Bulldogs head to Moon Township to wrap up 2015 season

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team wraps up the 2015 season with a trip to Moon Township, Pa., Saturday, November 21 to take on Robert Morris. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION:
Date: Saturday, Nov. 21
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Listen: WOON 1240 (onworldwide.com)
Watch: NECFrontRow
Stats: Live Stats

Despite being out of contention for a Northeast Conference championship, Saturday's season finale carries a great deal of incentive for the Bulldogs (5-5, 3-2 NEC). With a victory, Bryant would secure its second-straight winning season and would finish with four league wins for the second-consecutive year.

The Black and Gold have worked through an up-and-down season in 2015 but secured their seventh-straight .500-or-better season in league play with a win over Wagner two weeks ago. In the seven years the Bulldogs have been a full member of the NEC, they have posted a 27-22 record which is tied with Duquesne and Wagner for the best record over that span.

Bryant has been led by outstanding performances from junior QB Dalton Easton (Miami, Fla.) and senior RB Ricardo McCray (Middletown, R.I.). Easton set the Bryant single-season passing record last week against Sacred Heart and enters Saturday's game with 2,475 passing yards. He leads the league in passing yards and touchdowns (20), sitting one TD pass shy of tying the Bryant single-season record held by Charlie Granatell.

McCray has played at another level this season for the Black and Gold, posting a league-leading 1,180 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. He became the first Bulldog since 2011 to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season and is currently fifth in the country in both rushing yards and rushing average. In addition, McCray has also set a career-high in all-purpose yards this season and ranks 11th in the country with 1,532.

Defensively, Bryant has relied on veteran leadership of senior DL Abri Tate (Fort Mill, S.C.) and junior LBs Patrick Kenney (Camarillo, Calif.) and Marquise Watson (Hillside, N.J.). Tate has put together a career-year, posting 44 tackles, two sacks and a team-high 11.5 tackles for a loss. In his three previous seasons, Tate had posted just 34 tackles, 0.5 sacks and four tackles for a loss. Kenney and Watson, each in their third year as starters, are first and third on the team in tackles. Kenney has posted a career-high 75, while Watson made 11 last week and currently has 193 in his career.

The Bulldogs will face a Colonials team that enters with a record of 3-7 overall and 1-4 in the NEC. Robert Morris opened the season with two games against nationally-ranked opponents, taking Youngstown St. to overtime.

The Colonials average 13 points per game and less than 250 yards of total offense per game. RMU is young at the skill positions and features a freshman QB, two rookie WRs and two sophomore RBs. Matthew Barr has taken over as starting QB and has thrown for 867 yards, five touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Fellow rookie Kyle Buss has played great of late and comes into the game with 45 catches for 675 yards and two scores.

On defense, the Colonials enter the season finale as one of the top teams in the league. RMU is ranked second in passing defense and second in total defense in the NEC this year. The Colonials have allowed opponents just 321 yards of offense per game led by the two top tacklers in the NEC, Jake Tkach and Mike Stojkovic. Tkach has posted 87 tackles this year and Stojkovic is right behind with 84. Defensive end Forrest Mason has been outstanding as well, posting 11 tackles for a loss and seven sacks.