Bulldogs down Merrimack, 40-14, Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Dalton Easton (Miami, Fla.) threw for three touchdowns and junior Paul Canevari (Warwick, N.Y.) rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown as the Bryant University football team used a 27-point third quarter to cruise past Merrimack, 40-14, on Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Stadium.

The Bulldogs (2-0) put up 403 yards of total offense, with 268 of it coming on the ground, to earn their fifth-straight win over Merrimack dating back to the 2006 season. In their season opener, the Warriors (0-1) managed 340 yards of total offense and two late touchdowns.

Bryant's defense put together another dominating on Saturday, allowing just 89 yards of total offense in the first half, as it raced out to a 40-0 lead. After forcing Merrimack into a three-and-out on its first possession, Bryant needed to just three plays to find the endzone. Canevari ran over two defenders as he took the first play of the game 29 yards before pounding it in from three yards out two plays later. It was his first touchdown run of the season.

It took the Bulldogs nearly a full half to increase their lead. They were finally able to break through on their final possession of the first half. Sophomore Taylor Barthelette's (East Longmeadow, Mass.) blocked punt allowed the Black and Gold to start at the Merrimack 37 and Easton's 17-yard completion to junior John Lavin (Falmouth, Mass.) on fourth-and-two put the Bulldogs down to the 12. Easton was then sacked with 31 seconds left in the half but Bryant called timeout and came out with the perfect play. Junior Jose Depadua (Hagerstown, Md.) took the pitch from classmate Ricardo McCray (Middletown, R.I.) and turned the corner for a 18-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked, giving Bryant a 13-0 lead at the half.

Bryant came flying out of the gates in the second half, scoring four touchdowns in the first nine minutes of the third quarter. Depadua returned the opening kick of the second half 40 yards and then hauled in a perfectly thrown 31-yard touchdown from Easton three plays later to make it 20-0 just over a minute into the half.

Merrimack then turned it over on its very next play as junior Aaron Dixon (Danbury, Conn.) deflected the pass and classmate Brandon Dagnesses (Miami, Fla.) picked it off. After a holding penalty pushed Bryant back to the Merrimack 20, Easton dumped it off to McCray and the shifty running back got great downfield blocking as he scooted into the endzone for his first touchdown of the season.

The Bulldogs added on five minutes later after forcing another three-and-out. Fifth-year senior Michael Perry (Dunmore, Pa.) carried the ball five-straight times to get the Bulldogs to the Merrimack 20 and Easton capped the seven-play drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Barthelette. The touchdown reception was the first-career for Barthelette.

Bryant capped its scoring just three minutes later as sophomore Patrick Kenney (Camarillo, Calif.) picked off a Joe Capobianco pass and returned it 56 yards for his first career touchdown. The interception was the second of his career.

Merrimack tacked on a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter as Armond McRae exploded for an 81-yard touchdown run. Capobianco then rushed in from a yard out with 1:01 left in the game to make it 40-14.

Easton finished 11-for-16 for 135 yards and three touchdowns and Canevari rushed 16 times for 123 yards. Senior Gore Simervil (Delray Beach, Fla.) had a career-day, rushing 11 times for 57 yards. McCray added 37 yards on the ground and 43 reception yards, while Depadua ran twice for 27 yards and caught three passes for 45 yards.

Defensively, Dagnesses and senior Maduka Nwanekezi (Milton, Mass.) finished with a team-high five tackles, while Nwanekezi added four tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Freshman Torrey Dixon (Dumfries, Va.) picked off his first-career pass in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs are back at home next weekend as they take on Maine for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.