The University of Rhode Island football team extended its home winning streak to 16 on Saturday with a 31-10 victory over Elon University.
It was the first of five games this season at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, URI’s home this season as renovations to Meade Stadium continue. The last time Rhody played in Pawtucket was on Oct. 3, 2025, when Rhody was upset 28-21 in the 43rd edition of the Governor’s Cup against Brown University.
The Rams’ defense immediately felt at home as fifth-year Pawtucket native Andre DePina-Gray intercepted fourth-year Elon quarterback TJ Crews IV on the first drive of the game. The defense also added a strip-sack by fifth-year defensive back Trey Lubin and a blocked field goal attempt from fourth-year defensive lineman Case Mankins to a dominant first half.
“I grew up right down the street, and it’s all surreal,” DePina-Gray said. “Running out with that anchor, just knowing the responsibility I have to this team, to this coaching staff and to all the guys around me that I need to perform my best when the best is needed, and the best place to do it is back home.”
Dominance didn’t carry over to the other side of the ball, as URI’s offense went three-and-out for its first five drives.
The offense moved the chains for the first time on its sixth drive with 4:38 left in the second quarter, but Elon’s defense still forced URI to punt.
On the Rams’ last drive of the first half, it seemed as though the offense found its groove. Unfortunately, fourth-year kicker Ty Groff doinked a 39-yard field goal off the left upright after a timeout by Elon head coach Tony Trisciani iced the original attempt.
The offense’s struggles continued into the start of the second half as third-year quarterback Tyler Budge’s pass to fifth-year wide receiver Marquis Buchanan was tipped and intercepted by Elon’s fourth-year defensive back Eric Jones just two plays in.
URI fifth-year kicker Josh Hamel’s 51-yard field goal was the only third-quarter score. The fourth quarter was a completely different story, though, as the scoreboard operator was finally put to work with a combined 35 points scored in the final 15 minutes.
URI was responsible for 28 of those points, with 21 coming within a five-minute span in the middle of the quarter.
After three unsuccessful tries from within 2 yards of the end zone, second-year running back Terrence Campbell finally dove across the goal line for the first touchdown of the game and Rhody’s first lead.
“[I was] really just waiting for my turn; whenever I’m called, I just got to do what I got to do,” Campbell said. “I got to get the ball. I got to get it in [and] score a touchdown.”
The Rams continued to crush the Phoenix defensively with back-to-back interceptions by fifth-year defensive back Tyson Grimm and fourth-year linebacker Mitchell Garner, who returned it for a pick-six. URI capitalized on Grimm’s interception with a seven-play, 61-yard drive capped off by a 7-yard Budge touchdown pass to Buchanan.
Crews IV’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Winston was too little, too late for the Phoenix; any hope of a comeback was crushed when fifth-year wide receiver Aboraa Kwarteng scored in the final minute. The touchdown drive was set up by an interception from fourth-year linebacker Moses Meus, who earned Coastal Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week honors.
“I think we got our footing in the second half,” Rhode Island head coach Jim Fleming said. “I think the kids responded extremely well. There were many highlight plays that got us going, but there were certainly enough negatives that you were wondering what the heck was going on in the first half. But as is representative of this group, they continue to go ahead and find ways.”
URI now hits the road for the next two weeks, starting with Stony Brook University on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The matchup will be broadcast on FloCollege and on the radio on The Varsity Network; a free stream of the game will also be available on YouTube.
