Football welcomes Red Flash Saturday

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Following a pair of back-to-back victories on the road, the Bryant University football team returns to Bulldog Stadium for the first time in nearly a month as it begins the final homestand of the season, hosting Northeast Conference foe Saint Francis (PA) on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 12:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs (6-3, 4-2) find themselves tied for third place in the conference standings thanks to a pair of comeback victories over Robert Morris and the University at Albany the past two games. Most recently, Bryant rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat the Great Danes, 31-17, last Saturday. The Black and Gold outscored Albany, 21-0, after the break, and have now won three games when trailing at the half.

While the Bryant Athletics Department honors a 10-member Hall of Fame Class on Friday, the Bulldogs will be preparing for the Red Flash (2-8, 1-6). Undefeated in three previous meetings against the Keystone State opponent, the Black and Gold will be facing one of the most porous defenses in the country. Saint Francis (PA) is giving up 44.0 points per game and 481.80 yards per game, both third-worst in the FCS.

While the Bulldogs do not feature a powerhouse offense, the Red Flash will have to stop an offense that has scored at least 26 points in every game except the first game of the year. Bryant is second in the NEC with 29.6 points per game and is coming off a 31-point effort against one of the league's stingiest defense's in Albany. Sophomore wide receiver Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) set a program record with 224 receiving yards and earned The Sports Network/Fathead.com Co-National Player of the Week and NEC Offensive Player of the Week. The man throwing him the ball, senior quarterback Mike Croce (Waterbury, Conn.), also set a program record with 328 passing yards.

It won't be a walk in the park for Bryant's defense either. Saint Francis (PA) features the league's second-best rush offense, averaging 203.0 yards per game on the ground. A majority of that is thanks to its standout running back, junior Kyle Harbridge. The electric back has rushed for 1,425 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season, both marks are second to Bryant's Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) in the conference. In his most recent outing, Harbridge ran for 197 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-45 loss to Monmouth last weekend. Earlier this year, Harbridge went off for 348 yards against Morehead St. on Sept. 17.

The Bulldogs' defense has been exceptional so far this season, however. They allowed over 28 points on just one occasion this season and held the league's top offense to just 82 yards of total offense last Saturday. Over the last two games, Bryant has collected seven sacks and turned the ball over just once after committing 10 turnovers during a three-game stretch in early October.

Following Saturday's contest, the Bulldogs will close out their season next Saturday, Nov. 19, when they host Central Connecticut State University on Senior Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.