Images courtesy of Connor Caldon
By Paige Messier
NEFJ Correspondent
PROVIDENCE – It was a back-and-forth, rainy affair between the No. 25 Rhode Island Rams and Brown Bears for the 41st Governor’s Cup on Saturday and in the end, the Rams were able to come out on top with a wild 34-30 victory.
What was ultimately the winning touchdown came from Ja’den McKenzie – who had a monster day with 11 yards rushing – as time expired in the third quarter when he was able to dominate the drive from start to finish. In just three plays, McKenzie was able to cover 73 yards, including a 50-yard sprint to the end zone putting the Rams up 34-27 at the time. That score came minutes after Darius Savedge hauled in a 27-yard TD pass from Kasim Hill (16-30, 222, 3 TD) to tie the game at 27-27.
“I think the guys stepped up, there was no panic, there were things that happened in the game that we had to overcome and we did some very special things,” said URI Head Coach Jim Fleming. “I couldn’t be more happy with the defensive performance, there were things that were really tight in that game where the kids executed and stayed in the game and made the plays.”
Early on, Chris Maron put the Bears up 3-0 early, but Kahtero Summers’ 50-yard TD catch and run (with a failed two-point attempt) made it 6-3 Rams. A one-yard Stockton Owen TD run put Brown up 10-6 after one.
Marquis Buchannan had a day in his hometown leading his team in receiving yards (5/84) and had a 27-yard TD catch early in the second to put URI back up 13-10. Wes Rockett (7/90) had a three-yard touchdown run with 5:42 left in the half as the seesaw battle continued, making it 17-13. Randy Jordan immediately responded with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Maron hit a 31-yard field goal with 18 seconds left to knot things up at 20-20 heading into halftime.
“I’m in my hometown, my city with my family here, so it felt great to come out here and come out with a win and bring the [Governors] Cup back” said Buchanan.
Ian Franzoni’s 25-yard touchdown run with 10:33 left in the third put the Bears up 27-20 before Savage’s TD and the eventual game-winner from McKenzie.
The game was officially closed when Jake Willcox (31-55, 272, 2 TD) was picked off by Syeed Gibbs with just six seconds to go during the final drive for the Bears. That wasn’t Gibbs only interception of the day either, forcing Brown’s first turnover of the season in the opening quarter.
“We came into this game knowing they didn’t have any turnovers, so we wanted to be the first team to make sure that happened. I just got lucky and got those two.” said Gibbs.
Although the Bears didn’t get the outcome they wished for, head coach James Perry was happy with his team’s effort and grit.
“Going into the game we knew they were a terrific team, and I was thrilled with how we practiced leading into today– I made sure that they know I was proud of them and I think they are proud of themselves, it was a good effort and hard fought game.. To see us get consistently better is a lot of fun.” said Perry.
The Governor’s Cup is now heading back to its seemingly permanent home these days in Kingston. The Rams will host CAA opponent Richmond at home next Saturday while the Bears will welcome Princeton to Richard Gouse Field.
