Black prevails, 21-7, in spring game

BLACK WINS ANNUAL BLACK AND GOLD GAME, 21-7

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) caught three passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Black team to a 21-7 victory in the annual Bryant University football Black and Gold Spring Game on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.

Preparing for its first season of full Division I eligibility in the fall, the Bulldogs put on a show for the estimated 1,500 fans in attendance on a perfect spring afternoon. The Black team captained by Michael Perry (Dunmore, Pa.) raced out to 21-0 lead before a late Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) touchdown got the White team on the board.

Bryant's leading receiver last fall, Harris picked up right where he left off. The explosive wideout hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Mike Westerhaus (Farmingville, N.Y.) in the first half and then caught a 70-yard touchdown pass on a flea flicker in the second half.

Eloma Johnson (Franklin, Mass.) scored the first points of the afternoon as he finished a strong drive with a four-yard touchdown run. The nation's leading rusher in the fall, Brown finally found the endzone late in the second half as he scored from three yards out.

Saturday also gave fans a first glimpse at what they could see in the fall. One of the strongest performers on the afternoon was Perry. Lost to injury four games into last season, Perry carried the ball 19 times for 92 yards. Brown finished with 57 yards on 13 carries and Ricardo McCray (Middletown, N.J.) added 27 yards on nine carries.

The most experienced returning quarterback, Westerhaus connected on 13-of-26 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Brian Testorf (Boca Raton, Fla.) was 4-of-11 for 15 yards. Shavoy Lawrence (Paterson, N.J.) hauled in two passes for 28 yards and Tyriq DeShields (Camden, N.J.) added two catches for 42 yards.

Defensively, Brendan Murphy (Totowa, N.J.) had six tackles and also collected an interception for the Black team. Dale Codrignton (Brooklyn, N.Y.) picked up a team-high seven stops. Dominick Mitchell (Silver Spring, Md.) had five tackles for the White team and Mike Bennett (Paterson, N.J.) finished with six tackles and an interception.

Head coach Marty Fine also announced the 2012 team captains prior to the game. Serving as captains will be Brown, Westerhaus, Chris Willadsen (South Windsor, Conn.), Connor McNamara (Sandy Hook, Conn.), Jordan Kelly (Canton, Mass.) and Colin Sullivan (Swansea, Mass.).