Bulldogs Open Season With A Bang; Bryant Football Picks Up 21-0 Win Over AIC Saturday

SMITHFIELD, RI - Before more than 4,000 sunsplashed fans at Bulldog Stadium, the Bryant University football team did what no other Bryant team has done before:  defeat American International.  On Saturday, the Bulldogs held AIC to only 196 yards of total offense in picking up a 21-0 win over the Yellow Jackets in the season opener for both schools.  

The Bulldogs led 7-0 at the half and found the end zone twice in the second half as quarterback Charles Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ) lunged in from a yard out early in the third quarter making it 14:11 while Lorenzo Perry (Providence/La Salle) would score from five yards out early in the fourth to close out the scoring on the afternoon.

Granatell, Bryant’s starting sophomore quarterback, completed 11 of 24 passes for 172 yards including a 57-yard strike to Sean Bergin (New Windsor, NY) down to the AIC one-yard line to set up Granatell’s touchdown run up the middle a play later making it 14-0 Bryant.

Following two near escapes to keep AIC off the scoreboard following a pair of fumbles late in the third, the Bulldogs opened the fourth-quarter with an impressive 99-yard drive to take some precious time off the game clock as Perry, playing in his first season with the Bulldogs after transferring from UMass, scored from five yards out to make it 21-0 with just over 12 minutes left in the game.

Perry had a big day for the Bulldogs with 87 yards rushing while Chris Peaks (Silver Spring, Md.) added 44.  Bryant had 337 yards of total offense and picked off three AIC passes in the game.  Jared Corbin was 9 for 15 passing before leaving the game with an injury.   Marlon Beckles, an all-conference tailback for AIC last year, had just 63 yards on the ground. 

David Boak (pictured) led the way defensively for Bryant with 10 tackles on the day including a pair for a loss. The senior linebacker from Bergenfield, NJ had six solo tackles.  Greg Daniel (Providence, RI) and Andrew McLarty (College Park, Md.) each had nine tackles.  The Bulldogs had four sacks on the day with Jay Stahl (Methuen, Mass.) had 1 1/2 sacks for a loss of 11 yards. 

J.P. Scott (Bronx, NY) had a strong day at cornerback. The former tailback for the Bulldogs, had two pass breakups and one interception in the game.

The shutout win for the Bulldogs is the first since a 26-0 win over Pace in 2002. Official attendance Saturday was 4,310.  Bryant will travel to Merrimack next Saturday for a 1 p.m. game.