Bulldogs fall to LIU Sunday

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Joe Andreessen tied the single-game program record with 17 tackles but the Bryant University football team dropped a nail-biter, 24-19, to Long Island on Sunday afternoon. 

Sunday marked the first of four games for the Bulldogs this spring. Bryant returns to the field next Sunday at Merrimack.

Andreessen, who missed much of 2019 with an injury, dominated on the defensive side of the ball Sunday. He finished with 17 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery. Ricard Martinez also enjoyed a solid day on defense, recording eight tackles, a sack and a 3.0 TFLs. 

On offense, Daniel Adeboboye and Ishod Finger combined to rush for 140 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Adeboboye rushed for 78 on 15 carries, while Finger posted 62 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries in his Bryant debut. David Zorrilla posted five catches for 45 yards and a touchown.

GAME INFORMATION
LIU 24, Bryant 19
Records: Bryant (0-1, 0-1 NEC), LIU (1-0, 1-0 NEC)

Key Moment

• Bryant had the ball with just over two minutes to play and was driving before the Sharks ended the game with an interception near midfield.          

How It Happened

• Bryant opened the scoring with a 44-yard field goal from Luke Samperi.
• The Sharks responded with 14 quick points. Jonathan DeBique capped a 15-play, 75-yard drive with a touchdown run at the 10:29 mark of the second quarter. On the next Bryant possession, Ricco Aaron Jr. intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards for a score.
• Samperi followed with his second field goal of the game but the Sharks responded with a 31-yard TD strike with 2:12 remaining in the half.
• Andre Brackett returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards, giving Bryant great field position. A 14-yard completion to Finger got the Bulldogs inside the 20 and Zorrilla capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown reception on 3rd-and-13. 
• Bryant pulled within three at the beginning of the second half, taking advantage of a turnover. Jack Agnew recovered a fumble at the LIU 29 and the Bulldogs went to work. On 4th-and-5, Adeboboye hauled in a seven-yard pass to move the chains. Finger then rushed for 12 yards to the LIU5 before punching it in for his first TD as a Bulldog.
• That was as close as the Black and Gold would get, however. The Sharks would add a 40-yard field goal at the 4:34 mark of the third quarter and then hold on from there. 

Stats

• Bryant outgained LIU, 263-238.
• The Bulldogs forced two LIU fumbles. 
• Both teams finished 4-of-14 on third downs.
• Kory Curtis finished 16-of-35 for 125 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. 
• Adeboboye carried the ball 15 times for 78 yards.
• Finger rushed for 62 yards and a score on nine carries. 
• Zorrilla posted five catches for 45 yards and a score. 
• Matthew Prochaska finished with four catches for 19 yards.
• Samperi finished 2-of-3 on field goals, hitting from 44 and 22. 
• Brackett finished with four tackles and 124 all-purpose yards.
• Andreessen finished with 17 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and a fumble recovery.
• Martinez added eight tackles, a sack and 3.0 TFLs.
• Chidi Nna posted six tackles. 
• Javis Hanks and Darnell Shillingford each finished with five tackles. 
• Dontae Lunan registered his first-career sack.  

Up Next

Bryant travels to Merrimack next Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.