Bulldogs host Bears on Homecoming

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team returns home for the first time in over a month as it hosts intra-state foe Brown for the first time in program history on Homecoming and Reunion Weekend this Saturday, Oct. 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

FULL GAME NOTES

LAST TIME OUT - Bryant 13 - Stony Brook 21

Bryant matched Stony Brook play-for-play last Saturday but the Bulldogs fell just short, 21-13. The Black and Gold fell behind early but used a 13-play, 91-yard drive to tie the game late in the first quarter. The Seawolves scored 48 seconds later to make it 14-7 and the score remained that way until the fourth quarter. Mike Westerhaus's (Farmingville, N.Y.) 13-yard TD run brought Bryant within a point but Stony Brook once again answered on its next drive to make it 21-13. The Bulldogs out-rushed the Seawolves, 152-119, but the hosts scored on plays of 41 and 63 to provide the difference.

SCOUTING THE BEARS

A member of the IVY League, Brown enters today's contest with a 2-1 record on the young season. The Bears did not play their first game until the fourth week of the college football season.

In three games, the Bears have displayed a deep and dynamic running game. They have rushed for over 250 yards in two of the three outings, including 251 yards on just 34 carries against Rhode Island last weekend. Senior John Spooney leads the charge with 298 yards and six touchdowns on 39 carries. Senior quarterback Patrick Donnelly has completed 65 percent of his passes for 586 yards and is also averaging over six yards per carry on the ground.

Defensively, Brown has done a great job stopping the run, allowing just over three yards per carry. Senior Zack Lattrell leads the team with 23 tackles, while classmate Michael Yules has collected four sacks in the first three games.

BULLDOGS DOMINANT ON HOMECOMING UNDER FINE

In the nine years that Marty Fine has been the head coach of the Bulldogs, Homecoming & Reunion Weekend has always been a good weekend to play football on. In nine years under Fine, the Black and Gold have gone an imrpessive 8-1 on homecoming. Bryant won each of the first eight homecoming games before dropping a tough decision to Duquesne last season at Bulldog Stadium.

After four weeks on the road, the Bulldogs finally return to Bulldog Stadium this afternoon. Bryant opened the season with back-to-back home games against Holy Cross and Assumption but have not played at home since the Sept. 7 meeting with the Greyhounds. The Black and Gold visited Maine, enjoyed a bye week and have played at Wagner and Stony Brook the last two weekends. Bryant will now play its next three and five of its final seven games at home.

MAGICAL START FOR NWANEKEZI

Maduka Nwanekezi (Milton, Mass.) is having the kind of start that every player dreams of. Through five games, Nwanekezi is third on the team with 25 tackles, leads the team with 11.5 tackles for a loss and is second with 4.5 sacks. He's picked up two or more tackles for a loss in three of the five games and has picked up 3.5 sacks over his last two contests.