Sunday recap: A closer look at Bryant's loss to Brown
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team was defeated, 35-27, by Brown on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium. BryantBulldogs.com takes a closer look at some notes and notables from Saturday's game.
The Bulldogs have now played in back-to-back games that have been decided by one score or less. They have now done that 17 times since the start of the 2013 season and they are 6-11.
Saturday's game was played with a steady wind blowing from the Bulldog Strength and Conditioning Center towards Conaty Park. It appeared to play a huge factor in the game as 56 of the games 62 points were scored on the scoreboard end of the field.
Bryant continued to have turnover problems against Brown, throwing three interceptions. The Bulldogs have now turned the ball over eight times in the last two weeks. Bryant ranks 105th out of 122 teams in turnover margin (-1.33).
Brown dominated the time of possession on Saturday, holding the ball for 35:31. Bryant had the ball for just 24:29 on the afternoon. The Bulldogs scored 21 points in the first quarter but had the ball for just 6:11. In the deciding quarters (2nd and 3rd), Brown had the ball for over 19 minutes during the 30-minute stretch.
The Bulldogs struggled on third and fourth down Saturday, combining to go 5-for-18. They were 5-for-13 on third down and 0-for-5 on fourth down.
Bryant attempted two fake punts on the afternoon but both were stopped. The Bulldogs converted seven fake punts last season.
Brown started drives inside Bryant territory four times in the second and third quarters. In the third quarter, Brown's average drive start was the Bryant 45.
Bryant continued to struggle with its running game, registering just 11 yards on 20 carries. It comes a week after posting just 84 yards on 31 carries at Montana State.
Senior Dalton Easton (Miami, Fla.) finished 21-of-44 for 275 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. He has now been intercepted six times in the last two weeks.
Easton now has 50 career touchdown passes, becoming just the second QB in program history to accomplish the feat. He also moved into second place on Bryant's passing list with 5,474 career passing yards.
Junior Matt Sewall (Portsmouth, R.I.) set career highs for receptions (8) and receiving yards (114) on Saturday. It was his first-career 100-yard receiving game.
Senior Taylor Barthelette (East Longmeadow, Mass.) finished with six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, just missing out on his third-straight 100-yard receiving game.
Barthelette became the seventh player in program history to record 1,000 career receiving yards on Saturday and now is sixth all-time with 1,032.
Sophomore Kevin Lazo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) blocked two field goals and also registered five tackles on Saturday. The blocked field goals tied a single-game program record at Bryant. He blocked a 40-yard attempt and a 26-yard attempt.
Lazo's first block led to Bryant's first touchdown as senior Charles Wingate (Englewood, N.J.) scooped it up and ran it back for a touchdown. The return went for 60 yards, the longest blocked field goal return in program history.
Freshman Jesse Nemerowicz (Hudson, Mass.) led the Bryant defense with eight tackles on Saturday. It is the second-straight game that he has led or tied for the team lead in tackles.
Nemerowicz now has 16 tackles through the first three games of the season. For reference, Marquise Watson (Hillside, N.J.) had 13 tackles and Patrick Kenney (Camarillo, Calif.) had 12 through the first three games of their careers in 2013.
Sophomore Thomas Costigan (Stamford, Conn.) posted six tackles, a sack, forced a fumble and also added quarterback hurry in Saturday's game. Costigan now has a sack in back-to-back weeks.