CROCE THROWS FOR CAREER-BEST 314 YARDS BUT BULLDOGS FALL IN FINALE TO DUQUESNE, 37-29

November 20, 2010

BRYANT FALLS TO DUQUESNE 37-29 IN SEASON FINALE SATURDAY; BULLDOGS FINISH THE YEAR 7-4 IN ONLY THE PROGRAM'S THIRD YEAR OF DIVISION I

POSTGAME NOTES ...

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Duquesne sophomore quarterback Sean Patterson ran, threw and caught a touchdown pass and running back Larry McCoy rushed for 160 yards on 27 carries as the visiting Dukes downed host Bryant University 37-29 Saturday at Bulldog Stadium. 

Junior quarterback Mike Croce (above) threw for a career best 314 yards against Duquesne Saturday, only three yards shy of the school record of 317 yards passing in a game.

Bryant ends its third year competing at the Division I level with a 7-4 overall record and 4-4 in the Northeast Conference.  It was the Bulldogs' first loss at home this season as Bryant came into Saturday's game a perfect 6-0 at home and 29-4 all-time under coach Marty Fine.

A turnover on its first possession gave the ball over to Duquesne and the Dukes were able to turn the mistake into a 39-yard field goal as the visitors jumped out in front 3-0.  But the Bulldogs would answer as quarterback Mike Croce (Waterbury, Conn.) connected with a 34-yard pass downfield to freshman wide receiver Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.).

After a Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) run, Croce hit tight end Matt Tracey (Littleton, Colo.) for a 12 yard touchdown.  Duquesne (7-4, 5-3) was whistled for two penalties on the ensuing extra point try. With the ball on the 1 yard line, the Bulldogs opted to go for the 2-point conversion where senior Michael Canfora (Verona, N.J.) barreled his way in to make it 8-3 Bulldogs.

Duquesne, however, would steal the momentum right back as Patterson broke through up the middle for a 56-yard touchdown run with a minute left in the quarter to regain the lead, 10-8. 

A Bryant fumble on the ensuing kick returned gave the ball back to the Dukes who would answer one play later as Patterson connected with Sean Buenevich for a 27-yard score.

Canfora would bring the Bulldogs to within 17-15 with his 10^th rushing touchdown of the season, however an Eric Dale 33-yard field goal would send Duquesne into the locker room at the half leading 20-15.

A Patterson 48-yard touchdown pass to Dave Williams accounted for the only points for either team in the third quarter as Duquesne stretched its lead to 27-15 and a little trickery to start the fourth provided some momentary insurance.

Faced with a third and four yards to go just outside the red zone, Patterson pitched the ball to running back Bill Bair who ran a few steps before throwing back to Patterson for a 26-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 34-15.

Bryant would answer with an 11-play drive engineered by Croce who looked sharp in spreading the ball around to receivers Khalel Pritchard (Boston, Mass.), Jim Mullane (Hudson, Mass.) and Canfora before hitting Tracey with a 1-yard score in the back of the end zone to make it 34-23.

But Patterson came up big when the Dukes needed it on the team's next possession.

Faced with a third down and just under eight minutes left, Patterson connected with senior flanker Connor Dixon across the middle who made a spectacular one-handed grab to pick up a key first down for the Dukes.  The play would lead to another field goal by Dale to make it 37-23.

Croce would complete a 17-yard pass play to Canfora to move the Bulldogs all the way down to the Duquesne 7-yard line.  After DU's Zach Richert sacked Croce for a loss of 10 yards, the Bulldogs were able to get most of the yards back, but facing fourth and goal, Croce couldn't handle another low centering snap and was forced to take another sack, giving the ball back over to Duquesne with just over four minutes remaining.

Bryant would get the ball back and answered quickly as Croce hit Tracey for a 21-yard score.  But the extra point attempt was blocked, keeping the score 37-29. 

Croce had a huge day for the Bulldogs, completing 25 of 38 passes two eight different receivers for a career-high 314 yards and two touchdowns.  He finished the game only three yards shy of the school record for yards passing in a game of 317 held by Tony Granieri in 1999.

The Bulldogs had 469 yards of total offense and ran 86 plays on the afternoon but managed to score only three times in six trips inside the Duquesne red zone.  

Tracey finished the day with a career-high seven catches for 113 yards, just 14 yards shy of the school record for receiving yards in a game.

The game marked the final in the career of senior linebacker Jason Riffe (Newton, Mass.) who concludes his Bryant career with a school record 249 tackles.  His efforts this season didn't go unnoticed as he has been invited to participate in the upcoming Senior Bowl game in December.