Bulldogs ground Skyhawks, 42-7

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team scored 21 first-half points and racked up 476 total yards on their way to a decisive, 42-7, win over Stonehill College on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.

Junior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) led the offensive charge with 228 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries, and the quartet of freshman Ricardo McCray (Middletown, R.I.), junior Isaac Whitworth (Milton, Mass.) and seniors Eloma Johnson (Franklin, Mass.) and Zach Wilson (Yarmouthport, Mass.) combined for 102 yards on 23 carries and two scores as the Bulldogs out-rushed Stonehill 329-35. Brown amassed 269 all-purpose yards, becoming just the second player in program history with 4,000 all-purpose yards in a career (4,107).

The Bulldogs were stymied on their first drive as Brown was stopped on a fourth-and-one but he made sure the Black and Gold were not denied the second time they got the ball. On second and four, he hit his hole and raced down the sideline 75 yards to the Stonehill four. Two players later he scored from two yards out to put the Bulldogs up, 7-0.

Bryant's defense held its ground on the next Skyhawks drive and the Bulldogs needed just four plays to put more points on the board. Senior quarterback Mike Croce (Waterbury, Conn.) started the second quarter by hitting sophomore wide receiver Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) for a 52-yard gain to the Stonehill five. Bryant then spread the wealth around and gave the ball to Wilson two plays later, and he barreled it in from three yards out for his first-career rushing touchdown.

It was another big pass-play that helped Bryant pad its lead just over three minutes later. Moments after the Bulldogs fumbled the ball away, Stonehill gave it right back as Jamal Johnson fumbled and senior linebacker Franck Tebou (Mattapoisett, Mass.) recovered on the Skyhawks 35. Bryant went to the air on the first play of the drive and freshman wide receiver Jose DePadua (Hagerstown, Md.) made an outstanding grab, leaping and snaring Croce's pass with two defenders draped on his back. That put the Bulldogs on the two-yard line and Brown dove in two plays later for the 21-0 lead.

It was a sloppy first half by both teams, with the teams combining for five turnovers. The Skyhawks fumbled the ball twice and senior defensive back Samad Wagstaff (New Rochelle, N.Y.) intercepted Logan Meyer's pass in the endzone to put a stop to the Skyhawks first drive of the game. The interception was Wagstaff's first of the year and his 12^th-career interception, giving him a program record.

The second half was more of the same for the Bulldogs, the only snag a 22-yard touchdown catch by John Gomes in the back of the endzone that gave Stonehill its first points with 1:37 remaining in the third quarter.

Bryant wasted no time adding to the lead in the third frame, scoring on its first possession. The Skyhawks had the ball first but their drive ended at the Bryant 30 when freshman Sebastian Amedee (Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.) made a great open-field tackle on fourth down to give the Bulldogs the ball. It took the Bulldogs just four plays to score as Brown put forth an electrifying run, dodging two blockers and then cutting the ball back across the field. The play ended 58 yards later with Brown in the endzone and the Bulldogs with a 28-0 lead.

The Bulldogs put the game away in the fourth quarter with a staunch defense and quality ball control. Bryant allowed Stonehill to gain just one first down in the final stanza and held the ball for over 10 minutes. The Bulldogs answered Stonehill's only score with a score of their own to start the fourth. Croce hit Harris at the Skyhawks 12 and Harris bolted towards the corner of the endzone, dove and hit the pylon with the ball for his third touchdown of the year.

Inserted as the backup running back last week against Duquesne, McCray earned quality carries in the final frame. Of his 12 carries, 10 came during one drive in the fourth quarter. Bryant started its drive with 11:19 on the clock and proceeded to run the ball 13 times and killed 6:55 off the clock. McCray appeared to score his first-career touchdown when he broke free of a tackle and took it 36 yards to pay dirt but the run was called back due to offensive holding. Unfazed, McCray continued to chug along and eventually drove it home from five yards out to cap the Bulldogs' scoring with the first touchdown of his career.

Bryant received an outstanding effort from its defensive line on the afternoon, limiting the Skyhawks to only 35 yards on the ground. Tebou made a career-high 12 tackles and seven other Bulldogs had at least five tackles. Tyler Carter (Baltimore, Md.), Paul Hanley (Leicester, Mass.) and Jordan Kelly (Canton, Mass.) all had six stops.

With Brown shouldering most of the load, Croce threw the ball just 13 times, completing seven for 147 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Harris' two catches totaled 87 yards, and Matt Tracey (Littleton, Colo.) added a pair of catches for 17 yards.

Entering as a replacement for the injured Meyer in the first quarter, Jesse Hunt finished 12-of-28 for 221 yards and a touchdown for Stonehill. Jermetrius Troy and Gomes each caught five passes on the afternoon for 84 and 75 yards, respectively.

Bryant has now won eight-straight games against Stonehill and will continue its two-game homestand next Saturday, Oct. 15, vs. Monmouth. The Northeast Conference battle begins at 1:00 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.