Hit the lights, it’s time for Colonial Athletic Association football. Two teams who experienced very different opening weeks will meet for the first CAA clash of the season when Delaware heads to Rhode Island on Saturday.

Who: Delaware (1-0, 0-0 CAA) at Rhode Island (0-1, 0-0 CAA) 

When: Saturday, Sept. 7, 6 p.m. ET 

Where: Meade Stadium, Kingston, Rhode Island

Watch: LIVE on FloFootball

In the league opener, Rhode Island welcomes Delaware for the first night game at venerable Meade Stadium. The 91-year-old venue debuts a fresh look, including a lightning structure, for this as-pivotal-as-it-gets-in-Week-2 matchup. 

Why pivotal? Well, Rams coach Jim Fleming referred to last year’s 21-19, Week 1 victory at Delaware as “must-win.” 

“To beat a quality opponent like Delaware would be absolutely huge for us,” Fleming added for the 2019 matchup. 

“I agree with the concept, the reality that this is a really big game,” said Delaware coach Danny Rocco. “Jim’s got a good team, they’ve got a good team again this year. They’re very talented.

“It would be huge to go on the road and go 1-0 in the CAA,” Rocco added. 

As the first game in what should be a wildly competitive Colonial slate, Delaware and Rhode Island help shape the early look of the race. 

Mixing It Up

In its Route 1 Rivalry win over Delaware State to kick off 2019, Delaware showed that defending its offense will take a total effort. The Fightin’ Blue Hens are diverse in their attack and perfectly balanced: They ran 32 times and threw 32 passes. 

Meanwhile, those runs were distributed among five ball-carriers, none shouldering more than nine. DeJoun Lee finished with 41 yards on his nine rushes, while Andre Robinson had 21. Former Smyrna High School star and Old Dominion transfer Will Knight shined in his homecoming, averaging a whopping 17 yards on four carries to lead Delaware’s rushers. 

Quarterback Pat Kehoe scored the Blue Hens’ lone rushing touchdown and totaled 30 yards on five carries. 

Pitts grabs his first TD catch and @delawarefb extends the lead, 25-6

WATCH on @flofootball #CAAFB pic.twitter.com/RjrQ0zKtiO

— CAA Football (@CAAFootball) August 30, 2019

“Pat was very efficient [and] the most poised player on the field,” Rocco said. 

Kehoe completed 18-of-28 passes for 186 yards with two touchdowns. The new-look wide-receiving corps could be a gem this season: Nine players caught passes, including six with at least two. 

Thyrick Pitts, who had two catches in his entire Delaware career before last Thursday, made six grabs for 81 yards and a touchdown against Delaware State. 

“A lot of these names are not recognizable by our own fan base, let alone people who track the CAA,” Rocco said. “I feel really good about the depth and talent of our receiver position.” 

Right At Home At Receiver

Aaron Parker’s place as perhaps the best wide receiver in the CAA, if not the FCS, was pretty well established coming into 2019. And, he’s off to a fitting start with nine catches for 144 yards and a touchdown Week 1 at Ohio. 

But here's an interesting development in Rhode Island’s first game that just might make the Rams receiving corps all the more dangerous: Ahmere Dorsey catching four passes for 59 yards against the preseason Mid-American Conference favorite. 

Dorsey’s special-teams chops earned him Preseason All-CAA recognition as a returner, but his efforts on offense Week 1 may have turned heads. 

#TouchdownTuesday brought to you by a signature Ahmere Dorsey house call ?#3MoreFeet#BringTheRuckus pic.twitter.com/k51N2ao3so

— Rhody Football (@RhodyFootball) July 16, 2019

“He’s very dangerous once he gets the ball in his hands. His understanding and execution makes him much more of an every-down player. Every time he can get it, he can do something with it,” Fleming said. I’d take a million Ahmere Dorseys if I could.” 

Parker’s primary tag-team partner in 2018, Isaiah Coulter, shows no signs of slowing down. He caught a touchdown and totaled 53 yards on just two receptions. 

Rhode Island’s receiver talent will test a young Delaware defense, particularly in the secondary. The Fightin’ Blue Hens replace outstanding safety Nasir Adderley. Sophomore cornerback Justis Henley showed serious potential in Week 1, though, breaking up three pass attempts. 

Red Zone & Third Down Efficiency

Rhode Island was solid in the red zone a season ago, finishing 34^th in the nation with an 84.6 percent scoring rate. Twenty-eight of the Rams’ red-zone trips produced touchdowns. Against Ohio, however, Rhode Island made three trips that yielded no touchdowns. 

A similar theme vexed Rhode Island on third downs. The Rams converted on just 4-of-14 opportunities. Meanwhile, the young Delaware defense held Delaware State to field goals on two of its three red-zone trips, and dominated the Hornets on third down at 3-of-15. 

While Rhode Island’ red-zone efficiency was strong a season ago, the third-down issue will be something to watch. The Rams converted on just 33.8 percent of attempts a season ago, No. 86 in the nation.