BRYANT FOOTBALL TRAVELS TO SAINT FRANCIS (PA) FOR FINAL ROAD GAME OF 2010

November 4, 2010

BRYANT FOOTBALL TRAVELS TO SAINT FRANCIS (PA) FOR FINAL ROAD GAME OF 2010
Bulldogs Seek First Road Win After Starting 5-0 at Home

Game Notes / Radio / Live Stats

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University football team enters Saturday's game 5-3 overall and 2-3 in Northeast Conference play following a Week 9 victory over Albany, 24-7. The Bulldogs are looking for their first road win of the season after starting a remarkable 5-0 at home.

Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. and the Bulldogs can be heard on WOON 1240 AM with John McCarthy calling the play-by-play and Pete Royce providing in-game analysis. Fans outside the listening area can hear all the action on www.bryantbulldogs.com. Links for both audio and live stats can be found on the Bryant Athletics Website.

Saturday's game marks just the third meeting all-time between Bryant and Saint Francis (PA), with the Bulldogs holding a 2-0 series lead after defeating the Red Flash, 35-12, at Bulldog Stadium on November 14, 2009. Bryant took the first ever head-head-to-head tilt, 23-0, in Loretto, Pa. on November 22, 2008.

Saint Francis (PA) enters the contest 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the NEC after falling short in a shootout to #22/20 Cal Poly, 41-33, last Saturday.  The Red Flash currently sit ninth in the Northeast Conference standings after nine weeks of play and look to get back on track after dropping their last five outings.

Bryant head coach Marty Fine, now in his seventh season, enters Saturday's game with a 44-27 (.619) record since arriving at Bryant in 2004. He has led the Bulldogs to four winning seasons, including an impressive 7-4 campaign in 2008, Bryant's first at the Division I level. Fine led the Bulldogs to back-to-back NE-10 conference championships and NCAA Division II playoff appearances in 2006 and 2007.

Chris Villarrial was named the 25th head coach of the Saint Francis(PA) University football program on December 20, 2009, after serving one year as the offensive coordinator under predecessor Dave Opfar.  Villarial has mustered together a 1-7 record in his first year at the helm and has generated a 1-4 record in NEC play.

In his first season in Loretto as the offensive coordinator, Villarrial designed and implemented a successful West Coast Offense that saw the Red Flash improve from 11.4. ppg in 2008 to 15.6 ppg in 2009. Saint Francis (PA) also averaged over 100 rushing yards per game after averaging just 70.1 rushing yards per game in 2008. Villarrial had two players –lineman Cody Kekipi and wide receiver Antoine Rivera – named to the all-Northeast Conference first or second team.  Villarrial helped the Red Flash to an improved record after a winless season in 2008, finishing 2-9 overall and 1-7 in conference.

QUICK HITS

-The Bulldogs are 5-0 at home this season following a 24-7 win over Albany in Week 8.  This marks Bryant's best start in Bulldog Stadium all-time.

-The Black and Gold are seeking their ninth win against NEC teams after Bryant matched its season win total of five from last season with last Saturday's victory over Albany.

-The Bulldogs are 0-3 on the road but have never finished a season without a road victory in their 11 year history.

-The Black and Gold lead the conference in scoring with 30.0 points per game, punt return average (22.5) and kickoff coverage (40.1 net avg.).

-In addition to leading the NEC in total scoring per game, the Bulldogs have generated more touchdowns (34) than any other team in the league.

-The Bulldogs are second in the league in rushing offense, churning out 177.6 yards per game on the ground. The Bulldogs defense has held opponents to just 160.1 yards rushing per game, good enough for fifth in the conference.

-The Black and Gold ranks first in the league in punt return average with 22.5 yards per punt and average 20.7 yards per kick return.

-Jordan Brown received his second Gold Helmet Award of the season following a career-high 200 yard performance against Albany in Week 8. He is the first Bryant player to receive this major award twice in the same season

-Brown leads the NEC in rushing yards per game (130.5), rushing touchdowns (11), points per game (10.5) and all-purpose yards per game (189.2).

-Jason Riffe is currently third in the conference with 90 tackles but is first in sacks (7.0) and tied for first in tackles for a loss (11.5).

—Defensive back Samad Wagstaff leads the conference in several categories including passes defended (8) and interception returns for touchdowns (2). Wagstaff is also third in interceptions and second in interception return yards.