Perry paces 29-16 victory over CCSU

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Junior Michael Perry (Dunmore, Pa.) rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns and classmate Tyriq DeShields (Camden, N.J.) hauled in a program-record 82-yard touchdown pass to lead the Bryant University football team to a 29-16 victory over Central Connecticut in the season-finale for both teams on Saturday afternoon at Arute Field.

In earning their second victory over the Blue Devils (4-8, 2-4 NEC) in as many years, the Bulldogs wrap up their season with a 5-7 overall record and a 3-3 mark in league play. Bryant has now finished .500 or better in the NEC in each of the five years it has been a member.

Backed by a pair of first-quarter touchdowns, the Black and Gold seemed to have Saturday's contest in hand. Central Connecticut, however, buckled down on defense and slowly chipped away. Trailing 14-3 at one point, the Blue Devils rallied back to take a 16-14 lead with just four seconds left in the third quarter.

Bryant responded with one of its best quarters of football all season long. After turning the ball over at their own 35, the Bulldogs used a defensive play of their own to turn the tide. On third-and-nine, sophomore Charles Wingate (Englewood, N.J.) jumped up high to intercept a Nick SanGiacomo pass at his own 18. On the very next play, senior quarterback Mike Westerhaus (Farmingville, N.Y.) fired deep over the middle to DeShields. The third-year wideout caught the ball at the CCSU 40, made his defender miss and scampered down the far sideline into the corner of the endzone. The play covered 82 yards, representing the longest completion in program history and the first-career touchdown reception for DeShields. Bryant followed with a beautifully executed two-point play in which senior Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) hit sophomore Chad Ward (Delray Beach, Fla.) in the back of the endzone to make it 22-16.

Back on top, the Bulldogs' defense did the rest. The Blue Devils faced a third-and-one on their very next drive and senior Robert Wallace (Succasunna, N.J.) and freshman Marquise Watson (Hillside, N.J.) were able to stop standout running back Rob Hollomon short of the first down, forcing a punt.

What followed was one of Bryant's most dominant drives of the season. The Bulldogs drove 58 yards in 15 plays but more importantly took 7:16 off the clock to extend their lead to 29-16. Perry started the drive with runs of nine and eight, respectively. He then bulled his way to a first down with an eight-yard carry on third down. Sophomore tight end John Lavin (Falmouth, Mass.) kept the drive alive as he caught a pass and dove his way to a first down inside the CCSU 20. Perry then pushed the ball to the five with a nine-yard run and punched it in from a yard out with 2:47 remaining.

Central Connecticut had one last gasp as it drove the ball to the Bryant 27 but it ended abruptly thanks to Wingate. SanGiacomo lofted a pass to the corner of the endzone but Wingate played it perfectly and intercepted the pass to close out the victory.

The Blue Devils were first on the board, Saturday, knocking down a field goal on their first drive. They used 12 plays to drive 59 yards and take 6:15 off the clock. SanGiacomo completed a 19-yard pass to Tom Tarantino on fourth-and-one to keep the drive alive and Steven Calitri connected on a 30-yard field goal to make it 3-0.

Bryant wasted little time responding, scoring on its first possession. Westerhaus hit Harris for 22 yards on the first play of the game and sophomore running back Ryan Black (Joppa, Md.) exploded for 24 yards to put the ball at the CCSU 1. He punched it in two plays later to make it 7-3.

After junior Maduka Nwanekezi's (Milton, Mass.) sack forced a three-and-out, the Bulldogs struck again. Taking over at the CCSU 36, Westerhaus connected with Ward for 13 yards, a holding pushed the ball to the 13 and Black took it to the one with a 12-yard carry. Two plays later, it was Perry's turn to punch it in, pushing the lead to 14-3.

Central would put three more points up in the half thanks to a 28-yard field goal from Calitri. He missed on chances from 33 and 52 to keep the Bulldogs on top, 14-6, at the half. Calitri's 36-yard field goal with 3:00 to play in the third quarter made it 14-9. Central got the ball back four plays later and Hollomon put the ball inside the Bryant 10 with a 45-yard burst up the near sideline. SanGiacomo then hit Denzell Jones in the back of the endzone to put the Blue Devils on top.

Westerhaus finished 10-of-21 for 174 yards and Harris caught four passes for 44 yards in the final games of their careers. Sophomore Aaron Dixon (Danbury, Conn.) collected a season-high 10 tackles and Wingate added eight tackles to his two interceptions.

The Bulldogs will now begin preparations for the 2014 season. The annual football banquet will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7 in the MAC and spring football begins in March.