STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook football team is back at LaValle Stadium as they host No. 8/9 Rhode Island on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 6:00 p.m. for their 2025 home opener.

RV Stony Brook (0-1, 0-0 CAA) vs. No. 8/9 Rhode Island (1-0, 1-0 CAA)

WHERE: Stony Brook, N.Y.
VENUE: LaValle Stadium
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 6, 6:00 p.m.
HOW TO WATCH: FloFootball
LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast

SERIES HISTORY
… OVERALL – 7-3
… AT STONY BROOK – 3-1
… AT URI – 4-2
… FIRST MATCHUP – Sept. 7, 2013 (W, 24-0)
… LAST MATCHUP – Sept. 8, 2023 (L, 14-35)

OPENING KICK

• Stony Brook owns a 6-5 record in its last 11 home openers, dating back to 2014. The Seawolves snapped a four-game losing streak in home openers last season with a victory over Stonehill.
• This will be the first meeting between these two teams since 2023. The Seawolves have fallen 35-14 in each of their previous two meetings with Rhode Island.
• The Seawolves return to the field after their season-opening defeat against FBS opponent San Diego State, 42-0. The contest was Stony Brook's third all-time matchup against a Sun Belt opponent, and the Seawolves have now played at least one FBS opponent every full season since 2010. Notably, Stony Brook out-tackled SDSU 88-45—their highest total since Nov. 20, 2021 (93 vs. UAlbany).
• This will be the first conference game of the season for the Seawolves after being picked fourth in the CAA Preseason Coaches Poll. Rhode Island, the reigning CAA champions, were selected to finish at the top of the conference once again.
• Rhode Island is coming off a season-opening victory over Campbell last Saturday, taking down the Fighting Camels 31-20 by scoring the final 14 points of the game.
• After winning the first seven meetings all-time, the Seawolves have now dropped their last three contests against the Rams.
• In this week's AFCA and Stats Perform Top 25 polls, the Seawolves received votes.
• Running back Roland Dempster was named a Preseason All-American by FCS Football Central, Phil Steele, and Stats Perform after a historic 2024 season where he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award (FCS Heisman). He rushed for 49 yards in the season opener against SDSU.

NEW YEAR, NEW SEAWOLVES 

• In the Seawolves' first game of the season last week vs. San Diego State, three transfer players—Bryson Parker, Shamar Askin, and Rayden Aphayvong—led the team in tackles.
• Parker, a transfer from Richmond who appeared in over 30 games there, led the Seawolves with eight total tackles (four solo, four assisted). Askin, who joined the team from Siena Heights, made his presence felt with seven tackles, including a team-high six solo stops. New Mexico Military Institute transfer Rayden Aphayvong finished his first career game for Stony Brook with seven tackles, including a team-high five assists.
• Chris Zellous made his first career appearance under center for the Seawolves after appearing in 29 games over his four-year career at Hampton. Zellous went 5-for-15 for 21 passing yards and added nine rushing yards.
• UAlbany transfer wide receiver Marqeese Dietz and North Texas transfer running back Ikaika Ragsdale also made their debuts. Dietz had two receptions for eight yards, while Ragsdale rushed four times for 14 yards.
• Freshmen Jocquan Jenkins and Mark Beasley made their collegiate debuts and combined for five tackles in the opening-night defeat.

TAYLOR FOR THE CAMPBELL

• Senior punter Clayton Taylor has been nominated for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, an award presented annually by the National Football Foundation to a senior entering his final year of playing eligibility.
• The William V. Campbell Trophy is considered one of the most prestigious academic honors in college football. It recognizes an individual who excels in academic achievement, football performance, and exemplary leadership.
• To be eligible for nomination, student-athletes must maintain a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, demonstrate outstanding football ability as a starter or significant contributor, and exhibit exemplary leadership on the field, in the classroom, and within the community.
• Taylor returns for the 2025 season after appearing in all 12 games last year, punting for a career-high 2,622 yards with a 42.3-yard average, including a season-long 62-yard punt.
• Over the course of his career, Taylor has solidified his place in the Stony Brook record books. He ranks second all-time in single-season punting average (42.3), tenth in career punting average (39.1), and second in career punts (184).

SEAWOLVES IN THE NFL 

• As the NFL season begins, the Seawolves have two players currently on NFL rosters: Sam Kamara '20 (Browns) and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. '18 (Falcons). They are two of 18 former CAA players currently in the NFL.
• Other former CAA players in the league include:
• Christian Benford (CB, Villanova – Buffalo Bills), Chandler Brayboy (WR, Elon – Jacksonville Jaguars), Max Brosmer (QB, New Hampshire – Minnesota Vikings), Jordan Colbert (S, Rhode Island – Miami Dolphins), Charles Grant (OT, William & Mary – Las Vegas Raiders), Julian Hill (TE, Campbell – Miami Dolphins), Tanoh Kpassagnon (DL, Villanova – Chicago Bears), Dylan Laube (RB, New Hampshire – Las Vegas Raiders), Tyler McLellan (OT, Campbell – Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Wande Owens (S, New Hampshire – Buffalo Bills), Luke Rhodes (LS, William & Mary – Indianapolis Colts), Patrick Ricard (FB, Maine – Baltimore Ravens), Carter Runyon (TE, Towson – Las Vegas Raiders), Zavier Scott (RB, Maine – Minnesota Vikings), Colby Sorsdal (OG, William & Mary – Detroit Lions), and Olisaemeka Udoh (OL, Elon – Tennessee Titans).
• Kamara, currently on the Browns' 53-man roster, had a standout five-year career at Stony Brook from 2016–2020. During his time with the Seawolves, he totaled 110 tackles (52 solo, 58 assisted), 24.0 tackles for loss, 15.0 sacks, and two forced fumbles across 41 games.
• In the NFL, Kamara has appeared in 22 games for the Bears and Browns through the end of the 2024 season, making 32 total tackles (21 solo, 11 assisted), with 3 tackles for loss and 1 pass defended.
• Wheatley, now an offensive lineman for the Falcons, transferred to Stony Brook from Michigan and contributed six receptions for 36 yards as a tight end in 2018. He played in 11 games and started eight that season, helping the Seawolves earn their second straight appearance in the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs. Three of his receptions came in a key win over Delaware on Nov. 10, 2018.
• Wheatley has appeared in two regular-season NFL games, both during the 2023 season with the New England Patriots.

ABOUT THE RAMS

• In his 12th season, head coach Jim Fleming leads Rhode Island with the third-most wins in program history (49).
• URI defeated Campbell 31-20 in their season opener last week.
• Redshirt junior Devin Farrell made his 10th career start in the opener, throwing for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
• After winning the CAA last season, Rhode Island was picked to win another conference title in the CAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Linebacker A.J. Pena, the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, leads a group that includes four Rams named to the Preseason All-Conference Team: Pena, wide receiver Marquis Buchanan, and offensive linemen Tre Alexander and Brock Bethea.
• Rhode Island football is celebrating its 130th season in 2025 and enters the year with an all-time record of 438-645-43.
• Coach Fleming has announced four team captains for the season: quarterback Devin Farrell, wide receiver Greg Gaines III, linebacker A.J. Pena, and defensive lineman Case Mankins.

Bring your group out to Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium and enjoy the thrill of gameday, exclusive group benefits, and great discounted pricing to help create an unforgettable experience. 

Click here or contact the Stony Brook Athletics ticket office at 631-632-WOLF or seawolvestickets@stonybrook.edu to get started. 

More information on each theme and ticket offers will be available throughout the offseason on social media and at StonyBrookAthletics.com.

For an inside look at the Seawolves football program, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.