Football opens NEC play at SFU

BULLDOGS OPEN NEC PLAY AT SAINT FRANCIS (PA) ON SATURDAY (12p)

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off a sloppy season-opening loss to Marist last weekend, the Bryant University football team will look to get back on track as it opens Northeast Conference play with a trip to Loretto, Pa., to face Saint Francis (PA) on Saturday, Sept. 8.

WHEN AND WHERE

The Bulldogs and Red Flash will clash on DeGol Field at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. The NEC-opener for both teams, Saturday's game can be heard live on 1240 WOON and watched live on NECFrontRow.com.

THE SERIES

Saturday's contest will be the fifth meeting between the two teams since the Bulldogs moved to Division I in 2008. The Black and Gold have won each of the four games, including last season's 45-34 victory at Bulldog Stadium. In their four wins, the Bulldogs have averaged nearly 38 points per game. They also collected one of their two shutouts as a DI program against the Red Flash, posting a 23-0 blanking in the final game of the 2008 season.

LAST SEASON

Bryant and Saint Francis (PA) combined for nearly 1,000 total yards at Bulldog Stadium last November. The Bulldogs built a 24-7 lead in the second quarter but the Red Flash pulled within three, 31-28, on A.J. Alexander's second 38-yard touchdown reception of the game in the third quarter. Bryant immediately responded with a touchdown of its own and Jordan Harris's 23-yard touchdown reception with 8:17 remaining sealed the 45-34 victory. Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) rushed for 243 yards and three touchdowns in the game.

SCOUTING THE RED FLASH

Saint Francis (PA) is coming off a tough season-opening loss to No. 5 James Madison, 55-7. The Red Flash were outgained 602-155 in the game and managed just nine first downs. SFU received even worse news on Wednesday as it was released that star running back Kyle Harbridge will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Harbridge rushed for over 1,400 yards last year but saw the season come to an abrupt halt in the final game as he left the game against Bryant after the first play.

The Red Flash still feature one of the best threats in the league, however, in wide receiver and kick returner A.J. Alexander. A hometown guy from Altoona, Pa., Alexander played his first two seasons at Florida State before returning to SFU last season. He caught a pair of 38-yard touchdown scores against the Bulldogs in last year's contest. 

Jake DeMedal and Terrace Bourne both provide experience on the defensive side of the ball. DeMedal recorded 78 tackles a season ago and Bourne picked up a team-high six sacks in his rookie campaign in 2011.

HARRIS CLOSE TO BECOMING PROGRAM'S LEADING RECEIVER

After hauling in six passes for 82 yards in the Bulldogs' opener last weekend, junior Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) finds himself in second-place in receiving yards in program history. Harris needs just 107 receiving yards to tie Justin Kix's ('06) record of 1,650.

KEYSTONE STATE KIND TO BULLDOGS

Since moving to the Division I ranks in 2008, the Black and Gold have posted a 5-1 record in the state of Pennsylvania. Their only loss came last season in Pittsburgh, Pa., against Duquesne. The Bulldogs have won both games they have played at DeGol Field.

ROAD WOES

The Bulldogs have posted a 9-12 record away from Bulldog Stadium over the past four seasons. Last season, the Bulldogs were 3-2 on the road, their first winning season on the road since the 2008 season.

UP NEXT

Following Saturday's conference-opener, the Bulldogs will return to Bulldog Stadium for a matchup with the University of Maine. It will be the first time a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) will play in Smithfield.