Bulldogs fall on Homecoming, 35-21

FOURTH-QUARTER LEAD DISAPPEARS AS BULLDOGS FALL, 35-21

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) and junior wide receiver Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) both had historic afternoons but Duquesne University scored the final 18 points on the way to a 35-21 win over the Bryant University football team on Homecoming and Reunion Weekend at Bulldog Stadium.

The loss on Homecoming is the first for the Bulldogs (0-4, 0-2 NEC) under head coach Marty Fine and it marks the first time in program history they have gone winless over their first four games. The Dukes (3-1, 1-0 NEC) picked up their sixth-straight Northeast Conference victory and have now defeated Bryant each of the past three seasons.

In a losing effort, Brown and Harris both became Bryant's all-time leaders in rushing and receiving yards, respectively. With a seven-yard run midway through the first quarter, Brown surpassed Andre McLeod for the program record in rushing yardage with 3,523 yards over three-plus seasons. He would finish the game with 105 yards on 28 carries and one touchdown. Harris's 20-yard touchdown reception with four seconds left in the second quarter pushed him past Justin Kix and into first place in career receiving yardage with 1,663 yards. He finished the game with seven catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

For three and half quarters, however, it did not appear that that would be the case. The Black and Gold had built a 21-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter and appeared on their way to an 11-point lead when the game changed dramatically. With first-and-goal from the Duquesne four-yard line, the Bulldogs handed the ball to Brown but as he was nearing the endzone, the ball was knocked free and Duquesne recovered. The Dukes would then cap a 13-play drive with a 39-yard field goal to make it 21-20, and then got a pair of rushing scores from Larry McCoy to take the lead and put the game away.

Bryant jumped out quickly on Saturday, scoring on its first drive of the game. Junior Mike Westerhaus (Farmingville, N.Y.) connected with freshman Chad Ward (Delray Beach, Fla.) for a 20-yard gain and then hit Harris for 21 more yards to put Bryant in Duquesne territory. The Bulldogs eventually moved the ball inside the Dukes 10 and Brown finished the nine-play drive with an eight-yard run. It was his 36^th-career rushing touchdown, tying him with Lorenzo Perry for the program record.

The Bulldogs then had a chance to add to their lead but could not take advantage of great field position. Bryant obtained the great field position as sophomore Ricardo McCray (Middletown, R.I.) broke through and blocked Charlie Leventry's punt attempt out-of-bounds. Starting at the Duquesne 35, the Bulldogs were able to move the ball to the 20 but Dom Kozlowski's (Westford, Mass.) 36-yard field goal attempt to start the second quarter just sailed left.

Duquesne took advantage, tying the game on its very next possession. The Dukes needed just seven plays to drive 80 yards as Sean Patterson connected on five-of-six passes , including a 23-yard strike to Sean Brady with 11:39 to play in the second quarter.

The Dukes then turned an interception into great field position and a touchdown on the very next Bryant drive. Derrick Lakins picked off the pass to start the Dukes at the Bryant 38 and 10 plays later, Patterson hit Noel Oduho in the back of the endzone to make it 14-7.

Bryant eventually got the ball back with 3:25 to play in the half and was able to tie the score. Westerhaus connected with Kelvin Fowler (Gaithersburgh, Md.) for a 30-yard gain to put Bryant into Duquesne territory. The Bulldogs, however, eventually found themselves in a fourth-and-five from the Dukes 29. Kozlowski knocked the 46-yard attempt well through the uprights but a roughing the kicker was called against Duquesne, giving Bryant an automatic first down. Three plays later, Westerhaus threw to the endzone and Harris dove and caught the pass to tie the game at 14-14.

Coming out of the half, Duquesne put together a 15-play drive that ended with a 27-yard field goal to make it 17-14. Patterson completed five passes on the drive and the Dukes took advantage of a pass interference call early in the drive.

Bryant did not stay behind for long, taking the lead on its very next drive. Early in the drive, Westerhaus scrambled to pick up 14 yards and a first down to keep the drive alive, and the Bulldogs followed by converting on a pair of third-and-ones to put the ball inside the Dukes 10. On second-and-goal, Westerhaus again looked to Harris, firing a bullet into the endzone that Harris caught for his second score of the game.

The drive appeared to give the Black and Gold all the momentum as they forced back-to-back three-and-outs from the Dukes. Sophomore Jeff Covitz (Reading, Mass.) sacked Patterson to end the first drive and then provided pressure to force fourth down on the second drive. That's when it looked like Bryant would put the game away. Senior Eloma Johnson (Franklin, Mass.) broke through the blocking and blocked the punt and freshman Brandon Dagnesses (Miami, Fla.) fell on it to give the Bulldogs the ball on the Duquesne 24. The ensuing drive, however, would end in the fumble and lead to Duquesne's fourth-quarter comeback.

Westerhaus finished 17-for-36 for 276 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Fowler caught two passes for 63 yards. Freshman Charles Wingate (Englewood, N.J.) led the Bulldogs with a career-high 12 tackles. Bryant matched a season-high with four turnovers on the afternoon.

Bryant will now head on the road, traveling to Staten Island, N.Y., to face Wagner College next weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.