Bulldogs honor seniors on Saturday

BULLDOGS HONOR SENIORS ON SATURDAY AGAINST SACRED HEART

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off a back-to-back victories and recharged after a bye week, the Bryant University football team welcomes Sacred Heart to Bulldog Stadium for Senior Day on Saturday, Nov. 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

Bryant intercepted the ball on consecutive possessions, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with just 2:19 remaining to defeat Monmouth, 27-24, to weekends ago. The game-winning score snapped a string of 14-straight points for the Hawks and gave the Bulldogs their first victory over Monmouth in team history.

The Black and Gold grabbed a lead on their first possession of the game and held the lead until the third quarter. Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) scored on a 17-yard run and Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) hauled in a 19-yard TD reception to make it 14-3 at the half. Harris's second TD grab made it 21-10 in the third quarter but the Bulldogs trailed 24-21 with under five minutes remaining. Connor McNamara (Sandy Hook, Conn.) then intercepted a pass and the Brown punched it in five plays later to give Bryant the win.

Brown rushed for a season-high 152 yards and two scores, Mike Westerhaus (Farmingville, N.Y.) threw for 321 yards and Harris caught five passes for 107 yards and two scores. Brandon Dagnesses (Miami, Fla.) had the other interception as the Bulldogs held the Hawks to 383 yards of total offense.

LAST SEASON IN FAIRFIELD

In a game played on national TV, the Bulldogs dominated from start to finish last season against the Pioneers. A safety in the first quarter was followed by 24 second-quarter points for the Black and Gold. They led 26-6 at the half and it stayed that way as both went scoreless in the second half.

Following the first-quarter safety, Matt Tracey sandwiched a pair of touchdown receptions around a 53-yard punt return for a touchdown by Brown. Brown finished the day with 248 yards on the ground and 334 all-purpose yards, the second-most in school history.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS

Sacred Heart is coming off one of its best performances of the season, a 23-20 loss to nationally-ranked Albany. The Pioneers led 20-17 with under two minutes to play but Omar Osbourne broke off a 40-yard TD run to give the Great Danes the lead and the victory.

It has been a tough season otherwise for the Pioneers. Head coach Paul Gorham was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis over the summer and is still recovering while interim head coach Mark Nofri leads the team. The Pioneers' only league victory came over Constitution State rival Central Connecticut but they've lost four games by two scores or less. Tim Little and Luke Wischnowski have split time at QB, averaging a 150 yards per game through the air. The offense as a whole, however, has struggled, averaging just 273.5 yards per game. Teams average over 330 yards per game, including an average of 163.9 on the ground.

HARRIS HAVING MONSTER SEASON

Jordan Harris's unbelievable season just keeps on going. The junior wide receiver posted his fourth 100-yard receiving game and two-touchdown game of the season two weeks ago against Monmouth. He hauled in five passes for 107 yards and two scores in Bryant's victory. On the season, he's caught 43 passes for 809  yards and 10 scores. The 11 touchdowns are a new school record. He also became the program-leader in career touchdown receptions against the Hawks, surpassing former teammate Matt Tracey with 21 in three-plus seasons. Harris is currently sixth in the country in yards per game with 115.57 and tied for fourth in touchdown receptions.

BULLDOGS-PIONEERS SERIES HISTORY

Sacred Heart currently leads the all-time series between the schools 3-2. The Pioneers posted victories in the team's first three meetings back but the Black and Gold have won each of the past two years. Two years ago, the Bulldogs put together a dramatic fourth-quarter rally and stunned the Pioneers on Homecoming in Smithfield. Last year, Bryant built a 26-6 halftime lead and then shutout SHU over the final two frames to claim a victory on national TV. The team's met for the first time during the 1998 season, Bryant's first year as a football team, with the Pioneers claiming a 48-28 victory.

FAREWELL CLASS OF 2012

Prior to this afternoon's game, the Bulldogs will honor their 24 graduating seniors. Thi senior class has posted a 21-20 record in four seasons, including a 15-15 record in NEC play. Bryant's 24-man class will be the first class that was able to compete for a NEC championship and an NCAA postseason berth.

50/50 GOES TO GORHAM

Saturday's proceeds from the 50/50 raffle will go towards helping Sacred Heart head coach Paul Gorham and is fight against pulmonary fibrosis. Bryant University athletics director will present a check to SHU athletics director Don Cook prior to the game. 

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs wrap up the remainder of the 2012 season on the road as they travel New Britain, Conn., next week to take on Central Connecticut. They finish the season with a non-conference road trip against Bucknell.