Bryant dominates SEMO on Senior Day

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University football team took down Southeast Missouri State 45-21 to grab the senior day victory and close the season.

Zevi Eckhaus tied the program record for passing TDs in a game (6) and a season with 28. He threw for a total of 394 yards.

Anthony Frederick tallied 118 yards and a score, while Matthew Prochaska had 110 yards and a score. Jalen Powell recorded 76 yards and two touchdowns, Konor Lathrop hauled in his sixth touchdown of the season, and Gary Cooper caught a TD as well.

Kenny Dyson Jr. had two sacks and a forced fumble, while Christopher Eaton Jr. also recorded a forced fumble.

Game Information
Bryant 45, SEMO 21
Records: Bryant (6-5, 4-2), SEMO (4-7, 3-3)
Location: Beirne Stadium (Smithfield, RI)

Key Moment

• The Bulldogs scored four first-half touchdowns to control the game.

How it Happened

• On their second drive of the game, the Bulldogs only needed two plays to put up the first points of the game. After a Fabrice Mukendi rush, Zevi Eckhaus found Matthew Prochaska downfield for a 67-yard touchdown completion. (7-0)

• On the back of a three and out by the defense, the Black and Gold propelled down the field in a three-play touchdown drive. A one-yard rush by Ryan Clark and an unsportsmanlike conduct call on SEMO moved Byant up to their own 43-yard line. Eckhaus then threw two straight completions, one for 48 yards and the other for 9 yards, to Anthony Frederick to pick up the points. (14-0)

• Starting on their 20-yard line, Bryant only needed six plays to find the endzone. Eckhaus found Jalen Powell on a 27-yard pass to put up six more points. (21-0)

• The RedHawks faked a punt to extend their drive and put them in position for the 1-yard rushing touchdown. (21-7)

• In the Bulldogs' final scoring drive of the first half, Eckhaus threw a dart to Gary Cooper for a 9-yard touchdown. (28-7).

• To start the second half, Eckhaus found Jalen Powell, who snagged the ball with his fingertips for a 14-yard touchdown. It was the pair's second scoring connection of the game. (35-7)

• With a short field, the RedHawks ended a three-play drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown. (35-14)

• Kicker Ethan Gettman finished a 10-play 45-yard drive by kicking into the wind and nailing a 20-yard field goal. (38-14)

• After throwing a 50-yard pass to Anthony Frederick, Eckhaus connected with Konor Lathrop for a 1-yard touchdown pass to increase the Black and Gold lead. (45-14)

• The RedHawks completed a 55-yard drive with a 1-yard run for their third rushing touchdown. (45-21)

Stats

• Eckhaus finished the game going 22-28, tossing for 394 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception. 

• Frederick led the receivers with 118 yards on four catches for one touchdown. Prochaska was right behind Frederick with four receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown.

• Powell caught five passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns.

• Michael Otty fumble recovery (second of year and career)

• Kenny Dyson Jr forced fumble (second on year, third of career)

• Christopher Eaton Jr. forced a fumble. (3 on the year and of career)

• Darnel Shilingford recovered a fumble (second of the year and career).

• Lathrop and Cooper also hauled in a TD.

• Dyson and Austin Edmonds each had two TFLs.

• Michael Otty recorded a sack.

• Dontae Lunan led the team with nine tackles, he also had a pbrup.

Game Notes

• Saturday's game was Bryant's last game in the Big South OVC. They will be moving to the CAA in the 2024 season.

• Eckhaus broke the career touchdown record set by Price Wilson with his second touchdown of the day. Eckhaus now stands atop the category with 75 touchdowns in his career.

• Eckhaus tied the single-game touchdown record by tossing for six scores. He also tied the single-season touchdown record 28 on his fourth-quarter pass to Konor Lathrop.

• Anthony Frederick became the third player in program history to surpass 2000 career yards. With his second-quarter touchdown catch, Frederick also became the second player in program history (Jordan Harris) to record 2000 yards and 20 touchdowns in their career.

• The Black and Gold were only forced into two third-down situations while on offense in the first half.

• Eckhaus found a different receiver for each touchdown in the first half. 

• Eckhaus has now gone four straight games with 300 yards and four touchdowns.

• Saturday was the fourth straight game where Bryant scored 38 or more points.

• Eckhaus has posted 20+ touchdown passes in all three seasons at Bryant, joining Dalton Easton as the only QBs to do so.

• Eckhaus has now thrown for 1,501 (300/game) yards, 22 touchdowns, and just three interceptions in league play. 

• Frederick finishes his career second all-time in receiving TDs with 20.

• Dyson finishes his career tied for third all-time in sacks with 25.5.

• The defense set a DI program record in forced turnovers with 24.

• The Bulldogs had two 100-yard receivers for the first time since last season against Robert Morris.

• Prochaska finishes his career year with 801 yards and four TDs. He had seven catches of 30+ yards this season.

• Lunan ends the year with a team-leading and career-high 61 tackles.

• Dyson finishes 2023 with 36 TKLs, 9 sacks, 1 INT, 2 FFUM, and 10.5 TFL.
• Powell had the first two-score game of his career.
• Otty ends the year with a career-high seven sacks and 12 TFL.