How it Happened
No. 15/16 Rhode Island won its sixth straight game, defeating Maine 24-14 in front of a sold-out Homecoming Day crowd at Meade Stadium Saturday.

The Rams (7-1, 4-0 CAA Football) rushed for three touchdowns and got another dominant defensive effort to spark the win.

The visiting Black Bears (4-4, 2-3 CAA Football) got on the board first, when Cooper Heisey caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Carter Peevy with 53 seconds to go in the opening quarter. From there, Rhode Island dominated the rest of the half, using a pair of extended drives to control the game. Quarterback Devin Farrell scored on a pair of short touchdown runs, punching it in from 1 yard out to tie the score midway through the second quarter before scoring on a 6-yard run with little more than a minute left in the half.

Maine managed to tie the game on the first snap of the fourth quarter. Brian Sanata-Fis scored on a 4-yard run to cap a short-yardage drive (9 plays, 43 yards). From there, Rhode Island again dominated. On the ensuing possession, Farrell hit Tommy Smith over the middle for a 46-yard pass that moved the ball to the Maine 3-yard line. Two plays later, Malik Grant took a direct snap and scored on a 1-yard plunge to quickly put Rhody back in front, 21-14.

The Ram defense recorded four of its season-high six sacks in the fourth quarter, preventing any thoughts of a Maine comeback. With the defense holding down the fort, Smith came up with another big play late. With URI facing a third-and-15 from the Maine 28, Farrell threw a ball to Omari Walker that deflected into the air. Smith made a diving catch at the Maine 19, which allowed Ty Groff to kick a 35-yard field goal. That made it a two-possession game with six minutes to go, essentially securing the win.  

Inside the Box Score

• With the victory, Rhode Island secured its fifth straight winning season with four more regular-season games remaining.
• Rhode Island is off to best start in conference play since it began the 2001 season 5-0 in the Atlantic 10.
• Safety Emmanuel Gomes led the Rams with 10 tackles, seven of which were solo efforts.
• The Rams had a season-high seven sacks. Defensive lineman Carson Primrose had two. Linebackers A.J. Pena and Devon Hightower, defensive linemen Kareem Wilson and defensive back Braden Price all had one.
• Price added six other tackles and a pass break up.
• Running back Malik Grant rushed for 87 yards and one touchdown.
• Rhode Island did not turn the ball over and did not allow a sack.
• Quarterback Devin Farrell was 13-of-24 for 202 yards while also rushing for 19 yards and two scores.
• Defensive lineman Malachi Burby and wide receiver Shawn Harris served as game captains.
• Linebacker Gabe Salomons was the anchor bearer.
• Wide receiver Anthony Santoro and defensive back Chaas McCoy were named Scout Team Players of the Week..
• A sellout crowd of 5450 attended the game.

Up Next
Rhode Island will continue its home swing with a game against Monmouth on Saturday, Nov. 2. It will be Family Weekend in Kingston and kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on FloSports. The game is already sold out.