Bryant opens 2017 football season on Saturday vs. Merrimack

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team opens the 2017 season on Saturday afternoon when it welcomes Merrimack to Beirne Stadium for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff.

The Particulars

Opponent: Merrimack

Kickoff: 3:00 p.m.

Watch Live: NECFrontRow.com

Listen Live: WOON 1240 or onworldwide.com

Live Stats: Sidearm

Series History

• Bryant and Merrimack will be meeting for the 15th time in school history on Saturday afternoon.
• The Bulldogs own a 7-6 lead in the all-time series thanks to six-straight wins over the Warriors.
• Bryant defeated Merrimack, 41-20, last season in Smithfield and has scored 34+ points in each of the last seven meetings between the two schools.

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• Saturday will be James Perry's first as a collegiate head coach. Perry was hired as the third coach in program history on January 3rd.
• Bryant has won each of its last four season openers, having beaten Merrimack, American International, Stony Brook and Holy Cross.
• Since moving to Division I, the Bulldogs are a perfect 11-0 against Division II opponents.
• Junior defensive linemen Dillon Guthro (Newburyport, Mass.) and Kevin Lazo (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) will serve as co-captains for the 2017 season.
• Guthro and senior Matt Sewall (Portsmouth, R.I.) were named to the Northeast Conference Preseason All-Conference team.

A bit about Merrimack

• Merrimack is coming off a season in which it went 3-8 overall and 2-7 in NE-10 play.
• The Warriors will have a new quarterback this season as graduate transfer CJ Scarpa will be calling the signals. Scarpa made 17 starts in three years at Bentley and threw for 1,490 yards.
• Merrimack also returns its second-leading rusher in Derrick Villard (112 car., 589 yds., 3 TDs).
• Defensive back Brian Carroll is the leader on defense after posting 67 tackles and two interceptions last fall.