Bulldogs fall to URI on Saturday

KINGSTON, R.I. – The Bryant University football team fell to Rhode Island at Meade Stadium by a score of 49-26.

Konor Lathrop caught his second TD in as many games. Matthew Prochaska hauled in his second of the season. Isaiah Schmidtke ran for a career-high 66 yards. Ryan Clark tallied his fifth TD on the ground, and Ridge Docekal threw the first of his career.

Sean Hunt registered his first career interception, and Christopher Eaton Jr. posted his first sack of the season.

Dontae Lunan blocked a punt, which Lake Ellis returned for a TD.

Game Information
 URI 49, Bryant 26
Records: Bryant (2-3), URI (3-3)
Location: Meade Stadium (Kingston, R.I.)

Key Moment

• The Bulldogs took a 13-7 lead in the first quarter, and then URI tallied 21 straight points in the second quarter to take control.

How it Happened

• URI struck first, moving down the field on a long pass and finishing the drive with a rushing TD from the one-yard line (7-0).
• The Bulldogs responded on the following drive with a 12-yard rush from Simi Bakare on second down and then a 43-yard bomb to Matthew Prochaska, putting the Black and Gold on the Ram's 19-yard line. Zevi Eckhaus then found Konor Lathrop on a post route for the score (7-7).
• Bryant's defense then forced a three-and-out, including Christopher Eaton Jr.'s first sack of the season.
• The Black and Gold drove down the field, with the drive starting at the Bryant 29-yard line. Anthony Frederick drew a defensive pass interference, advancing the ball 15 yards, then Eckhaus escaped the pocket, scrambled to the pylon for 24 yards, and was marked at the two. Ryan Clark then muscled through the line for the score to end the first quarter (13-7).
•  URI responded with a 57-yard TD pass down the middle of the field (14-13).
• The Bulldogs then went three and out, and URI drove the ball 52 yards, capped off by a goal-line TD (21-13).
• With 52 seconds left in the first half, URI hit three straight passes, finished by a 24-yard TD pass in the corner of the endzone (28-13).
• The Rams recorded an INT, returned to the one, and punched it in for the TD in the third quarter (35-13).
• In the beginning of the fourth quarter, Donate Lunan made a swim move and blocked the punt, which was scooped and scored by Lake Ellis (35-19).
• On the next drive, URI drove from their own 25 and scored on a slant (42-19).
• URI tallied their 49^th point on the drive's first play with a 58-yard TD pass (49-19).
• In the final five minutes, Ridge Docekal led the Bulldogs down the field behind a 49-yard rush by Isaiah Schmidtke and a passing TD to Prochaska.

 Stats

• Prochaska tallied 51 yards and a TD.
• Lathrop caught a TD.
• Schmidtke recorded a game-leading 66 yards on the ground.
• Eckhaus threw for 120 yards and one TD.
• Eaton posted a sack.
• Michael Otty and Ellis both had seven tackles.
• Hunt caught an interception.
• Lunan blocked a punt, and Ellis had the TD.
• Jelani Machen, Robert Crockett III, and Ellis posted a pass break up.
• Docekal threw a TD.
• Clark had a rushing TD.

Game Notes

• The Bulldogs have blocked a punt in back-to-back games.
• It was the first blocked punt and return TD since 2018 against Sacred Heart.
• Lathrop has tallied a TD in consecutive games.
• Hunt hauled in his first career INT.
• Eaton registered his sixth career sack.
• Otty now has 23 tackles and 9.5 TFLs this season.
• Prochaska caught his second TD of the season, tying his career-high from last year.
• Eckhaus now has the most yards of total offense in school history (7,210).
• Schmidtke ran for a career-high 66 yards.
• Clark now has five TDs on the year.

 Up Next

The Black and Gold begin their bye week before welcoming Robert Morris to Smithfield for homecoming on Oct. 14.