URI presents top test for Harvard
Coach Tim Murphy is looking to keep the momentum rolling when Harvard hosts Rhode Island tonight at Harvard Stadium.
The Crimson are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2016 when they broke 4-0. No. 20 Rhode Island is the highest-ranked FCS team the Crimson have faced since squaring off at No. 18 Penn in 2010. One week ago, Harvard beat Brown, 31-17, in Providence.
“Last week, really, a very solid outing by our football team,” Murphy said. “Whenever we play Brown down there, they get extremely excited to play us. I referenced to our guys, the 2004 season, when our captain and starting quarterback was Ryan Fitzpatrick and we were down, 24-0, in the third quarter before we came back to win (35-34). To our credit, we really dominated the fourth quarter (at Brown) on both sides of the ball. All in all, a solid week.’
Murphy has been pleased that even without senior running back Charlie Booker III, who has a lower body injury, the run game has been better than expected behind the three-pronged sophomore attack of Aaron Shampklin (30 carries, 271 yards, four TDs), Devin Darrington (29 carries, 164 yards, one TD) and B.J. Watson (six carriers, 78 yards, one TD).
Murphy doesn’t mince words when praising Rhode Island (2-1). The Rams won a year ago at Meade Stadium in Kingston, 17-10, and return a group of talented athletes.
“We’re playing the best University of Rhode Island team in probably at least 25 years, or, in my case I’m old enough to remember, if you go back to the Tom Erhardt days,’’ Murphy said referring to the legendary URI quarterback. “The pro scouts that have come through our place have said that they (Rhode Island) have four or five players that they’re watching. They are doing a terrific job recruiting.’’
The current crop of URI receivers is superb. Junior Aaron Parker is the active leader with 93 career catches. Senior Khayri Denny is right behind at 92 and redshirt senior Marven Beauvais is at 82.
Meanwhile, URI junior receiver Aaron Parker and his sophomore cousin, Isaiah Coulter, are a pair to watch. The duo have made an integral impact this season, combining for 39 catches, 583 yards and four scores.
But the key player who can light it up for the Rams is redshirt senior quarterback JuJuan Lawson. The Petaluma, Calif., product has completed 69 percent of his throws for 838 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
“He’s definitely a great athlete,” said Murphy. “Some people might think of him as a dual-threat quarterback but that wouldn’t be doing him justice because when you hear dual threat you might think that he can’t throw but he can throw the football all over the lot. He’s a really good passer.”
Lest one think URI is one-dimensional, consider that over the last 14 games, the Rams defense recovered 18 fumbles. This season, they have seven to rank No. 2 nationally behind Alabama State’s eight. By contrast, since 2000, Harvard is 36-2 when it does not fumble.