Brown's late TD lifts Bulldogs over RMU

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Sophomore Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) blocked a punt with 1:16 remaining in the fourth quarter and junior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored the game-winning touchdown with a 10-yard run three plays later as the Bryant University football team rallied to defeat Robert Morris, 34-27, Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium.

The Bulldogs (5-3, 3-2 NEC) had just scored to tie the game with 3:16 remaining when the Colonials (2-5, 2-2 NEC) drove to the Bryant 45. Their drive stalled there, though, as freshman Dujuan Heath (Brookly, N.Y.) sacked Steve Sinclair for an 11-yard loss on first down before back-to-back passes forced a fourth down. It was a clean snap but Harris broke through the blocking coverage and got a hand on the ball. The Bulldogs recovered the ball at the Robert Morris 25.

Bryant went to work as senior quarterback Mike Croce (Waterbury, Conn.) hit classmate Matthew Hunt (Greenbrook, N.J.) for an 11-yard gain on first down. Brown carried it four yards on the next play and then ran untouched into the end zone to give the Bulldogs the lead.

In snapping a two-game losing streak in conference play, the Bulldogs defeated Robert Morris for the fourth-straight time and ever never lost to the Colonials. They also snapped RMU's eight-game home winning streak that had spanned back to Sept. 26, 2009, a 20-13 Bulldogs victory.

Trailing, 20-13, at the half, the Bulldogs had rallied to tie the game, 20-20, with 5:20 left in the third quarter. Sinclair's third touchdown pass of the game with 6:41 left in the game, however, put Bryant back down by seven with its back against the wall.

The Black and Gold responded with an eight-play, 63-yard drive to knot the score, 27-27. Back-to-back completions to Harris (13 yards) and Hunt (12 yards) moved the Bulldogs into Colonial territory, and they kept the drive alive with a 17-yard completion to Brown on third-and-15. That set up a first-and-goal from the eight, and after a false starter, Croce, throwing under duress, lofted a pass into the back of the end zone that senior tight end Matt Tracey (Littleton, Colo.) made an over-the-shoulder catch to tie the score.

It was Tracey's second touchdown grab of the game and the 17^th of his career. His first TD reception came in the third quarter to tie the game, 20-20. The drive started ominously as a 27-yard run by Brown was called back on a holding call. Facing second-and-18, Tracey hauled in a Croce pass for 16 yards, and Brown hit a hole for 47 yards to put Bryant on the RMU 17. Tracey made another terrific grab three plays later, ripping the ball away from a Colonial defender at the four-yard line. Two plays later, he found himself wide open in the back of the end zone and Croce found him for the score.

The strong second half overshadowed a first half in which the Colonials dominated. RMU picked up 18 first downs in the half and put up 246 yards of total offense. Trailing, 6-0, the RMU drove 57 yards in 14 plays, capping it with a 22-yard field goal to pull within three.

Robert Morris took its first lead in the second quarter, with Sinclair capping an 80-yard drive by hitting Shadrae King for a 12-yard touchdown. A personal foul gave the Colonials a first down at the Bulldogs' 12, and Sinclair hit King in the corner of the end zone on the very next play.

The lead was short lived as Bryant drove 73 yards in just five plays to regain the lead. Croce hit Tracey for gains of 15 and 8 on consecutive passes before rifling a pass between two defenders that Harris bobbled and then controlled for a 34-yard touchdown reception. Harris has now caught a touchdown pass in five-straight games.

RMU went right back on the offensive, capping a 10-play drive with a touchdown to take a 17-13 lead. Sinclair rushed for 16 yards on second down to push the Colonials into Bryant territory, and got some help from receiver Anthony Coleman as he made a diving catch in the end zone.

Starting the game with the ball, Bryant needed just two plays to take the lead. After consecutive offside calls against RMU, Brown hit a hole and scampered 49 yards down the far sideline to pay dirt. Brown finished the afternoon with 179 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries and amassed 237 all-purpose yards. Needing just 49 yards to tie Jerell Smith's program record in all-purpose yards, Brown tied it on the scoring run and broke it on the next drive. He now has 4,616 all-purpose yards in his career.

Tracey caught eight passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns and Harris hauled in three passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. Ricardo McCray (Middletown, R.I.) and Brown caught two passes for 27 yards, and Hunt had two catches for 23 yards. Croce finished 20-of-28 for 249 yards and three touchdowns.

Bryant's defense stepped up in the second half and was led by Jeremy Woodson's (Fresno, Texas) career-high 13 tackles. Max Machado (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) had 12 stops and also picked off Sinclair in the third quarter. Jordan Kelly (Canton, Mass.) and Heath had 1.5 sacks each. They limited RMU to 2-of-7 on third-down conversions in the second half after a 6-of-8 showing in the first. Bryant limited the Colonials to just 112 yards in the second half.

Deontae Howard rushed for 62 yards on 16 carries, Sinclair threw for 227 yards and three scores and King caught six passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.

The Bulldogs will enjoy a bye week next week, returning to the gridiron on Saturday, Nov. 5, when they visit conference-lead the University at Albany Great Danes.