THE BASICS
No. 21/20 Rhode Island (1-1, 1-0 CAA Football) at Maine (0-2, 0-0 CAA Football)
Kickoff: Friday, Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m. EST
Live Stats | Audio: Varsity Network | Video: FloFootball | Game Notes
 

RHODE ISLAND VS. MAINE - SERIES NOTES

• Friday's meeting will be the 101st in the long-standing history between the two programs, which dates back to 1911.
• The Black Bears have a 62-35-3 all-time advantage over the Rams, which includes a 39-19-2 edge at home in Orono. 
• A year ago, Rhode Island snapped a 14-game losing streak in the series by defeating Maine 26-22 at Meade Stadium. The win was Rhody's first over the Black Bears since 2006. 
• Prior to that, the Rams had lost four of their past seven games by less than one possession. 
• After the visitors jumped out to a 10-0 lead, Rhode Island battled back and entered the halftime break facing just a 13-7 deficit. 
• Quarterback Kasim Hill's three total touchdowns helped the Rams overtake the Bears. His seven-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave Rhody its first lead of the day at 14-13.
• Though an 18-yard pass put Maine back on top, the combination of another rushing touchdown by Hill, as well as one by Marques DeShields helped the team claim its final victory.  

STEWART, ROARK SHARE LIFE-SAVING EXPERIENCES

• Saturday, Sept. 16 is World Marrow Donor Day, which will have significant meaning for both linebacker Evan Stewart and tight end Brady Roark this year.
• Earlier this year, and within weeks of one another, Stewart and Roark both saved the lives of complete strangers by way of blood stem cell donations.
• Both men were matches through the Be The Match Registry, which the Rams - in conjunction with the Get in the Game program - conduct an on-campus registration drive for each year, one of the largest annual programs on behalf of the registry. 
• Stewart and Roark, who are in their fourth year as Rhody teammates, were also teammates at St. Joseph Regional during their high school days in New Jersey.

RHODE WARRIORS

• The Rams have put together solid records on the road over the past few seasons. 
• After a 2-0 effort in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, Rhody has gone 3-3 in the past two seasons. 
• A win over the Black Bears on Saturday would not only level the team out to 1-1 in road games this season, but it would also mark Rhode Island's first win in Orono since Oct. 10, 1998.
• The visitors pulled off a one-point victory at 18-17 in the outing.
• Rhody's trip up north will be the second-furthest of its 2023 CAA Football slate at 330 miles. 
• The team's longest league trip will happen in the final week of the regular season when the Rams make the trip to Towson's Johnny Unitas Stadium in Baltimore, Md. 

THREATS ON THE OUTSIDE

• Heading into the third week of the season, three of the five best receivers in CAA Football play for the Rams.
• With 202 receiving yards, Kahtero Summers checks in at third in the league standings, followed by fourth place Darius Savedge (178 yds.) and fifth place Marquis Buchanan (171 yds.).  
• Monmouth is the only other program represented by three players in the top 15, grabbing the 8th, 12th and 14th spots. 
• Both Savedge and Buchanan are credited with a pair of touchdowns each, posting one apiece at Georgia State and against Stony Brook. 
• As a team, Rhody has the second-best passing offense in the league, with an average of 353.5 yards per game. 
• That effort is also good for third in the national rankings. 
• The  Rams' six passing touchdowns, all thrown by Kasim Hill, are second only to New Hampshire's nine.