Courtesy of URI Athletics
SOUTH KINGSTON – The Rhode Island Rams are used to playing close games. After all, prior to today they had come from behind in four of their seven wins. Make it five come from behind wins after Saturday’s come from behind 37-28 win over Monmouth.
Early miscues had the Rams trailing for most of the afternoon but that all changed when quarterback Devin Farrell hit wide receiver Marques Buchanan for a second time on a 24 yard touchdown pass with 1:17 left in the game to put the Rams up 31-28. A Frederick Mallay defensive touchdown as time expired would seal the deal.
The win reinforced what has become a trademark for this URI football program. Resiliency.
“It’s all about resilience,” URI coach Jim Fleming said. “It’s all about no flinching when you get down. It’s all about really good play.”
The Rams resiliency was on full display after they were able to overcome three turnovers and a defense that struggled in the first half against one of the nation’s top offenses to get the win. Just when it looked like Monmouth was going to pull away, the Rams would make a play to keep them in the game.
The defense in particular made key stops down the stretch enabling the Rams to stay within striking distance at the end.
Linebacker AJ Peña’s fumble recovery with 0:33 left to play ended Monmouth’s last ditch effort at a comeback. After getting a good push inside from Case Mankins and the rest of the defensive line, Hawks quarterback Derek Robertson fumbled, giving the Rams the ball at their own 48. Monmouth used all three of its timeouts and forced the Rams to punt, but a series of laterals in the final seconds led to a fumble that was recovered by Mallay who scored a touchdown as time expired.
Early on it looked like Monmouth was going to spoil the Rams party. The Hawks got on the scoreboard first on when running back Sone Ntoh punched it home from 7 yards out. The Rams would respond however on a Farrell to Buchanan 28 yard touchdown connection. Buchanan had a monster game finishing with 12 catches for 171 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Buchanan embraced his role as a difference maker in the offense.
“When you’re getting targeted a lot you’ve got to make plays when they come to you,” Buchanan said. “I knew we were losing, and I knew every time the ball came to me I had to make a play.”
Monmouth would recapture the lead at the end of the first quarter on a Robertson to Jack Neri 4 yard touchdown pass. The resilient Rams however would find a way to stick around. A 29 yard field goal by Ty Groff would make it 14-10 at the start of the second quarter.
Ntoh would score his second touchdown of the game, this time from 2 yards out. The Rams would not go away however. On the next possession, Farrell would hit Tommy Smith on a 29 yard touchdown strike to make it 21-17. That would be the score at the half.
Monmouth would go up 28-17 in the third quarter on a Robertson to Tra Neal 11 yard touchdown pass. The Hawks were poised to add to their lead deep in URI territory and that’s when Peña made one of the key plays of the game. Monmouth went for it on a fourth down at the Rams 40 but were stopped short when Peña tackled Ntoh in the backfield for a loss and a turnover on downs. The Rams would capitalize on the key stop late in the quarter when Malik Grant busted a 16 yard run up the middle for a touchdown with 1:44 left. Grant finished with 25 carries for 126 yards and a touchdown.
The score set the stage for a great finish for the Rams. With the win, URI is now 8-1 on the season and have won seven in a row. They are 5-0 in the conference. The Rams visit Delaware next week and finish with Albany at home and at Bryant. Fleming knows there is plenty at stake in these last three games.
“We still have a lot to accomplish,” Fleming said. “There is no guarantee. An 11-game season, I always said eight was the magic number – I don’t know if that’s true anymore. Don’t really care.”