Bryant falls to SFU on Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I.  – The Bryant University football team limited Saint Francis U to just 281 yards of total offense but the Red Flash were able to come away with a 16-6 victory over Saturday afternoon at Beirne Stadium.

Bryant held a 6-0 lead for most of the first half but the Red Flash scored twice in the final two minutes of the first half and used two second-half field goals to cement the victory.

Junior David Onyemem (Dracut, Mass.) posted a career-high 11 tackles, senior Jesse Nemerowicz (Hudson, Mass.) posted 10 stops and classmate Robert Brown (Palmetto Bay, Fla.) had nine tackles and an interception.

Junior Isaac McCray (Middletown, R.I.) paced the offense with 61 yards on 16 carries and 65 receiving yards. Senior Vincent Nisivoccia (Nutley, N.J.) hauled in a 28-yard TD strike for his first TD of the year.  

GAME INFORMATION
Saint Francis U 16, Bryant 6
Records: Bryant (0-5, 0-1 NEC), SFU (3-2, 1-0 NEC)
Attendance: 2,894

Coach Merritt's Comments

"The game is played in three phases, and if only one plays well it's not good enough to win. Defensively, I think those guys did one heckuva job today. They didn't give up the big play, got the ball turned over for us. They did what they needed to do."

Key Moment

• After making it 6-3 with a field goal late in the first half, SFU blocked a punt and then scored two plays later to take a 10-6 lead a the half.   

How It Happened

• The Bulldogs grabbed an early lead as Nisivoccia hauled in a perfect pass from redshirt sophomore Kory Curtis (Cape Coral, Fla.) for a 28-yard touchdown. Bryant missed the PAT, however.
• It remained 6-0 thanks to an interception from Brown on the goal line early in the second quarter.
• SFU, however, scored twice in the final two minutes of the half to take a 10-6 lead to the locker room. Trevor Thompson kicked a 37-yard field goal with 2:05 remaining and the Red Flash then blocked a Bryant punt attempt. SFU took over at the Bryant 15 and scored in two plays to make it 10-6.  
• Trevor Thompson hit a pair of field goals in the second half to give SFU a 16-6 lead.

Stats

• Bryant was limited to just 210 yards of total offense and 3-of-18 on third downs.
• Curtis finished 15-of-37 for 142 yards and a touchdown.
• McCray rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries and also caught two passes for 65 yards.
• Nisivoccia posted eight catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
• Onyemem led the defense with 11 tackles, including 10 solo stops.
• Nemerowicz posted 10 tackles and two TFLs.
• Brown had nine tackles and an interception.

Notes and Notables

• Bryant is now 6-6 all-time against Saint Francis U.
• Onyemem's 11 tackles are a new career-high.
• Nemerowicz now has 269 career tackles.
• Nisivoccia now has 121 career receptions, third in program history.
• Nisivoccia is now averaging 8.4 receptions per game.
• Brown's interception was the third of his career.   
• Senior Gavin Rowley (Hampstead, Md.) punted 10 times for a single-game record 456 yards. He booted a long punt of 66 yards. 

Up Next

The Bulldogs head on the road next weekend, traveling to Merrimack. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in North Andover, Mass.