FB looks to continue streak at CCSU

BULLDOGS EYE FOURTH-STRAIGHT VICTORY AT CCSU ON SATURDAY

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Looking for its fourth consecutive victory, the Bryant University football team travels to New Britain, Conn., on Saturday, Nov. 10 to take on Central Connecticut State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Arute Field.

In a season that has featured many low points, Saturday's contest against the Blue Devils (2-6, 2-3 NEC) represents an opportunity for the Bulldogs (3-6, 3-4 NEC) to finish the season with a .500 league record for the fourth-straight year. To do so, however, they would have to beat a CCSU team they have lost to each of the last four seasons.

The series, however, has been much closer than the 4-0 advantage for Central indicates. Just last year, the Black and Gold built a 21-7 first-half lead only to see the visitors from New Britain score 35 unanswered points and send the Bulldogs into the offseason with a sour taste in their mouths. In fact, the Bulldogs have left every game wondering what could have been. In 2008, playing its first game as a Division I football program, Bryant went toe-to-toe with the Blue Devils, erasing a 21-3 deficit to grab a 28-21 lead in the fourth quarter. CCSU, however, scored the next 14 points before Bryant knotted the game with just 4:43 remaining. The Blue Devils won the game with a 70-yard TD pass on their next possession.

It was more of the same in 2009 as the Black and Gold just couldn't find a way to force overtime. Trailing 17-10 in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs tied the game on a Jerell Smith 13-yard TD run with 12:22 to play. The game remained tied until the final minute as Central drove 46 yards in nine plays, James Mallory's one-yard plunge capping the drive and giving the Blue Devils a 24-17 lead with just 47 seconds left. Bryant wasn't done yet, though. Mike Croce connected with Vinton South for 33 yards to put the ball on the CCSU 14 and then, on fourth-and-three, he hit Matt Tracey in the endzone to make it 24-23. The Bulldogs, however, were unable to convert the PAT and the Blue Devils escaped Smithfield with a victory.

This season, the Bulldogs and Blue Devils have followed somewhat of the same script. Both started the season winless, the Black and Gold 0-6 and the Blue Devils 0-5, before picking up their first wins on Oct. 13. Bryant has won each of its last three since its worst start in program history, while CCSU has won two-of-three after its worst start since the 1995 season.

Despite the Blue Devils' tough start to the season, Saturday's matchup will not be an easy one for the Black and Gold. CCSU's spread option has always given the Bulldogs fits, rolling up over 1,000 yards of total offense in the past two years combined. This year, they've added one of the most explosive players in the NEC to the attack in Kent St. transfer Rob Hollomon. The shifty back has carried the ball 171 times for 880 yards and five scores on the season. He's been his best of late, however, racking up the first back-to-back 200-yard rushing games in league history in over six years in the last two games. Hollomon went for 208 against Robert Morris and then 207 against Saint Francis (PA) in the last game. The Blue Devils also possess one of the league's most dangerous pass-catchers in Temple transfer Deven Baker. He leads the team with 30 catches, 359 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bulldogs, though, can match skill-for-skill and are playing their best football of the season. After gaining over 300 yards of total offense in the first six games of the year, the Black and Gold have eclipsed the mark in each of the last three games, including a season-best 497 yards against Robert Morris on Oct. 13. They also feature two of the hottest players in the NEC right now in quarterback Mike Westerhaus (Farmingville, N.Y.) and wide receiver Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.). Westerhaus has completed 57-of-97 passes for 922 yards and eight touchdowns and Harris has caught 18 passes for 449 yards and six touchdowns in Bryant's three wins. Harris is having one of the greatest receiving seasons in NEC history and is on the verge of becoming the first receiver in program history to record a 1,000-yard season. He currently is fifth in the country in receiving yards per game (118.75).

The outcome of this weekend's game, though, will , more than likely, come down to which team can stop the other the most. Both come into the game allowing over 30 points per contest. Bryant has played better of late, forcing a season-high four turnovers while holding Sacred Heart to a season-low 307 yards of total offense. Central's defense has allowed just a smidge under 400 yards per game but features Lorenzo Baker and Josh Alaeze, two of the top defensive players the Bulldogs will see this season.

Saturday's matchup with the Blue Devils marks the final NEC game this year for the Black and Gold. Following their trip to New Britain, the Bulldogs will finish the season with a non-conference trip Lewisburg, Pa., to face Bucknell on Saturday, Nov. 17.