Bulldogs out to clip Hawks

Game Notes

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off a season-high 42-point output vs. Stonehill College last weekend, the Bryant University football team welcomes Monmouth University to Bulldog Stadium for a Northeast Conference battle on Saturday, Oct. 15.

Having wrapped up non-conference play and entering the second half of the season, the Bulldogs (4-2, 2-1 NEC) will set their sights on an NEC Regular Season championship. Bryant is currently tied for third place with Duquesne, and a half-game behind unbeatens Albany and Robert Morris. Those two teams play this weekend, meaning a Bulldog win on Saturday would keep them a half-game out with games against both opponents still remaining.

Earning a victory on Saturday, however, will take a complete game from the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball. Bryant has never defeated the Hawks (2-3, 1-1 NEC), dropping all three contests to date. The Hawks come to Smithfield having lost their last two games, but they have already proven this year that they can beat anyone. Monmouth earned back-to-back wins over Villanova and NEC preseason favorite Central Connecticut at the end of September but have followed that with consecutive losses to Robert Morris and Colgate.

Monmouth enters Saturday's game as one of the premier run-stopping units in the conference, allowing only 126.8 yards per game and just over three yards per carry. Lineman Ian Simon has caused problems for opponents all year, racking up a league-high five sacks so far this season. They have been a bit inconsistent, though, on that front. The Hawks allowed 212 yards rushing last week and 183 in week one, but they also allowed just 14 yards rushing on 35 carries against Robert Morris two weeks ago.

One thing that has been consistent for the Hawks is quarterback Kyle Frazier. In his final year in West Long Branch, Frazier has asserted himself as one of the premier signal callers in the conference. He enters this weekend having thrown for 1,066 yards and four touchdowns. Frazier leads the conference in yards per game (213.2) and completion percentage (64.6). If no one is open, he can take it himself too - he's averaging 34.4 yards per game on the ground.

Don't expect Bryant to back down either. Junior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) has been the key for the Bulldogs offense for most of the season, but fans could see the ball in the air a bit more this weekend. Brown leads the nation in rushing yards per game (161.5) and all-purpose yards per game (236.67) but was limited to just 67 yards on 27 carries last season against Monmouth. That means senior quarterback Mike Croce (Waterbury, Conn.) could find himself dropping back more than usual. He's averaging 131.2 yards per game but has been sacked nine times – a stat Monmouth has 11 of on the year.

Saturday's game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff, and is the last home game for the Bulldogs until they host Saint Francis (PA) on Nov. 12.