Bulldogs welcome Dukes on Homecoming

BULLDOGS HOST DUQUESNE ON HOMECOMING AND REUNION WEEKEND

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With Northeast Conference play kicking into high gear, the Bryant University football team welcomes Duquesne University to Bulldog Stadium for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 22.

ON THE GRIDIRON

The Bulldogs (0-3, 0-1 NEC) enter Saturday looking for their first win of the season but will be tested by the Dukes (2-1, 0-0 NEC). Bryant has had a rough start to the season, allowing nearly 40 points and nearly 500 yards of total offense per game. The Black and Gold are coming off their worst loss in school history, a 44-point drubbing at the hands of the University of Maine last Saturday. Bryant's offense, led by senior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.), has yet to come together, averaging just 251 yards of total offense per game, down 175 yards from last season.

THE SERIES

Saturday will be the fifth meeting between the two schools since both began playing in the Northeast Conference in 2008. The Dukes were a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference prior to the 2008 season and the Bulldogs were just starting their transition to Division I. The teams have split the first four games of the series, with the Black and Gold taking the first two and the Dukes winning each of the last two seasons. Bryant posted a 24-10 victory in 2008 and then shutout the Dukes, 20-0, in 2009. Duquesne, however, has defeated the Bulldogs, 37-29 and 31-28, the last two years.

THE DUKES

Duquesne comes to Smithfield on the heels of back-to-back victories over Dayton and Valparaiso. The Dukes only loss to date came in week one against sixth-ranked Old Dominion. Dating back to last season, the Dukes have won their last five NEC games and are a combined 12-4 over the past two seasons in league play.

The Dukes feature two of the top offensive playmakers in the league and the reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year. Senior quarterback Sean Patterson and senior running back Larry McCoy are both experienced and free safety Serge Kona is a preseason All-American. Patterson threw for over 2,000 yards last season, McCoy is second in active career rushing yards amongst FCS rushers with 3,823 yards and Kona has already intercepted three passes this season.

BROWN VS. MCCOY

Saturday's game will be a battle between two of the best running backs in the country. Bryant's Jordan Brown (3,493) and Duquesne's Larry McCoy (3,823) are 2-3 in active career rushing yards coming into the contest. Brown has compiled 22 100-yard rushing games while McCoy has 21, and Brown's 35 career rushing touchdowns are just four more than McCoy's 31.

HOMECOMING

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend could not have come soon enough for the winless Bulldogs. Under head coach Marty Fine, the Bulldogs are a perfect 8-0 in these games. Bryant defeated Wagner, 30-28, last season and used an 18-point fourth quarter to stun Sacred Heart in 2010.

RECORD IN REACH FOR BROWN

What seemed like it would happen within the first three weeks of the season, appears will happen this Saturday. Jordan Brown enters the game needing just 29 yards to become Bryant's all-time rushing leader. Andre McLeod currently holds the standard with 3,521 rushing yards.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will travel south to Staten Island, N.Y., for a date with Wagner next Saturday, Sept. 29. The NEC contest is set for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at Hameline Field at Wagner College Stadium.