BULLDOGS HOST DUQUESNE IN SEASON FINALE; BRYANT LOOKS TO FINISH 7-0 AT HOME

November 18, 2010

SENIOR DAY 2010: BULLDOGS HOST DUQUESNE IN SEASON FINALE; BRYANT LOOKS TO FINISH 7-0 AT HOME

Game Notes / Radio / Webcast / Live Stats

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University football team enters Saturday's game 7-3 overall and 4-3 in Northeast Conference play following a 27-21 upset win over then-#25 Robert Morris last Saturday. The Bulldogs welcome Duquesne University (6-4, 4-3) to Bulldog Stadium, marking the seventh and final home game this season for the Black and Gold.

Saturday's matchup is just the third meeting all-time between Bryant and Duquesne, with the Bulldogs holding a 2-0 series lead, having last defeated the Dukes, 20-0, in Pittsburgh, Pa. on November 21, 2009. Bryant took the first head-to-head tilt, 24-10, on November 1, 2008 in Bulldog Stadium.

Bryant has a perfect 6-0 record at home this season for the first time in program history and will be seeking its eighth win overall to match a single-season Bryant football record, which was last accomplished in 2007.

Saturday's outing also marks 2010 Senior Day, as the Bulldogs recognize the 35 players and managers who will partake in their final game for the Black and Gold. This senior class has won a combined 27 games over the past four years, earned a Northeast-10 Conference championships, played in a one NCAA playoff games and helped build the foundation for a successful Division I program.

Bryant head coach Marty Fine, now in his seventh season, enters Saturday's game with a 46-27 (.630) record since arriving at Bryant in 2004. He has led the Bulldogs to five 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.

Duquesne head coach Jerry Schmitt is in his sixth season at the helm and has posted a 31-29 (.517) record since the 2005 season. In Schmitt's first season, the Dukes posted a 7-3 record (4-0 in the MAAC) and finished with a No. 3 national ranking in The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10 Poll. The 2005 Dukes finished ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense among all I-AA programs.

In year two, Schmitt again led DU to a 7-3 record (3-1 in the MAAC) and the Dukes' eighth-consecutive MAAC championship as the team finished ranked sixth in The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10 Poll. The 2006 Dukes ranked second nationally in passing offense and 15th in total offense.

In 2007, Duquesne won a share of its ninth-consecutive MAAC title in posting a 6-4 overall record. Two years ago, the Dukes — in their first season as a scholarship program since the 1950s — went 3-7 in the school's inaugural season in the NEC and followed that with a 3-8 record in 2009.

Kickoff is slated for 12 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 can watch every minute on www.bryantbulldogs.tv, and links for audio, video and live stats can be found on the Bryant Athletics Website (WWW.BRYANTBULLDOGS.COM).

 QUICK HITS

— Bryant football defeated a nationally ranked opponent for the first time since transitioning to Division I membership last Saturday.

— The Bulldogs remain unbeaten against Robert Morris, owning a 3-0 series lead after Saturday's 27-21 victory.

— Bryant football is now 8-0 against Northeast Conference teams from Pennsylvania since joining the NEC.

— Bryant is now 12-9 against conference opponents since transitioning to Division I prior to the 2008 season and has won at least four NEC games in three-straight years.

— With two rushing touchdowns against the Colonials, the Bulldogs have now amassed 27 rushing touchdowns as a team this season, good for second-most in program history.

— The Bryant defense recorded three interceptions against the Colonials and now has 14 on the season. Bryant is just two picks short of setting the single-season record for interceptions (15).

— After registering 27 points against Robert Morris, the Bulldogs have racked up 315 points this season, second most in school history.

— Samad Wagstaff's 90-yard interception return was the longest return for a score in school history, and he is now tied for most interceptions in a career with 11 (Jesse Lewis '04).

— Jordan Brown eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the ninth time this season and has amassed 1,311 yards rushing on just 247 carries in 2010. Brown is averaging 131.1 yards per game, good for fifth in the nation, and 5.3 yards per touch. He is ranked first in the NEC in rushing touchdowns (15), total rushing yards (1,311), rushing yards per game (131.1) and all-purpose yards per game (179.2).

— Wideout Khalel Pritchard had a game-high 79 yards receiving on just three receptions, averaging more than 26 yards per catch. Pritchard is now fourth on the team with 13 receptions for 212 yards.