Bulldogs and Colonials meet on Sat.

FOOTBALL WELCOMES ROBERT MORRIS ON PARENTS AND FAMILY WEEKEND

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Trying to snap a seven-game losing skid, the Bryant University football team hosts Robert Morris on Parents and Family Weekend this Saturday, Oct. 13 at Bulldog Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT

The Bulldogs (0-6, 0-4 NEC) scored twice in 11 seconds to take a 14-7 into the half against Albany last weekend, but the Great Danes shutout the Bulldogs 24-0 in the second half on their way to a 31-14 victory. It was the fourth time this season the Bulldogs had held a third-quarter lead and lost.

Trailing 7-0, the Black and Gold were able to tie the game late in the second quarter as Mike Westerhaus (Farmingville, N.Y.) and Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) connected for a 12-yard score. Westerhaus lofted a pass to the corner of the endzone that Harris leapt up and caught. On Albany's first play following the score, Bobby Rutland (Bethesda, Md.) intercepted Will Fiacchi's pass to give Bryant the ball at the Great Danes' 18. On the very next play, Harris caught what appeared to be a screen pass, but stopped, and threw to a wide open Robert Ingebresten (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) in the endzone to make it 14-7.

Albany however, tightened up the defense and held the Bulldogs scoreless in the second half. After tying the game at 14-14, Justinian Mason returned an interception 75 yards to make it 21-14. Drew Smith's third rushing TD put the game away.

LAST SEASON IN MOON TOWNSHIP

With the game tied at 27-27 with 1:16 remaining, Jordan Harris blocked a punt near midfield and Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored the game-winning touchdown three plays later to give Bryant a 34-27 victory over the Colonials. Bryant trailed by seven at the half and by seven with just over three minutes left when Mike Croce connected with Matt Tracey for a 13-yard score.

Bryant jumped out to a quick lead as Brown broke off a 49-yard TD run just 1:22 into the game. RMU, however, outscored the Bulldogs 17-7 in the second quarter to take the lead at half. Croce and Tracey then connected twice in the second half to knot the game late. Tracey caught nine passes for 97 yards, Croce was 20-for-28 for 249 yards and three scores and Brown rushed for 179 yards.

SCOUTING THE COLONIALS

Robert Morris comes to Smithfield with a 1-4 record after falling to Saint Francis (PA), 10-3, last weekend. The loss dropped the Colonials to 0-2 in NEC play. They were also defeated by Albany in Week 2.

Last weekend, RMU held SFU 140 rushing yards under its season average but could not convert offensively. The Colonials are led by first-year running back Evan Taylor and senior quarterback Jeff Sinclair. Taylor rushed for a career-high 133 yards against the Red Flash and Sinclair has shown himself to be one of the best QBs in school history. He threw 22 touchdowns and rushed for five others during his sophomore season in 2010, helping the Colonials claim an NEC regular season title.

BULLDOGS OFF TO ROUGH START

Bryant's start to the 2012 season continues to prove itself as the worst in school history. The Bulldogs dropped their sixth consecutive game to open the season and have now lost their last seven dating back to last season. The seven-game losing streak is the longest in the program's 14 seasons.

HARRIS CONTINUES TO EXCEL

Jordan Harris caught four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown and also threw a touchdown in Bryant's setback against Albany. The all-time leader in receiving yards, Harris caught his sixth touchdown of the season in the second quarter and then threw his first-career TD pass to give Bryant a 14-7 lead. The junior has now caught a TD pass in 12 of the last 13 games he has played in.

BULLDOGS WIN TURNOVER BATTLE, LOSE GAME

For the first time all season the Black and Gold won the turnover battle but it still wasn't enough against the Great Danes. Bryant recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass but was able to score just seven points off of them. Sebastian Amedee (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) forced a fumble and Jeff Covitz (Reading, Mass.) recovered it on Albany's second play of the game but the Bulldogs were forced to punt. Bobby Rutland's first-career interception allowed the Bulldogs to take a 14-7 lead late in the second quarter. Aaron Dixon (Danbury, Conn.) then recovered another fumble with the game tied in the third quarter but the Bulldogs could convert. Bryant's only turnover of the game proved decisive as Justinian Mason returned an interception 75 yards to make it 21-14.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will head on the road next weekend as they travel to West Long Branch, N.J., to take on Monmouth in a Northeast Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.