The University of Rhode Island football team fought in the first half but ultimately couldn’t keep up with its Football Bowl Subdivision competition, falling 38-14 to Temple University.
Played at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday in Philadelphia, the Owls’ offense and defense combined to score 21 unanswered points alongside a shutout second half.
“We expected to win this game,” Rhode Island head coach Jim Fleming said. “When you look at just the game itself, you have an opportunity if you don’t give up the big negatives.”
The first big negative came in the second quarter; third-year quarterback Tyler Budge dropped back and threw an interception on a tipped pass that second-year safety Jamarcus Pierre returned 35 yards for a touchdown.
It came three drives after Budge had tied the game at seven with a scoring drive that ended in a 35-yard touchdown throw to fifth-year receiver Marquis Buchanan.
“Can’t make mistakes at any point in the game, especially on the road against an FBS opponent,” Buchanan said. “I like the way that our team fought, and we just have to move on.”
Rhode Island took a 24-14 deficit into halftime after allowing second-year running back Keveun Mason to rush for 45 yards during the two-minute drill; the final yard scored Temple’s third touchdown with 16 seconds left in the quarter.
The Rams opened the second half with a three-and-out, but fourth-year defensive lineman Case Mankins gave the offense another opportunity to pull within one score as he forced a fumble that third-year linebacker Marquese Avery recovered.
Another Rams punt put Temple at its own 18-yard line, allowing them to build a 17-play scoring drive that took over half the quarter and gave Mason his second score on a 3-yard touchdown.
“I thought that [Temple was] effective all night running it,” Fleming said. “I think for the most part, our defense played physical and played hard. We just got nickel-and-dimed and got in short yardage situations, couldn’t get off the field.”
Budge buried the Rams’ hopes of a comeback on their first drive of the fourth quarter, throwing a bad read right into the hands of third-year linebacker Tyree Alualu for a 63-yard pick-six.
Despite two misfires, Budge still found Buchanan 10 times throughout the game to add another 137 receiving yards to the wideout’s 306 prior against three other FBS opponents.
“It’s just football; there’s nothing different,” Buchanan said. “I really put pressure on myself to go out there and show them that we can ball. Obviously, we didn’t come out with a win, but I just go out there and just play my game and don’t worry about it being an FBS or FCS opponent.”
The other score for Rhode Island came in the second quarter on a 14-play drive that finished with Budge scoring it at the goal line, building up a solid game on the ground with nine rushes for 45 yards and 195 yards through the air on 58% passing.
“I see continued growth with him,” Fleming said. “I expect to see nothing but continued improvement there; he’s still a young player in my mind in terms of game reps, and I think he’ll get better week in and week out.”
The opportunity for Budge to make his first two collegiate career starts comes with fifth-year quarterback Devin Farrell recovering from a surgery he had in March. The Coastal Athletic Association’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year was originally hoped to have a three-month recovery but now could be looking at more than an eight-month recovery, according to Fleming.
“I think that’s a day-to-day, week-to-week thing,” Fleming said. “It’s been frustrating for everybody. We’ll certainly welcome the opportunity to get Devin back when he’s ready to be able to perform and compete.”
After earning $325,000 to lose to Temple, according to FBSchedules, conference play begins with Rhode Island’s home opener against Elon University on Saturday at Centreville Bank Stadium. At the Rams’ temporary home for the first time as the home team after last year’s Governor’s Cup loss, the Rams could be without Farrell for the third time in as many weeks.
“We’re waiting for that green light and don’t have an answer on that yet,” Fleming said. “Until we get that answer, I expect Tyler to be starting and be our quarterback.”
Student buses are available for $11 per ticket to travel to Pawtucket for the noon kickoff. The game will be broadcast on FloCollege, MeTV and the FloSports Channel on Amazon Prime, with a radio broadcast available on WRIU 90.3 FM.
