Sunday recap: A closer look at Bryant's loss to Montana State
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team was defeated, 27-24, by Montana State on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, Mont. BryantBulldogs.com takes a closer look at some notes and notables from Saturday's game.
Saturday's game marked the 16th time since 2013 that the Bulldogs played a game that was decided by one score or less. Bryant is 6-10 during that stretch. Those 10 losses make up 58 percent of Bryant's defeats over the last three-plus years.
The Bulldogs turned the ball over five times (3 INTs, 2 fumbles) in Saturday's game. Two of the three interceptions occurred in the red zone, including one with 4:39 left in the game that sealed Bryant's fate.
Although not considered a turnover, the Bulldogs also botched a punt at the start of the third quarter. A low snap got by Drew Chretien (Coventry, R.I.) and MSU was able to tackle him at the Bryant 9.
Bryant gave MSU three short fields in the game and the Bobcats took advantage of all three. MSU started at the Bryant 22 after a fumbled handoff and needed just three plays to score. The Bobcats used the failed punt to score in just two plays and Bryson McCabe's interception in the third quarter put the ball on the Bryant 1.
The Bulldogs ran 75 plays in the game and put up 452 yards of total offense. It marked the second-straight week the Bulldogs have put up 450+ yards of total offense.
The Black and Gold defense also forced Montana State into five three-and-outs on the afternoon. MSU has averaged over 40 points per game the last two years, scoring nearly 1,000 points.
Bryant finished the game 3-for-4 on fourth downs and is now 4-for-5 on the year. The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on two of the three conversions, a 27-yard TD reception for senior Taylor Barthelette (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and a 40-yard catch-and-run by Jean Constant (Delray Beach, Fla.). On the year, three of Bryant's four fourth-down conversions have been touchdowns.
Bryant converted an onside kick in the fourth quarter after it had cut the deficit to 27-24. The Bulldogs lined up as if they were going to kick it deep but senior Ricky Perez (Miami, Fla.) changed course at the last minute and hit a bouncing ball towards the Bryant sideline. The ball took two big hops and landed in the streaking arms of Constant
It was one of many outstanding plays for Constant in the game. He made four catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. The four catches were the first of his career as was the touchdown. All four of his catches were either first downs or a touchdown.
Constant's second catch of the day was an outstanding leaping grab along the Bryant sideline. The play was defended well but Constant jumped up and snared the ball just above the helmet of the defender for a 25-yard gain. He scored his first-career TD in the fourth quarter on a 40-yard catch and run. Bryant decided to go for it on fourth down and Constant slipped underneath the defense, made the catch and then sprinted by the Bobcats for the score.
Perez opened the scoring on Saturday with a program-record 51-yard field goal. Perez's previous best was 46 and the kick tops the previous record held of 48 held by Dom Kozlowski. It is the first field goal of 50+ yards in program history. The kick came near the right hash and had plenty of leg.
Senior Dalton Easton (Miami, Fla.) had a historic day as he set the single-game passing record and also eclipsed 5,000 career passing yards. He finished 26-of-44 for 368 yards, two scores and three interceptions. The 368 yards broke the previous record of 350 that was set by Mike Westerhaus in 2012 against Robert Morris.
Easton also became the third QB in program history to reach 5,000 career passing yards on Saturday. He needed just 169 yards to do it and now has 5,199. Easton is third all-time in passing behind Charlie Granatell (6,984) and Mike Croce (5,325).
Barthelette had another big game, catching eight passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. He set career-highs for receptions and receiving yards, posting the eighth-most receiving yards in a single game in school history. Seven of his eight receptions, however, came in the first half.
Barthelette is the first player in school history to post back-to-back 100-yard receiving games to start the season. He is the first receiver to post back-to-back 100-yard games since Jordan Harris posted six-straight in 2012-13. Harris had 100+ yards in each of the final five games of 2012 and then did it again in the first game of 2013.
Junior Matt Sewall (Portsmouth, R.I.) was one of Bryant's top runners on Saturday, picking up 30 yards on three carries. He scampered 20 yards on the first play of the game, a reverse, and then scored his first-career rushing TD in the third quarter.
Bryant was without the services of starting free safety Charles Keenan (Tyngsborough, Mass.) for the final half of the game after he was disqualified for targeting. The call on the field was reviewed in the booth and confirmed. Keenan will be available to play in Saturday's game against Brown.
Senior Marquise Watson (Hillside, N.J.) was double-teamed for most of Saturday's game and was limited to just one tackle.