The University of Rhode Island football team dropped back down to a .500 record after being taken down 56-24 by Stony Brook University in Saturday’s road matchup.
After an even first quarter, things went downhill on both ends of the ball for the Rams. In their first loss to a Coastal Athletic Association opponent in 11 games, Rhody’s defense allowed 519 total yards.
“It’s a very disappointing loss,” URI head coach Jim Fleming said. “I knew that these guys were capable and they would be prepared. I thought they had a good plan for us and we didn’t have many answers.”
With fifth-year quarterback Devin Farrell still riding the sidelines with an injury, third-year quarterback Tyler Budge once again got the start. Despite picking up 209 yards, the highest of his four URI starts, Rhody’s offense could not compare to the Seawolves’.
The Rams got on the board first with an eight-play, 71-yard drive that resulted in an 8-yard rushing touchdown by second-year running back Terrence Campbell.
A touchdown in the final five minutes of the first quarter and in the first five minutes of the second quarter put the Seawolves up 14-7.
With a similar drive to their first touchdown, Rhody’s response came in the form of a 70-yard drive capped off by a 23-yard run by fifth-year running back BJ Barrow.
After fifth-year kicker Josh Hamel converted a 38-yard field goal to put the Rams up 17-14, the surge by the Seawolves began.
Fourth-year running back CJ Hester scored two touchdowns in the final minute of the half for the Seawolves. The second came as a result of Budge’s lone interception in the contest.
Third-year quarterback Quinn Boyd paved the way for a dominant Seawolves second half, outscoring the Rams 28-7.
“The focus this week in practice is, obviously, tomorrow staff-wise, is trying to correct the mistakes that we made,” Fleming said. “I mean, the quarterback ran out for 150 yards; that was inexcusable.”
Boyd’s 153 yards on the ground was a career-high. Hester, who finished with four touchdowns, also tied a Stony Brook record.
URI’s lone touchdown in the second half came from fifth-year wide receiver Marquis Buchanan, his fourth on the season in as many games. Buchanan finished with seven catches and 124 receiving yards.
The last time the Rams lost a regular-season game to a conference opponent was on Nov. 9, 2024, to the University of Delaware, who moved to Conference USA in the Football Bowl Subdivision the following season.
“It’s still early in the season,” Fleming said. “One loss in conference; who knows what’s going to happen there. Our focus is going to have to be quickly shifting to North Carolina [Agricultural and Technical State University] and see what we can get done.”
The last time URI lost consecutive conference games was on Oct. 21, 2023. Attempting to avoid a second straight loss, the Rams will stay on the road against NC A&T on Saturday at 4 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on FloCollege and available to listen to on The Varsity Network.
