URI, Brown meet today for Cup
No. 18 Rams trying to stay unbeaten against FCS foes
KINGSTON — No. 18 Rhode Island’s hot start has not come about because of a single player. Last Friday night against Harvard, the Rams proved that.
After quarterback JaJuan Lawson went down with a knee injury, the Rams relied on their special teams and defense to carry them to their third victory of the season, 23-16.
“You always have to win two of the three phases, and we were able to do that on defense and special teams,” URI head coach Jim Fleming said. “Really happy with the victory.”
Return man Ahmere Dorsey took a second-half kick 97 yards for the game-sealing touchdown, and was named the CAA Special Teams Player of the Week as a result.
“It’s certainly validation that we want to go back to Delaware and find more like him,” Fleming said, in response to a question on Dorsey from a reporter in the returner’s home state. “He’s been a great addition to everything we do. He’s a significant threat every time he touches the ball. I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
Dorsey had 243 all-purpose yards in the win over Harvard, all of which came in the return game. With Lawson out and the Ram run game stuck in first gear, Dorsey provided his team with key field position and points. He is now first in average kick return yardage in the CAA and second on punts.
The Rams have difference makers in all three phases of the game, and on defense it was L.B. Mack III who stepped up to the forefront on Friday. The junior defensive end had 11 total tackles in the win and a pair of sacks. He has four sacks this season to go along with seven tackles-for-loss.
“You always have to win two of the three phases, and we were able to do that on defense and special teams. Really happy with the victory.”
— URI coach Jim Flemming
“He’s on fire right now,” Fleming said. “He’s grown into being a dominant force for us. He’s not the biggest guy out there, but he understands the game. He’s grown over the past two years. He has an incredible speed and quickness.
“Hoping we can keep his tap wide open.”
The URI defense also had two key turnovers late in the one-score win. Justin Hogan and D.J. Stewart both came up with interceptions that helped to stave off a hungry Harvard team.
“They’re a tough out – up there particularly,” Fleming said. “That was a really good Harvard team at the end. They impressed me with how physical they played and how tough they were.
“It’s a significant victory. When you start looking back - looking at where we came from, it was atrocious last time we were up there. I remember we couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean, nevermind get the ball to a receiver.”
The last time the Rams visited Harvard was two seasons ago, and the Crimson walked away with a 51-21 win. The Crimson have lost at home just three times over the past two seasons.
As far as Lawson goes, a major injury appears to have been avoided. He had thrown for 153 yards and a touchdown before being forced to hobble around the sidelines on crutches.
“Felt like we were in a situation where we could break it open,” Fleming said. “On the second touchdown, JaJuan caught a knee. Got into the second half and struggled offensively. Couldn’t really run the ball.
“[Lawson is] day-to-day right now. We had it evaluated on Saturday morning. He tweaked his knee. We’ll prepare both Vito [Priore] and Tyler Harris. When we get JaJuan rolling again – hopefully it’s this week, we’ll figure it out.”
Priore came on in relief against the Crimson, going 4-9 for 38 yards with an interception. Harris appeared in eight games last year and was the starter in the season opener against Central Michigan.
Whoever gets the call this week will be tasked with another Ivy League foe, Brown. The Rams are looking to reclaim the Governor’s Cup after losing last year’s rivalry game, 24-21.
“Rivalry games are everything,” Fleming said. “They have in their possession something that we really want back – the Governor’s Cup. There is significant state pride, there’s bragging rights, an opportunity to keep our forward momentum going. A win over Brown would be huge.”
Brown is 1-2, earning its lone win last week against Georgetown. The Bears played host to Harvard in Week 2, and lost 3117.
The 103rd Governor’s Cup game will be held at Meade Stadium today with kick-off scheduled for 1 p.m.