Bulldogs welcome Merrimack in 2016 opener

FULL GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team opens the 2016 season on Saturday, Sept. 3 against former NE-10 rival Merrimack. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.

The Particulars

Opponent: Merrimack College

Kickoff: 3:00 p.m.

Watch Live: NECFrontRow.com

Listen Live: WOON 1240 AM or onworldwide.com

Live Stats

Ticket Information

Tickets for Saturday's game can be purchased online at BryantBulldogs.com/tickets or purchased on gameday. Ticket prices are $15 for reserved seating (chairbacks) and $10 for general admission. Season ticket packs are also still available and cost $60 for reserved seats and $40 for general admission.

Series History

Bryant and Merrimack will be meeting for the 13th time on Saturday. The all-time series is tied at 6-6 thanks to five-straight victories from the Black and Gold. Bryant has won all three meetings since moving to the DI level, including a 40-14 victory in 2014. The Bulldogs have scored 34+ points in five of their last six games against the Warriors.

Notes and Notables for Week 1

Senior Dalton Easton (Miami, Fla.) returns for his third year as the starting quarterback. He is 361-for-665 (54.3) for 4,608 yards, 42 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in 22 career starts. Easton has posted a 13-9 record as a starter.

Easton set Bryant single season records for completions, attempts, passing yards, passing yards per game, total offense and touchdown passes in 2015.

Senior linebackers Marquise Watson (Hillside, N.J.) and Patrick Kenney (Camarillo, Calif.) both return this fall. The duo has started all but one game since stepping on campus as freshmen in 2013.

Watson enters his senior year with 203 career tackles, just 46 stops shy of tying the all-time program record. He has 99 solo tackles, 104 assisted tackles, 6.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for a loss in his career.

Kenney enters his final year with 198 tackles, two shy of becoming just the 10th player in program history to reach the 200-tackle plateau. He led the Bulldogs with a career-high 85 stops last season and has four career interceptions.

Bryant averaged 389 yards per game last season, the most it has averaged per game in DI program history. It is the highest average since 2006 when the Bulldogs averaged a program record 410 yards per game.

A bit about Merrimack

Merrimack went 6-5 overall and 6-3 in the NE-10, finishing third in the standings. The Warriors started the season 0-3 but rebounded to go 6-2 over the final eight games of the season. That stretch included Merrimack's first-ever win over New Haven on the road.

On offense, Merrimack graduated its top receiving threat in Jere Brown (83-1,054-12) but does return its starting QB and other key pieces. Nick Davis threw for 2,071 yards, 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 10 starts last year. He also carried the ball 125 times for 324 yards and two scores. Derrick Villard is back after averaging four yards percarry last year and Cody Demers will take over as the top receiver after posting 48 catches for 609 yards and six touchdowns.

Merrimack will have some big holes to fill defensively as four of its top five tacklers graduated last spring. Brian Carroll returns to lead the defense after posting a team-high 66 tackles and six interceptions last season. Josh Hill was a force as well, posting 7.5 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss on the season