By Tiffany Williams –
KINGSTON, R.I. — Ninth-ranked Rhode Island shook off a sloppy first half and leaned on its playmakers down the stretch to defeat Campbell 31-20 in the season opener Friday night at Meade Stadium.
The Rams opened in style with a lightning-quick four-play, 75-yard drive that ended with quarterback Devin Farrell hitting tight end Kevin Schaeffer for a 31-yard touchdown, the first of Schaeffer’s career. But what looked like an early statement unraveled over the rest of the half, as Rhode Island coughed up three fumbles that fueled 17 straight Campbell points. Suddenly, URI found itself staring at a 10-point deficit in front of its home crowd.
The turnaround came late in the second quarter. Wideout Marquis Buchanan, who was nearly unguardable all night, hauled in a 59-yard strike that flipped field position and momentum. Running back Antwain Littleton Jr. finished the drive with a bruising 2-yard touchdown run, cutting the gap to three before the break.
From there, Rhode Island’s defense completely flipped the script. After allowing 17 first-half points, the Rams limited Campbell to just a field goal in the final 30 minutes and repeatedly got off the field in critical situations. Campbell went 0-for-7 on third downs after halftime, undone by constant pressure from URI’s front seven. Defensive tackle Case Mankins forced a fumble that set up a field goal, then delivered a drive-ending sack in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Rohan Davy added a sack and six tackles while recovering a key fumble, and safety Leisaan Hibbert led all defenders with eight stops.
With the defense holding firm, Rhode Island’s offense found enough rhythm to put the game away. Littleton muscled into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night, giving the Rams a 24-20 lead with 12 minutes left. Three minutes later, Farrell connected with Buchanan on a 46-yard catch-and-run down the sideline, sealing the victory.
Buchanan finished with six receptions for 167 yards and a score, just four yards shy of his career best. It was his eighth career 100-yard game, and he consistently drew penalties that extended drives, combining with fellow wideout Greg Gaines III to force six pass interference calls. Littleton carried 25 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns, while Farrell settled in after a shaky start to throw for 275 yards and two scores without an interception.
The win showed both the resilience and vulnerabilities of a Rhode Island team expected to contend in the CAA. Ball security remains a glaring issue after three first-half fumbles nearly derailed the opener, but the Rams’ defensive dominance after halftime reinforced why they entered the season ranked in the top 10 nationally. Mankins’ disruptive presence inside and Buchanan’s explosiveness outside underscored the balance that gives URI legitimate championship aspirations.
The Rams move to 1-0 both overall and in CAA play and will travel to Stony Brook on Sept. 6 for their second league contest. The matchup will mark another early test for a team that showed Friday it can overcome adversity — but also one that still has to clean up mistakes to stay on track for its bigger goals.