Back to PA: Bryant travels to RMU

Game Notes

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Searching for its first Northeast Conference victory in nearly a month, the Bryant University football team travels to Moon Township, Pa., to take on Robert Morris University this Saturday, Oct. 22.

The Bulldogs (4-3, 2-2 NEC) started the year with consecutive conference victories over Sacred Heart and Wagner, but have dropped their last two by a combined eight points to Duquesne and Monmouth. It won't get any easier on Saturday, as they face a Colonials (2-4, 2-1 NEC) team that won last year's NEC Regular Season championship and has won two of its last three games.

Bryant's most recent nail-biter came at the hands of Monmouth this past weekend. Trailing by as much as 19 at one point, the Bulldogs staged a late rally and even game themselves a chance to win it in the final minute of play. Junior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored on runs of two and 38 yards, and senior tight end Matt Tracey (Littleton, Colo.) caught an 11-yard touchdown reception to pull Bryant within five, 40-35, with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Bryant eventually got the ball back and drove to the Monmouth six, but Mike Croce's (Waterbury, Conn.) pass on fourth-and-one was broken up with 1:03 remaining, giving the ball, and the game, to the Hawks.

Robert Morris, a six-time NEC Champion, returns home after a 28-17 loss to Albany last Saturday. The game featured the last two unbeaten teams in the conference and gave Albany sole possession of first place. RMU fell behind 21-0 at the half and never could recover, despite outscoring the Great Danes, 17-7, in the second half. Junior quarterback Jeff Sinclair had a strong day for the Colonials, rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown, and throwing for 158 yards and a score.

The Bulldogs have had success against Robert Morris in the short history between the two programs, winning all three games of the series. The most exciting one might have come last year when the Bulldogs upset then-No. 25 Robert Morris, 27-21, at Bulldog Stadium. It was Bryant's first victory over a ranked FCS opponent and the Colonials first, and only, loss in NEC play. In that game, the Bulldogs scored 20-straight first-half points thanks to a Brown touchdown run and a pair of interception returns for touchdowns – the second a program record 90-yard return by then-junior Samad Wagstaff (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – and held on for the six-point victory.

Saturday's contest will be a battle of strengths as the Bulldogs feature the nation's top rusher in Brown, and the Colonials feature the 18^th-ranked rush defense, allowing just over 100 yards per game on the ground. Furthermore, if Brown is able to gain 100 yards on the ground for the eighth-straight week, he'll do it against a defense that has yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season.

When the Colonials have the ball, it will be Sinclair and senior tight end Shadrae King the Bulldogs will have to watch carefully. Although Bryant picked off Sinclair three times last season, the junior has proven to be one of the most versatile quarterbacks in the conference, throwing eight touchdown passes, and rushing for four others. King has been his go-to target for the past three years, as the two have hooked up for 14 touchdowns, the second-most in RMU history. Playing in his final year at RMU, King has set the program record for career receptions (122) and has caught 20 touchdown passes, two shy of breaking the record.

The Bulldogs will enjoy a bye week following the long bus ride to Robert Morris and return to the gridiron on Saturday, Nov. 5, when they visit the New York state capital to take on the University at Albany.