Empire State of Mind for Bulldogs

Game Notes

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off its bye week, a rested and rejuvenated Bryant University football team will travel to Albany, N.Y., on Saturday, Nov. 5, to face Northeast Conference leader, the University at Albany.

After completing a thrilling second-half comeback against Robert Morris on Oct. 22, the Bulldogs (5-3, 3-2 NEC) had a chance to rest up and prepare for their showdown with the Great Danes (6-2, 5-0 NEC).

They face an Albany team that has won six games in a row and has torched NEC competition. The Great Danes are coming off a 24-0 victory over Wagner this past weekend in white-out conditions in Staten Island, N.Y. With 20mph winds and heavy snow at times, the Great Danes defense held its ground and junior running back Andrew Smith rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks. For his efforts, Smith was awarded NEC Offensive Player of the Week honors, marking the third consecutive week an Albany player has won the award. Senior signal-caller Dan Di Lella had won the award the previous two weeks, leading the Great Danes to a pair of victories over Robert Morris and Central Connecticut. Against the Blue Devils, Di Lella accounted for six touchdowns, including a school record five touchdown passes.

Smith and Di Lella lead a high-powered offense that leads the conference in scoring offense (35.9) and total offense (423.1). Smith averages 90 yards per game and has scored seven times on the ground, while Di Lella has thrown for 1,610 yards and 16 touchdowns. With Smith leading the way, the Great Danes feature a balanced running game with four players over the 240-yard mark. Omar Osbourne averages 36.6 a game and has scored three times, Di Lella has rushed for 253 yards and Dillon Romain has scored five touchdowns on the year.

While the Great Danes were battling the Seahawks and the weather, the Bulldogs were enjoying a much needed week off. They will travel to New York's capitol hoping that their late game magic against Robert Morris has yet to rub off. Bryant trailed, 20-13, at the half but outscored the Colonials, 21-7, in the second half to snap a two-game conference losing streak. Sophomore Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) started the winning drive with a blocked punt at midfield and junior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored three plays later, with just 32 seconds remaining, to give the Bulldogs the victory.

On Saturday, Bryant will hope to exploit the Great Danes' rush defense which ranks seventh in the NEC. To do so, the Black and Gold will need another big week out of Brown. The nation's leading rusher with 1,308 yards, Brown was added to the illustrious Walter Payton Award Watch List last week, given to the FCS' Offensive Player of the Year. He's rushed for 100 yards in every game this season. Senior quarterback Mike Croce (Waterbury, Conn.) will also look to build off a solid showing against RMU in which he complete 20-of-28 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bulldogs and Great Danes have split the two previous meetings, with the Bulldogs claiming a 24-7 victory last year in Smithfield. Albany defeated Bryant, 20-17, at University Field in 2009. Bryant will also look to knock off a conference unbeaten for the second year in a row after defeating Robert Morris last year at home.

Kickoff for Saturday's game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at University Field.