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Wide Receiver Aaron Parker (#6) during the URI versus UD football game in 2018. Photo provided by @rhodyfootball via Twitter

Football: What to know about Ohio's first opponent, the Rhode Island Rams

Ohio opens the 2019 season at Peden Stadium, where it will host Rhode Island. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. 

Coach Frank Solich is 9-5 in season openers and 6-2 when the season opener is also the home opener. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Rams:

All-time series: This is the first matchup between the two schools

The Rhode Island report: The Rams are led by sixth-year coach Jim Fleming. Fleming in his five full seasons at Rhode Island has compiled a 13-43 record. Last season, Fleming led the Rams to their first winning record at 6-5 for the first time since 2001.

Rhode Island, an FCS school, has been close to upsetting a few FBS schools under Fleming. Last season, the Rams lost 56-49 against Connecticut and suffered a triple overtime loss at Central Michigan in 2017.

The Rams will have a new starting quarterback this season in either Vito Priore or Darius Perrantes. Priore played in six games last season and had seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Perrantes is a freshman who could take his first college snaps at quarterback.

Where the Rams return experience are at running back and wide receiver. Redshirt senior Lorenzo Bryant, who ran for 467 yards and three touchdowns, returns to the backfield. The Rams will also return senior wide receiver Aaron Parker, who was selected as a member of the FCS Preseason All-America second team and the Colonial Athletic Association first team last season.

Rhode Island averaged 351.9 yards per game. Defensively, the Rams allowed 345.1 yards per game.

How Ohio beats Rhode Island: Defensively, Ohio has to keep Parker and Bryant in check. Rhode Island hasn’t announced a starting quarterback as both Priore and Perrantes share the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. Ohio can shut both quarterbacks down if they focus on stopping the Rams’ starters at running back and wide receiver.

Offensively, the Bobcats should feel comfortable with two-year starter Nathan Rourke under center. Granted, Ohio is young at running back and will have a by-committee-approach for Saturday, and it lost key playmakers in the receiver room. While both position groups are young, they have unprecedented amounts of talent that just need to be seen in a game setting.

If the jitters for Ohio’s mildly inexperienced players can be suppressed after the opening drive, it should have ample opportunities to put the game away well before the fourth quarter.

Stat to know: 13-0. Solich has never lost to an FCS school while at Ohio.

Player to watch: Brandon Ginnetti, senior defensive tackle, No. 99

At 6-foot-3-inches and 285 pounds, Ginnetti was selected as honorable mention CAA player last season after he posted 38 tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries. Even though the Bobcats offensive line isn’t the most experienced, Ginnetti has potential to give their interior fits throughout Saturday’s game.

@matthewlparker5

mp109115@ohio.edu

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