Bryant football defeats Fordham on Homecoming and Reunion Weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team put up a program-record 608 yards of total offense and came from 11 points down in the third quarter to defeat Fordham University, 45-40, in front of a raucous crowd of 7,532 fans on Homecoming and Reunion Weekend.  

The Bulldogs (2-2) flexed their offensive muscles on Saturday, running 90 plays and putting up over 600 yards of offense for the first time in program history. Bryant rushed for 215 yards and redshirt junior Price Wilson (Marietta, Ga.) threw for a single-game program record 393 yards and two scores.  

Trailing by 11 with 11:03 left in the third quarter, the Black and Gold scored the next 15 points and used a pair of touchdowns from redshirt sophomore Jean Constant (Delray Beach, Fla.) in the fourth quarter to take the lead for good.

GAME INFORMATION

Bryant 45, Fordham 40

Records: Bryant (2-2), Fordham (1-3)

Location: Beirne Stadium | Smithfield, R.I.

Attendance: 7,532

COACH PERRY'S COMMENTS

"They've gone to the tournament three out of the last four years. For our program, that's where we want to be. When we get a chance to go against the best and win, it's a great thing. All over this team, guys are just excited to play. We talk about wanting more football."

KEY MOMENTS

• Down 34-31 in the fourth quarter, Constant went to work. After freshman Isaac McCray (Middletown, R.I.) put the ball the Fordham 3 with a 25-yard run, Constant took a handoff and was able to get into the endzone to give Bryant the lead. The Bulldogs then forced a three-and-out and Constant was once again in the middle of things. On 3-and-12 from the Bryant 20, Wilson threw a perfect pass down the Bryant sideline that Constant caught before breaking free for an 80-yard score to put the Bulldogs up 11.   

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Junior Thomas Costigan (Stamford, Conn.) stalled a Fordham drive in the redzone as he picked off Kevin Anderson's pass at the Bryant 1. The Bulldogs preceded to go 89 yards in 19 plays to take the lead. Bryant converted on fourth down three times during the drive and McCray capped the drive with a 15-yard TD run.
• Fordham quickly answered as Dylan Mabin returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.
• The Black and Gold needed just four plays to retake the lead. Senior Aaron Aryee (Hartford, Conn.) hauled in a 28-yard pass and senior Tom Kennedy (Farmingdale, N.Y.) followed with a 37-yard touchdown on a reverse to make it 13-7.  
• The Ram scored the next 13 points to take a 20-13 lead in the second quarter. Anderson hooked up with Isaiah Searight for scores of 73 and 12 yards to give Fordham the lead with 31 seconds left in the first half.  
• Constant's 42-yard return on the ensuing kickoff jump-started a late scoring drive for the Bulldogs. The Rams committed two 15-yard penalties to move Bryant into field goal range and senior Gavin Rowley (Hampstead, Md.) knocked down a 32-yarder to make it 20-16 at the half.
• The Rams opened the second half with a nine-play, 74-yard scoring drive to take a 27-16 lead. Anderson hooked up with Andrew Prince for a 6-yard score.
• Bryant quickly answered, going 72 yards in just five plays. McCray picked up a first down on 4th-and-1 and Kennedy followed with a 62-yard touchdown reception. He took the quick toss from Wilson and raced down the Bryant sideline for the score.
• The Bulldog defense then stopped the Rams on a 4th-and-2 from midfield and quickly turned it into seven points. McCray made three men miss and found his way into the endzone for a 26-yard TD run to give the Bulldogs a 31-27 lead with 4:26 left in the third quarter.
• Fordham scored on its next possession, driving 75 yards in six plays. Anderson hooked up with Corey Caddle for a 22-yard score.
• Bryant answered with a 10-play, 79-yard drive to take the lead for good. Senior Jake Wiswall (Great River, N.Y.) picked up 13 and 10 yards on back-to-back runs to end the third quarter. An 11-yard completion to sophomore Alex Rasmussen (Fallston, Md.) and a 25-yard McCray run set up Constant's three-yard run.
• The Bulldog defense then forced a three-and-out and Bryant took over at its own 22. After a loss for two and facing third down, Wilson fired downfield and Constant made the catch and raced to the endzone to put Bryant up 45-34 with 10:37 left.
• Fordham then drove 59 yards in 17 plays and took 7:06 off the clock to make it a five-point game. Anderson threw his fifth TD of the game to Prince with 3:24 left.
• Bryant put the game away as Aryee caught a screen pass and picked up nine yards on 3rd-and-9 to give the Bulldogs the first down it needed to run out the clock.

STATS

• The Bulldogs set a program record with 608 yards of total offense. It surpassed the old record of 587 set against Becker in 2005.
• Bryant posted 29 first downs for the second-straight week.
• The Bulldogs finished 8-of-17 on third down and 5-of-6 on fourth down on Saturday.
• Fordham put up 533 yards of total offense in the loss. The Rams were 8-of-13 on third downs.  
• Wilson finished 26-of-44 for a program-record 393 yards and two touchdowns. The previous program record of 391 was set by Dalton Easton in the 2016 season finale.
• Wilson's 80-yard completion to Constant is tied for the second longest in program history.
• McCray picked up his first-career 100-yard game with 123 yards and two scores on 21 carries.
• Kennedy and Constant both finished with over 100 receiving yards. Kennedy finished with five catches for 106 yards and Constant had four catches for 101 yards.
• Kennedy added 42 rushing yards and posted 148 all-purpose yards. It was Kennedy's second-straight game with 100+ receiving yards.  
• Constant registered his first-career 100-yard game. He finished with 191 all-purpose yards thanks to 87 kick return yards.
• Costigan led Bryant with 10 tackles, a sack and an interception.
• Anderson was 27-of-42 for 366 yards and five touchdowns.
• Zach Davis rushed for 119 yards and Searight finished with seven catches for 133 yards and two scores.

GAME NOTES

• Wilson has now thrown for 1,419 yards and nine touchdowns in his first four games as a Bulldog. He has thrown for over 300 yards in three of the four games.
• McCray joins his older brother Ricardo McCray as Bulldogs to have 100-yard rushing games.
• Wilson completed passes to 12 different receivers in the game.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs travel to Durham, N.H., next weekend to face No. 15 New Hampshire. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.