University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
Rhode Island
Football Preview: Rhode Island
9/15/2022 9:00:00 AM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – The No. 9/10 University of Delaware football team opens CAA play on Saturday as the Blue Hens travel to No. 17/14 Rhode Island. Kickoff at URI's Meade Stadium is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on FloSports. It is the only FCS matchup in Week 3 to feature two top-25 programs.
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Game Notes: Delaware | Rhode Island
About the Blue Hens
- Delaware is currently 2-0 to start the season after a 35-9 victory over Delaware State last Saturday in the Route 1 Rivalry. It was UD's fourth-straight victory in a home opener and it came in front of 17,176 fans at Delaware Stadium.
- The Blue Hens got on the board when a blocked punt by Trey Austin was recovered in the end zone by Quincy Watson. Nolan Henderson also threw three touchdown passes, tying a career high, with two to Braden Brose and one to Thyrick Pitts.
- Marcus Yarns had an 82-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to help UD pull away. The 82 yards is tied for the ninth-longest in program history and is the longest by a Blue Hen since Kareem Williams ran 84 yards against New Hampshire in 2015.
- Johnny Buchanan's 23 tackles in the season-opening win at Navy are still the most in a game by any FCS player this season. His 38 tackles through two games are also tops in the country.
- Saturday will be the 36th all-time meeting between Delaware and Rhode Island. The Blue Hens own a 24-11 overall record in the series and have won two of the past three meetings. URI claimed last year's matchup by a 22-15 score.
- In last year's meeting, Zach Gwynn passed for 117 yards and a touchdown pass to Pitts, while Dejoun Lee registered his third-straight 100-yard game on the ground with 115 rushing yards.
Scouting Rhode Island
- Rhode Island enters Saturday's contest with a 2-0 overall record and a 1-0 mark in CAA play. The Rams defeated Stony Brook 35-14 on the road to open the season and also defeated Bryant 35-21 last weekend.
- The Rams have been highly successful on third downs through two weeks, converting 60 percent (12-of-20) of its opportunities. They rank third in the nation on third-down percentage, behind only Eastern Kentucky (65.7 percent) and N.C. Central (64.3 percent).
- Through two games, Kasim Hill has completed 31-of-52 passes for 526 yards and four touchdowns to just one interception. He has also rushed for one score while Marques DeShields and Jaylen Smith both have two rushing touchdowns.
- Ed Lee has been Hill's favorite target, catching 11 passes for 222 yards and a pair of scores.
Up Next
Delaware will return to Newark next weekend for the first of two-consecutive home conference games. The Blue Hens will host CAA-newcomer Hampton on September 24 before welcoming Towson to Delaware Stadium on October 1. Single-game tickets, as well as partial plans and individual game parking, for all five of Delaware's remaining home games are currently on sale.
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For the latest on the Delaware football program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter @DelawareFB and Instagram @DelawareFootball, and like "Delaware Football" on Facebook. Follow Ryan Carty on Twitter @RyanCarty10.
