Fleming said. “We’ve got a lot of football to play… he will be ready to rock and roll next week… I’m glad [Farrell] is our QB1, but I’m certainly glad Connor Kenyon is our QB2.”
The selection committee ended up putting URI as the No. 9 seed, which was one spot outside of receiving a first-round bye. Rhode Island will play Central Connecticut State University in the first round of the FCS Playoffs on Saturday at Meade Stadium. URI faced CCSU at home last year in the first round of the playoffs and won the game 21-17. Kickoff is set for noon and will stream on ESPN+, with radio broadcasts available on The Varsity Network and WRIU 90.3 FM.
