Hawks hold off late Bryant rally, 40-35

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior tight end Matt Tracey's (Littleton, Colo) 11-yard touchdown reception with 5:31 remaining in the fourth quarter pulled the Bryant University football team to within five points, but that was as close as it would get, falling to Monmouth University, 40-35, in a nailbiter Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.

The Bulldogs (4-3, 2-2 NEC) gave themselves a prime chance to win the game as the defense forced the Hawks (3-3, 2-1 NEC) to punt following Tracey's program-record 15^th-career touchdown grab. After an incompletion on first down, senior quarterback Mike Croce (Waterbury, Conn.) hit junior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) on a screen pass for four yards, and a facemask penalty on Monmouth gave the Bulldogs a first down at the Hawks 27. Croce hit senior Matthew Hunt (Greenbrook, N.J.) on a 12-yard out to move the chains on the next play, but a fumbled snap pushed the Bulldogs back five yards. An incompletion followed to force third-and-long, and Croce found freshman Jose DePadua (Hagerstown, Md.) on the sideline for a 14-yard pickup, just shy of the first down. With 1:03 remaining, Bryant hustled to the line and ran a quick screen pass that fell incomplete, giving the Hawks the tension-filled victory.

After turning the ball over on its first possession, Bryant put the ball on the ground for its second drive and it paid dividends. The Bulldogs opened up a hole and Brown hit it for 44 yards to the Monmouth 13. He finished the drive off four plays later, driving the ball to the right to give the Bulldogs the early 7-0 lead.

The Hawks responded immediately with back-to-back impressive drives to end the quarter. Monmouth had also turned the ball on its first drive of the game, fumbling the ball away on its second play of the game. Its next drive was much improved. The Hawks drove 62 yards in 13 plays to tie the game. Kyle Frazier completed three consecutive passes to begin the drive, and hit Neal Sterling for 10 yards for a crucial third down conversion to keep the Hawks drive alive inside the Bryant 20. Two plays later Julian Hayes scored from five yards out.

Keeping the momentum on its side, Monmouth's defense collected its second interception of the quarter on the second play of Bryant's next drive. The Hawks immediately turned it into points, taking it 31 yards in nine plays to take a 14-7 lead. Hayes was a key component of the offense for the second-straight drive, carrying the ball four times for 14 yards, including a five-yard TD run to cap it.

Behind for the first time in the game, the Bulldogs battled back on their first chance of the second quarter. While the first touchdown drive featured Brown, the Bulldogs used sophomore Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) the second time around. Croce hooked up with the dynamic wideout on a screen pass on third down for 12 yards and a first down, and then hit him on the next play for another eight yards. Three plays later, and facing second-and-long, Harris hauled in a Croce pass at the  Monmouth 30, and broke two tackles on his way to the endzone, tying the game at 14-all.

The deadlock was short-lived, however, as Monmouth drove 79 yards in just six plays to take its second lead of the game, 21-14. Frazier put life into the drive as he kept the ball on an option play and carried it 50 yards to the Bryant 25. Three plays later, Frazier called his own number again, running it home from eight yards out.

That TD run from Frazier started a string of 12-straight points for Monmouth that included a safety to start the second half, a 14-yard TD run by Hayes, his third of the game, and a booming 42-yard field goal from Eric Spillane. The last three points pushed the Hawks lead to 19, 33-14, with three minutes to play in the third quarter.

That's when the Bulldogs awoke. Brown returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the Monmouth 44, and a 15-yard facemask penalty moved the ball to the Hawks 29. On the first play of the drive, Brown cut outside for a 27-yard gain and then pounded it home from two yards out making it 33-21.

Bryant's defense did its job on the next Monmouth drive, forcing a three-and-out, giving the Bulldogs the ball back with 45 seconds remaining the in the third frame. Starting on the 20 after a touchback, an eight-yard Brown run was increased thanks to another 15-yard facemask penalty, and an offside penalty helped the Bulldogs earn another first down before the quarter ended. Three plays into the fourth quarter, and facing a third-and-three, Brown worked his magic again, breaking free for a 38-yard touchdown run to pull Bryant within five, 33-28.

As they had all game, though, the Hawks had an answer. Monmouth turned its next possession into a 12-play, 70-yard drive that took 6:51 off the clock, and ended with Sterling making a leaping grab in the end zone. During the drive, the Hawks converted on two third-down conversions and picked up 10 yards on a completion to Justin Pandorf on a fourth-and-two from the Bryant 33. The Bulldogs forced another third down but this time backup quarterback Craig Peterson threw to the end zone and Sterling pulled it down to push the lead back to 12.

The Bulldogs did not falter. Another big return by Brown started Bryant in Monmouth territory and Croce found Harris for a 35-yard gain on the first play of the drive to put the Bulldogs on the Monmouth 13. Three plays later, and under duress, Croce hit a wide open Tracey in the flat for an 11-yard touchdown. It gave Tracey 15 for his career and moved him past Justin Kix for the most touchdown receptions in program history.

Bryant's comeback was aided by excellent defensive effort over the final 17 minutes. The Bulldogs allowed Monmouth to gain just 83 yards over its final three drives, 70 coming on the all-important scoring drive in the fourth stanza. The defense was there when the Bulldogs needed it the most, though. The Hawks go the ball back with 5:26 remaining, and after earning a first down, the Bulldog defensive line stuffed Hayes. Tyler Carter (Baltimore, Md.) stopped Hayes for a  loss of a yard on second down, and Jordan Kelly (Canton, Mass.) took him down for a seven-yard loss on third down, forcing the Hawks to punt the ball away.

Carter had one of the best games of his career, registering a game-high 11 tackles. He also had two tackles for a loss and broke up one pass on the afternoon. Four other Bulldogs had at least eight tackles.

Filling in after Frazier was injured in the second quarter, Peterson played well for the Hawks. He was 7-of-11 for 70 yards and one touchdown. Hayes was the big story, though, rushing for 89 yards on 32 carries and three touchdowns. Before leaving, Frazier threw for 93 yards on 13-of-19 passing and also ran for a touchdown. Sterling caught 11 passes for 102 yards and the big fourth-quarter score.

Brown rushed for over 100 yards for the seventh-straight week, compiling 160 on 26 carries, and scored three times for the second consecutive week.  Croce finished with 182 yards on 13-of-27 passing and two touchdowns but was picked off three times. Harris had a big day, hauling in five passes for a career-high 114 yards and a touchdown, extending his streak to four-straight games with a TD reception.

Bryant heads back to Pennsylvania next weekend, taking on Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.