URI's Matt Hansen, from La Salle Academy, is one of 11 Rhode Islanders who are likely to play important roles in Sunday's Brown-URI matchup.

The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

SOUTH KINGSTOWN - Bobby Sewall and Matt Hansen used to run into each other every fall when they were in high school. Sewall was the multitalented quarterback at Portsmouth High and Hansen the star running back and linebacker at La Salle Academy. They collided in the regular season and in the playoffs.

Sewall and Hansen look forward to hitting each other again Saturday when Brown (2-0, No. 25) and the University of Rhode Island (1-4) meet in their annual Governor's Cup football game at Meade Stadium.

"I'll be up for it. This is the first year I'll be healthy for it," Sewall, a junior, said.

"It definitely means a lot. I used to go to these games as a little kid and used to root for URI," Hansen, a sophomore, added.

This is the first time in a while that bragging rights in the intrastate rivalry will actually mean something, because 11 Rhode Islanders are playing important roles. Sewall is second among Brown receivers with 15 catches for 160 yards and had nine receptions for 105 yards last week in Brown's thrilling 24-22 victory over Harvard.

Brown tailback Dereck Knight of Pawtucket (Shea) has rushed for 133 yards in two games and slogged for 84 against Harvard.

Hansen, URI's strong-side linebacker, is the Rams' leading tackler with 43 stops. He also has three sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. Strong safety Matt Urban of Warren (Mt. Hope) has 24 tackles, an interception and a break-up and has been in on one sack.

On URI's offense, receiver Joe Bellini of Burrillville is second in receptions with 22 for 276 yards. Tolbert Evans of Wakefield is fifth with 14 catches for 164 yards and a touchdown. Running back Anthony Ferrer of West Greenwich (Cranston West) has rushed for two touchdowns and caught two touchdown passes and is tied with kicker Louis Feinstein for the team lead in scoring with 24 points. Junior Dave Valley of East Providence starts at right guard. Senior Antal Keszthelyi of North Providence (La Salle) is the backup at right tackle. Tom Estrella of Warren (Mt. Hope) is the long snapper, and David Wilson of Warwick (Bishop Hendricken) is the tight end when the formation calls for one.

Among the URI reserves are linebacker Dan O'Connell of Barrington; cornerback Ron Woodley of East Providence; running back Michael Okunfolami of Providence; defensive linemen Stan Sturgis of Warren (La Salle), Brandon Williams of Bristol and Tony Darakji of Warwick (Veterans); offensive linemen Charlie Haskell of Cranston (West), Matt Greenhalgh of Chepachet (Ponaganset); Joe Accino of Wakefield and Scott Manni of North Kingstown (Bishop Hendricken); and wide receiver John Monk of Providence (St. Raphael). Offensive lineman Miguel Prata of Cranston (East) is out with a knee injury.

Brown defensive end Neal Rooney of Scituate (La Salle) has seen a little action as a freshman. Sophomore John Anderson of Barrington is a backup defensive lineman, and freshman Nate Lovett (East Providence) is a reserve wide receiver.

Sewall has nursed a pulled hamstring since training camp but said he is starting to feel comfortable, and by Saturday should be ready to go. A similar injury slowed him for the first half of the 2007 season, but he had a breakout against Dartmouth (144 yards rushing, 141 yards receiving, 41-yard touchdown pass) and earned second-team All-Ivy recognition. Against URI he caught seven passes for 43 yards and rushed twice for 10 yards.

"I remember Bobby as a great athlete. He was tough to stop. He was real fast, and he was shifty," Hansen said of Sewall, the Portsmouth High quarterback and 2004 and 2005 first-team All-Stater. "He had a good arm. He could pass and run, and he played defense, too."

Hansen was the best high-school player in Rhode Island in 2006, when he rushed for 1,350 yards and 17 touchdowns and made 83 tackles and 4 interceptions.

"He's a great player," Sewall said. "He was always one of the guys we had to key on. `Where's Hansen?' That hasn't changed."

When Hansen arrived at URI last year, Tim Stowers, then the head coach, told him he could play running back, linebacker or safety. Hansen saw All-America Joe Casey and junior Jimmy Hughes as the primary runners and didn't think at 200 pounds he was big enough to play linebacker. So he chose safety.

"I always liked offense more in high school. I liked scoring. But I thought defense was my best chance to play at URI," he said.

He was right. He played in 11 games as a freshman and made 73 tackles, second on the team. When Darren Rizzi replaced Stowers as coach, his new defensive coordinator, Joe Trainer, asked Hansen to put on some muscle and play linebacker. Hansen obliged and this week weighed in at 217 pounds.

"I'm definitely having fun," he said, "but one thing that's different is that there are big boys coming after me now." Big boys being 300-pound offensive linemen.

Sewall remembered family trips to Meade Stadium in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Lance Small of Middletown and Justin Westley of Portsmouth played for the Rams.

"My uncle went there. My aunt went there. It was like home away from home. I always rooted for URI. I'd like to perform well when I go down there. I'm already getting texts and e-mails from all my friends who go to URI," he said.

Hansen remembered those URI-Brown games as a boy.

"It was exciting when I was young. Playing in it is a whole other level. I have a lot of family and friends coming," he said.

Sewall summed up this 93rd Brown-URI game perfectly when he said, "It's good to see all the Rhode Island guys, especially my year, playing."