'We're here and we're real': UAlbany football ends URI's home win streak

University at Albany junior Rahshan La Mons rushed for a career-high 196 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-21 victory over the University of Rhode Island on Saturday in Pawtucket, R.I., that ended the longest home winning streak in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The Rams had won 17 consecutive home games.

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The Great Danes (5-3 overall, 3-1 Coastal Athletic Association) won their third straight game and dealt a severe blow to URI's chances of winning its third straight league title.

"I think we're hitting stride at the right time, for sure," UAlbany first-year coach Tom Perkovich said. "It's a big one. I think it sends a loud message that we're here and we're real and we're a pretty good football team."

Perkovich took over a program that went 2-10 last season.

UAlbany senior quarterback Kai Colon was 15-for-20 passing for 177 yards and a touchdown.

The Great Danes received the opening kickoff and drove 78 yards for their first touchdown, a 5-yard run by La Mons. Colon added a 29-yard touchdown pass to BJ Norman to put the Great Danes ahead 14-0 with 8 seconds left in the first half. URI (4-4, 1-3) never got closer than 7 in the second half.

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UAlbany is averaging 38 points in victories over Delaware State, Stony Brook and URI since Perkovich relinquished offensive play-calling duties to Sean Pearson, the run game coordinator and offensive line coach.

Perkovich said Pearson, passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Will Fiacchi, and the rest of the staff have done a "phenomenal" job preparing the game plan.

"I'll throw myself under the bus," Perkovich said. "I get pulled in so many directions, I think that was hurting us more than helping us and sometimes you've got to make a hard decision no matter what it means to you and what people will think, which I don't really care very much about. I thought it was the best decision."

La Mons ran for a 36-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1 behind textbook blocking in the third quarter and a 65-yard score in the fourth quarter.

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"He's starting to hit stride, too, and feeling himself, which is good for everyone involved," said Perkovich, who coached La Mons that past two seasons at Division III Susquehanna.

UAlbany senior linebacker Jamari Young had three sacks, six tackles and two pass breakups.

The Great Danes return home for a pivotal meeting next Saturday with 16th-ranked Campbell (7-1, 4-0) at Casey Stadium.

"It's as big of a game as has probably been played in a little bit here, other than in '23," said Perkovich, referring to UAlbany's FCS semifinal appearance in 2023. "We've got to stay poised, go through our process and be ready against another really good football team."

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This article originally published at 'We're here and we're real': UAlbany football ends URI's home win streak.