Bulldogs battle No. 1 Coastal Carolina to the end, fall 31-17

CONWAY, S.C. – The Bryant University football team jumped out to a 10-0 lead and played No. 1 Coastal Carolina even for the first 30 minutes but the Chanitcleers used a pair of second-half touchdowns to hand the Bulldogs a 31-17 loss on Saturday night at Brooks Stadium.

In the first meeting between the two teams all-time, the Chanticleers (4-0) received 136 yards and two touchdowns from running back De'Angelo Henderson to hand the Black and Gold (2-1) their first loss of the season.

Facing the No. 1 team in the country for the first time in program history, the Bulldogs dominated the game in the first 15 minutes Saturday night. Bryant started quick, finishing its opening drive with a 39-yard field goal from junior Ricky Perez (Miami, Fla.). Senior Ricardo McCray (Middletown, R.I.) had the big play of the drive, racing 36 yards to put the ball to the CCU 28. Three plays later, Perez knocked home his third field goal of the season.

The Bulldogs then forced a three-and-out and went right back to work. Bryant took over at its own 24 and drove 76 yards in just seven plays to make it 10-0. Juniors Dalton Easton (Miami, Fla.) and Taylor Barthelette (East Longmeadow, Mass.) connected for 12 yards for a first down and sophomore Joe Fine (Cumberland, R.I.) pushed the ball to midfield with a four-yard run. Two plays later, Easton hit sophomore Matt Sewall (Portsmouth, R.I.) in the open field and the speedster did the rest, racing into the endzone for a 50-yard touchdown reception, the first of his career.

Coastal Carolina answered in a big way, scoring the next 17 points to take the lead. The Chanticleers answered Bryant's touchdown with a 10-play, 65-yard drive to get on the board. The big play of the drive came on a second down pass in which junior Marquise Watson (Hillside, N.J.) was flagged for a helmet-to-helmet hit and ejected from the game. CCU QB Alex Ross capped the drive with a 12-yard TD pass to Bruce Mapp.

Bryant tried to respond but the CCU defense was able to pick up a sack on third down to stop the Bulldogs at the Coastal 36. After a short punt, the Chanticleers used a big play to score 1:20 later. Henderson broke off a 59-yard run on the first play of the drive and then punched it home from a yard out to make it 14-10 with 10:04 left in the second quarter.

Coastal Carolina completed its stretch with a 42-yard field goal. The Chanticleers drove the ball inside the Bryant five but three-consecutive penalties pushed them back to the 25. Ryan Granger then knocked home the 42-yard attempt to make it 17-10.

Bryant, however, answered with a huge 10-play, 80-yard drive to end the half. McCray opened the drive with an explosive 24-yard run and then picked up 12 more yards to put the ball to the CCU 36. Senior Paul Canevari (Warwick, N.Y.) picked it up from there, gaining 11 yards in back-to-back runs. Easton then connected with senior TE John Lavin (Falmouth, Mass.) to put the ball to the Coastal 5 and McCray finished the drive with a five-yard run to make it 17-17 with 30 seconds left in the half.

The Chanticleers were then able to take the lead back with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the second half. Henderson's one-yard run capped a 12-play, 89-yard drive that took nearly five minutes off the clock in the third quarter. Osharmar Abercrombie then capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive with a 22-yard run to put the game away with 2:15 left in the fourth quarter.

Bryant had two chances to tie the game in the fourth quarter but was unable to convert inside Coastal territory. The Bulldogs pushed the ball to the Coastal 29 to start the fourth quarter but turned the ball over on downs. Junior Patrick Kenney (Camarillo, Calif.) then recovered a fumble at the Coastal 45 with just 11:08 left to give Bryant a chance. A pass interference call on third down extended the drive and Bryant pushed the ball inside the 20 but the Chanticleers were able to stop the drive and then blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt.

Easton finished 25-of-40 for 291 yards and a touchdown, while McCray posted 102 yards on 15 carries. It marks the ninth 100-yard game of McCray's career. Barthelette led the Bulldogs with six catches for 88 yards. Aaron Gilmer (North Easton, Mass.) led the defense with seven tackles. Aaron Dixon (Danbury, Conn.) and Abri Tate (Fort Hill, S.C.) each finished with six.

The Bulldogs remain on the road this weekend as they travel to West Long Branch, N.J., to take on Monmouth. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.