Team Spotlight: Football travels to UMass Amherst
Chris Smith
Issue date: 9/18/09 Section: Sports
9/18/09 - The University of Rhode Island football team heads to the No. 17 ranked University of Massachusetts at Amherst this Saturday for its CAA division opener, looking to avenge the 49-0 loss last year at Meade Stadium.
After a bye in week two, the Rams face a challenging league opening test as they make their first trip up to UMass since 2006. These teams have met 83 times, and the Minutemen hold a 46-35-2 series advantage. Rhody's last victory against UMass was two years ago, when URI won a tight 12-6 overtime game in Kingston.
Two weeks ago the Rams looked sharp in all facets of the game in their home opening victory against Fordham University. They quickly jumped out to a 34-0 lead and held off a late rally by Fordham, taking the game with 41-28 and earning new head coach Joe Trainer his first victory.
The offense accounted for 455 total yards, 229 of them coming on the ground-their highest rushing total since 2007. The Rhody offense also converted 5 of 6 red zone opportunities. The defense was just as impressive as they forced six fumbles, recovered four of them and picked off Fordham once. The five turnovers led to 17 points.
This weekend, however, will not be an easy task for the Rams. UMass enters the game off of two equally impressive performances.
Last Saturday the Minutemen thrashed the State University of New York at Albany, 44-7. The Minutemen defense forced five turnovers and their offense tallied 473 yards of total offense. Quarterback Kyle Haven threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns.
Two weeks ago they almost pulled off a huge upset over Kansas State University, overcoming an 18 point halftime deficit, but lost 21-17. In both outings the Massachusetts defense played aggressively, pitching back-to-back second half shutouts.
If Rhody wants to have a chance in this game they will need the offensive showing from junior quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne and the Rhody offensive line they had against Fordham. Paul-Etienne had great protection all day. The URI offensive didn't give up a single sack, allowing him to accumulate 245 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.
The Rams will also have to repeat their stellar defensive performance and get another huge game from junior linebacker Rob Damon and junior defensive end Victor Adesanya, who combined for 17 total tackles, two sacks and three forced fumbles. Damon hit a career-high of 11 tackles.
The Rams head to Amherst as the underdog for a very challenging early test to see just how good this squad can be. If Rhody can put up the kind of offensive numbers they did against Fordham and play as well as they did defensively by forcing turnovers and three and outs, then there is no reason why this team cannot win.
It will be a very interesting Saturday afternoon for Coach Trainer and the Rams. The game can be seen live on Comcast Sports net and ESPN360.com. Kickoff time is set for 3:30 p.m.
After a bye in week two, the Rams face a challenging league opening test as they make their first trip up to UMass since 2006. These teams have met 83 times, and the Minutemen hold a 46-35-2 series advantage. Rhody's last victory against UMass was two years ago, when URI won a tight 12-6 overtime game in Kingston.
Two weeks ago the Rams looked sharp in all facets of the game in their home opening victory against Fordham University. They quickly jumped out to a 34-0 lead and held off a late rally by Fordham, taking the game with 41-28 and earning new head coach Joe Trainer his first victory.
The offense accounted for 455 total yards, 229 of them coming on the ground-their highest rushing total since 2007. The Rhody offense also converted 5 of 6 red zone opportunities. The defense was just as impressive as they forced six fumbles, recovered four of them and picked off Fordham once. The five turnovers led to 17 points.
This weekend, however, will not be an easy task for the Rams. UMass enters the game off of two equally impressive performances.
Last Saturday the Minutemen thrashed the State University of New York at Albany, 44-7. The Minutemen defense forced five turnovers and their offense tallied 473 yards of total offense. Quarterback Kyle Haven threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns.
Two weeks ago they almost pulled off a huge upset over Kansas State University, overcoming an 18 point halftime deficit, but lost 21-17. In both outings the Massachusetts defense played aggressively, pitching back-to-back second half shutouts.
If Rhody wants to have a chance in this game they will need the offensive showing from junior quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne and the Rhody offensive line they had against Fordham. Paul-Etienne had great protection all day. The URI offensive didn't give up a single sack, allowing him to accumulate 245 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.
The Rams will also have to repeat their stellar defensive performance and get another huge game from junior linebacker Rob Damon and junior defensive end Victor Adesanya, who combined for 17 total tackles, two sacks and three forced fumbles. Damon hit a career-high of 11 tackles.
The Rams head to Amherst as the underdog for a very challenging early test to see just how good this squad can be. If Rhody can put up the kind of offensive numbers they did against Fordham and play as well as they did defensively by forcing turnovers and three and outs, then there is no reason why this team cannot win.
It will be a very interesting Saturday afternoon for Coach Trainer and the Rams. The game can be seen live on Comcast Sports net and ESPN360.com. Kickoff time is set for 3:30 p.m.
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