Bulldogs can't overcome five turnovers, fall to Montana State, 27-24

Bozeman, Mont. – The Bryant University football team outplayed Montana State for most of the game but could not overcome five turnovers, falling to the Bobcats 27-24 Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium.

The Bulldogs (1-1), who were playing west of Pittsburgh for the first time in program history, turned the ball over five times, including twice in the redzone, against the Bobcats (1-1). Bryant's five turnovers led to 20 points for MSU who was playing in front of 18.867 raucous fans.

Senior Dalton Easton (Miami, Fla.) set a program record for passing yards in a game, finishing 26-of-44 for 368 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Senior Taylor Barthelette (East Longmeadow, Mass.) had another big day with eight catches for a career-high 161 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt freshman Jean Constant (Delray Beach, Fla.) shined with four catches for 99 yards and his first-career TD.

Defensively, junior Patrick Champagnie (Boston, Mass.) led the Bulldogs with a career-high six tackles, while sophomores Thomas Costigan (Stamford, Conn.) and Dillon Guthro (Newburyport, Mass.) both collected sacks.

Tyler Bruggman finished 14-of-28 for 126 yards and two touchdowns, while Gunnar Brekke carried the ball 17 times for 80 yards and a score. Mac Bignell and Fletcher Collins each posted 10 tackles for MSU, while John Walker picked off two passes.

Trailing 27-17, the Bulldogs defense, which played outstanding all afternoon, force the Bobcats into a three-and-out. Bryant started the drive at its own 14 and proceeded to drive 86 yards in just eight plays to make it a three-point game. A pass interference call helped Bryant pick up a quick 15 yards and a 22-yard completion from Easton to junior Joe Fine (Cumberland, R.I.) pushed the ball across midfield. Three plays later, Bryant was faced with fourth-and-two from the MSU 40 and decided to go for it. It paid off as Easton hit Constant underneath and the speedy wideout raced past the Bobcat defense and into the endzone for his first-career touchdown.

Using the momentum and seeing an opportunity to catch the Bobcats off guard, the Bulldogs decided to go for an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. They line up as if it was a normal kick but senior Ricky Perez (Miami, Fla.) struck the ball beautifully and sent it bouncing towards the Bryant sideline. The ball took two hops before landing into the arms of Constant at the 50.

With a chance to take the lead, the Black and Gold once again converted on fourth down as Easton fired a quick strike to junior Aaron Aryee (Hartford, Conn.) to put the ball on the MSU 34. Sophomore Brenden Femiano (Northport, N.Y.) then pushed the ball to the 20 and the Bulldogs took a shot at the endzone. Easton fired to the back corner looking for Barthelette but Walker went up and came down with the interception.

With only one timeout, Bryant had to hope for a three-and-out but the Bobcats made two huge conversions to seal the victory. Bruggman hit John D'Agostino for a 10-yard gain on third-and-two and Brekke was able to pick up two yards on fourth-and-1 from the MSU 47.

The Bulldogs struck first on Saturday thanks to a program-record field goal from Perez. Bryant's defense forced MSU Into a three-and-out and the offense then drove 40 yards in 10 plays to take the lead. Junior Matt Sewall (Portsmouth, R.I.) opened the game with a 20-yard run on a reverse and Easton completed each of his first four passes. A holding penalty stalled the drive but Perez stepped up and drilled a 51-yard field goal to make it 3-0. It was the first field goal of 50+ yards in program history.

Bryant missed an opportunity to extend the lead at the beginning of the second quarter on a missed field goal and the Bobcats quickly took advantage. MSU drove 77 yards in just six plays to take the lead. Brekke opened the drive with a 28-yard run and Bruggman completed passes for 18 and 25 yards to push the ball to the Bryant 10. He capped the drive with a TD pass to a wide open D'Agostino in the back of the endzone.

MSU's lead quickly increased as the Bulldogs committee the first of their five turnovers on the ensuing drive. Two plays into the drive, Bryant fumbled the handoff and the Bobcats took over at the 22. Three plays later, Bruggman fired a perfect pass to Mitch Herbert for a 27-yard TD and a 14-3 MSU lead.

The Bobcats then missed a 41-yard field but the Bulldogs couldn't convert on a great redzone opportunity. Easton connected with Barthelette for a 64-yard catch-and-run on the second play of the drive. A 15-yard penalty put the ball at the MSU 7 but Easton's next pass was intercepted by Walker at the three.

Bryant's defense answered the call again, forcing the Bobcats to punt and giving the Bulldogs the ball back with 2:24 left on the clock. Easton hit Barthelette for gains of 9 and 36 on the first two plays of the drive to put the ball to the MSU 25. Bryant then faced 4th-and-12 from the 27 and decided to go for it. Easton hit a wide open Barthelette at the MSU 10 and he did the rest, diving across the goal line to make it 14-10 at the half.

The Bulldogs' then received the opening kickoff of the second half but couldn't take advantage. MSU forced the Bulldogs to punt and then received a break as the snap was low and went through the legs of Drew Chretien (Coventry, R.I.). Thanks to the low snap, the Bobcats were able to take over at the Bryant 9 and score two plays later on a Brekke TD run.

Bryant never faltered though, responding with an eight-play, 72-yard scoring drive to make it 21-17. The drive was ignited by a 36-yard reception by Constant, the first of his career. Easton looked Constant's way again two plays later and the rookie wideout jumped up and made an incredible catch along the sideline to put the ball at the MSU 13. A pass interference call put the ball at the 2 and Sewall capped the drive with a two-yard run on a reverse. It was the first rushing touchdown of Sewall's career.

MSU then took advantage of another short field, extending its lead to 27-17 with 30 seconds left in the third quarter. An illegal block and a false start backed the Bulldogs up to their own six and Bryson McCabe intercepted Easton's pass at the 25 and returned it to the Bryant 1. Nick LaSane punched it on the very first play.

Bryant won the time of possession, controlling the ball for 33:35, and out-gained the MSU, 452-265. The Bulldogs went 3-for-4 on fourth down conversions, turning two into touchdowns.

The Black and Gold return to action next Saturday when they welcome in-state rival Brown to Bulldog Stadium. Kickoiff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.