How It Happened
No. 25 Rhode Island (4-2) won its fifth straight Governor's Cup, outlasting in-state rival Brown 34-30 in a wild back-and-forth contest Saturday afternoon.
 
A wild first half saw six lead changes before the break. After Brown (2-2) got on the board first with a short field goal on its first possession, Rhody took its first lead just 64 seconds later when Kasim Hill found a wide-open Kahtero Summers for a 50-yard touchdown pass. URI failed on a 2-point conversion, leaving the score at 6-3. Late in the first quarter, the host Bears moved back in front with a 1-yard touchdown run by Stockton Owen.

Hill displayed URI's quick-strike ability again when he connected with Marquis Buchanan on a 27-yard touchdown pass  four minutes into the period to help make the score 13-10 in favor of the Rams. Brown came back with a 12-play, 80-yard drive in which dynamic playmaker Wes Rockett scored on a 3-yard reverse in which he was hit as he dove for the goal line. Rockett spun like a helicopter blade as he crossed the line, giving Brown a 16-13 lead.

The next highlight belonged to the Rams, as Randy Jordan caught the ensuing kickoff at his own 5-yard line and returned it all the way for a 95-yard touchdown return for a 20-17 Rhody lead. The entertaining half was capped with Brown's second field goal of the day, and the teams went into the break knotted at 20-20.

Brown got the first lead of the second half when Ian Franzoni broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run that gave the Bears a 27-20 lead. In a game of responses, it was URI's turn. A pair of 15-yard pass interference calls drawn by Kahtero Summers helped set up a 27-yard touchdown pass from Hill to Darius Savedge, tying the score again, 27-27. On the final play of the third quarter, Ja'Den McKenzie rumbled down the left sideline for a 50-yard touchdown run for the eighth lead change of the afternoon, putting Rhode Island on top, 34-27 heading into the final quarter. Right guard Nick Correia had a key downfield block to help McKenzie take it the distance.

With rain coming down, Brown kicker Christopher Maron booted a 47-yard field goal – his third of the day, to cut the URI lead to 34-30 with 12:40 remaining. From there, both sides punted twice on the next four possessions as the offense slowed. Rhode Island forced a punt and got the ball at its own 9-yard line with 4:56 to go. On third-and-3, Hill hit Marquis Buchanan for a 38-yard pass and a key first down. The play allowed URI to run the clock down to 1:04, but a missed 50-yard field goal set up Brown with a final possession at its own 33-yard line and 58 seconds on the clock.

Brown moved the ball to the URI 39, but Syeed Gibbs came up with his second interception of the day at the 27-yard line with six seconds to go to seal the victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Redshirt freshman Syeed Gibbs had a career-high nine tackles and two interceptions, including the game-winner with six seconds left in regulation.
• The two Gibbs' picks were the first two turnovers committed by Brown this season.
• Kick returner Randy Jordan's 95-yard touchdown was URI's first for a touchdown since Ahmere Dorsey had an 89-yard return against James Madison in 2019.
• Quarterback Kasim Hill passed for 222 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
• Wide receiver Kahtero Summers had two catches for 61 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown. The touchdown catch was his fourth of the season, all of which have come in the last four games.
• Wide receiver Marquis Buchanan had five catches for 84 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown.
• Wide receiver Darius Savedge tied Buchanan for the team lead with five catches for 51 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown.
• This was the third time this season Buchanan and Savedge have caught a touchdown pass in the same game.
• Running back Ja'Den McKenzie ran for 111 yards on 12 carries, which included a 50-yard touchdown run.
• He leads the team with four rushing touchdowns and has scored in four of the last five contests.
• It was the second time this year McKenzie has topped 100 rushing yards.
• Linebacker Evan Stewart had a team-high 13 tackles and combined with safety Jordan Colbert on a sack.
• Linebacker A.J. Pena had six tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and one pass break up.
• Linebacker Mehki Bethel had a career-high nine tackles.
• Defensive back Fredrick Mallay broke up three passes to go with five tackles, including one for a loss.
• Safety Brent Jackson broke up two passes, while defensive back Randy Jackson and defensive tackle Jasyn Andrews each had one.
• Brown was 4-for-5 on third-down conversions in the first quarter and 9-for-12 in first half. The second half was a different story, as the Ram defense limited the Bears to 3-for-9 on third down.
• Right guard Nick Correia served as URI's game captain, while linebacker A.J. Pena was the anchor bearer.

What's Next
Rhode Island returns to CAA Football action when it hosts Richmond for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 14. Game time is 1:05 p.m. on FloFootball.com