Football welcomes Albany Sat. [12p]

BULLDOGS AND GREAT DANES MEET ON NATIONAL TV SATURDAY [12pm]

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – For the first time in school history, the Bryant University football team play at home on national TV as it welcomes the University at Albany to Bulldog Stadium this Saturday, October 6 at 12:00 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox College Sports, ESPN3, Cox (RI) and Time Warner Cable (Albany).

SATURDAY AT BULLDOG STADIUM

 The Bulldogs welcome Albany in search of their first win of the season. It is the first time the Black and Gold will play at home on national TV.

LAST TIME OUT

The Bulldogs held a 14-10 lead midway through the third quarter before Wagner scored the next 14 points and held on for a 31-21 victory last Saturday. It was the third time this season the Bulldogs have held a lead in third quarter and have not won.

A pair of Jordan Harris touchdown receptions – 38 and 54 – gave Bryant a 14-10 lead but an interception changed the momentum in Wagner's favor. The Seahawks would score on their next two possessions, building a 24-14 lead after three quarters. A one-yard TD run by Jordan Brown moved Bryant within three and a Jeremy Woodson blocked field goal attempt gave the Bulldogs the ball back with just over six minutes to play. Wagner's defense held, however, and they tacked on a late score.

Harris caught nine passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns and Brown rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown in defeat. Colin Sullivan led the defense with 12 tackles and Jeff Covitz picked up two sacks.

LAST YEAR IN ALBANY

Trailing 17-10 at the half, Bryant outscored Albany 21-0 in the second half on its way to a 31-17 victory. It was the only loss in league play for the Great Danes last season. Mike Croce threw for a program-record 328 yards and Jordan Harris racked up a program-record 224 receiving yards in the victory. He caught a pair of touchdown passes five minutes apart in the third quarter to put Bryant up for good. Bryant limited Albany to just 82 yards of total offense in the second half, while racking up 344 yards of its own.

SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES

The preseason favorite to win the Northeast Conference's bid to the NCAA tournament, Albany has been just as good as advertised so far this season. They come to Smithfield on the heels of a dominating55-24 victory over Monmouth and a 30-20 victory over 23rd-ranked Maine in week four. Albany leads the conference in scoring offense and is averaging just over 400 yards per game. The Great Danes only loss this season came at the hands of 5th-ranked Youngstown State, 31-24.

Albany is led by dynamic running back Drew Smith and the talented receiver combo of Ryan Kirchner and Cole King. Smith has rushed for an even 100 yards per game, Kirchner doubles as a kick returnspecialist and King is averaging 17 yards per catch and has caught 4 touchdowns. Quarterback Will Fiacchi is completing 60 percent of his passes and has thrown seven touchdowns. Albany also features All-NEC kicker Paul Layton, who is averaging 38 yards per punt and has put six inside the opponents 20.

BULLDOG QUICK HITS

— Bryant is 0-5 for the first time in school history. The Bulldogs had started 0-3 on just one other occasionin since the program began in 1999.

— It is just the third time the Bulldogs have lost five-straight games in a season. Bryant lost five in a row during the 2009 season and the 2000 season.

— The Bulldogs are also 0-3 at home this season, marking the first time since 2004 that they have lost three games at Bulldog Stadium.

— Senior Colin Sullivan (Swansea, Mass.) finished a tackle shy of his career-high against Wagner, picking up 12 stops.

— In three conference losses this season, the Bulldogs have held a lead or been tied in the third quarter of each game.