No. 21/23 Bulldogs face Duquesne Saturday (12p)

FULL GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The No. 21/23 Bryant University football team begins a challening three-game stretch on Saturday, Nov. 8 as it travels to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take on Duquesne. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Rooney Field.

GAME INFORMATION:
Date: Saturday, Nov. 8
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Listen: WOON 1240 (onworldwide.com)
Watch: NECFrontRow
Stats: Live Stats

LAST TIME OUT: BULLDOGS RUN PAST CCSU
Bryant churned out a Division I-record 352 yards on the ground on its way to a 31-3 victory over Central Connecticut on ESPN3. With the game tied 3-3 at the half, the Bulldogs pulled away in the final 30 minutes behind their dynamic backfield duo of Ricardo McCray and Paul Canevari. McCray finished with a career-high 243 yards and three touchdowns, while Canevari added 116 yards. McCray's total was tied for the sixth-most in a game in program history. Defensively, the Black and Gold held CCSU to just nine first downs and only 191 yards of total offense.

SCOUTING THE DUKES
One of the most consistent teams in NEC history, having earned at least a share of two of the last three regular season championships. However, the Dukes have yet to be the NECs representative in the NCAA tournament. They were picked to finish second in the preseason coaches poll but have dropped back-to-back games against Sacred Heart and Saint Francis U.

Duquesne features one of the best passing attacks in the country but starting QB Dillon Buechel has missed the last two games with an injury. Buechel, who is currently eighth in the country with 274.7 yards per game, was injured during Duquesne's game against Sacred Heart. The Dukes are averaging 283.4 yards per game (12th nationally) through the air and feature stud WR Chris King. The senior leads the country with 1,069 receiving yards, 118.8 yards per game and 13 touchdowns. Ryan Ho (349 yards, 4 TD) is one of three RBs with over 200 yards rushing.

Defensively, the Dukes enter today's contest having allowed 23.9 points per game and 334.8 yards of total offense per game. They have intercepted 12 passes on the year and recovered three fumbles. Nathan Stone leads the team with 69 tackles and has added three sacks. Rich Piekarski (65) and Sam Martello (64) also have over 60 tackles and Austin Whalen leads the team with 12 tackles for a loss and five sacks.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Today's meeting between the Bulldogs and the Dukes will be the seventh. Bryant has faced Duquesne each season since transitioning to Division I. The Black and Gold won the first two meetings but the Dukes won three-straight from 2010-12. Last season, Bryant put up just 280 yards of total offense but intercepted three Dillon Buechel passes and also recovered a fumble on its way to a commanding 42-14 victory.

BULLDOGS MOVE UP IN NATIONAL POLLS
Off to their best start in program history, the Bulldogs moved up in the national polls this week. Bryant moved up three spots to No. 21 in the FCS Coaches' poll and two spots to No. 23 in the Sports Network poll. The Bulldogs are the only NEC team ranked.

DEFENSE LEADING THE WAY
Bryant's defense has become one of the most vaunted in the country this season. Last Saturday, the Bulldogs held CCSU without a touchdown, the first time they had done that since holding Sacred Heart to a pair of field goals on Sept. 16, 2011. Bryant now ranks fourth in the country in scoring defense (15.4) and eighth in total defense (283.6).