Know the opponent: Brown

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With the 2017 Bryant University football season two months away, Bryant Athletics will take a look at all 11 opponents the Bulldogs will face this season.

In week 3, the Bulldogs will make the short trip down to Providence to renew their in-state rivalry with Brown.  

Opponent: Brown (Website) 

Date|Time: Saturday, Sept. 16 | 12:30 PM

Location: Brown Stadium (Providence, R.I.)

All-time series: Brown leads, 2-1

First played: Oct. 12, 2013 | Brown 41, Bryant 14 (Smithfield, R.I.)

Last played: Sept. 17, 2016 | Brown 35, Bryant 27 (Smithfield, R.I.)

Series History: Bryant and Brown will be meeting for the fourth time in the last five years when they meet in the Renaissance City in week 3. The Bears hold a 2-1 lead in the all-time series but the Black and Gold's only victory in the series came in Providence in 2015.

It was a thrilling win for the Bulldogs in 2015 as they forced five Brown turnovers and were able to rally from a 10-0 first-half deficit.

Last time they met: Bryant raced out to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter but Brown scored the next 28 points and went on to a 35-27 victory in Smithfield. The Bulldogs struck first on 60-yard blocked field goal return and Matt Sewall (Portsmouth, R.I.) and Taylor Barthelette both caught touchdowns in the first 14 minutes. The Bears, however, would take advantage of a stiff wind at their backs to score the next 28 points. Bryant would have three chances to tie the game in the fourth quarter but stalled at the Brown 45, 7 and 16.

Throwback: Bryant's only victory in the brief three-game series was a thrilling one. Facing the Bears for the first time since a 41-14 defeat at home, the Black and Gold have revenge on their mind when the traveled into enemy territory. It was the Bears, however, that raced out to a 10-0 lead after the first quarter.

The Bulldogs would answer by scoring 10 points in the final 4:13 of the first half. Chad Ward hauled in a 24-yard TD and, after a quick three-and-out, Ricky Perez tied the game with a 37-yard field goal with two seconds left.

Trailing 13-10 in the third quarter, Bryant used a trick play to take the lead for good. Torrey Dixon (Dumfries, Va.) took a reverse handoff, stopped and fired to a wide open Ward downfield. Ward caught the pass and then dove into the endzone to give Bryant a 17-13 lead with 24 seconds left in the quarter. Bryant would add a field goal in the fourth quarter and a Brandon Dagnesses interception in the endzone, the last of five Brown turnovers, with under a minute to play sealed the victory.