Costigan sets tackles record, Bulldogs fall to Sacred Heart

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Senior Thomas Costigan (Stamford, Conn.) set the program record for tackles in a career but the Bryant University football team fell to Sacred Heart, 49-26, on a cold, rainy and windy Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.

Costigan posted 12 tackles in the contest, giving up 257 in his illustrious career, one more than Marquise Watson. He also posted 3.51 tackles for a loss and recovered a fumble.

Sacred Heart used touchdown runs of 40, 62, 71, 75 and 99 yards and finished with 538 rushing yards. Jordan Meachum led the attack with 318 yards and three scores, while Julius Chestnut added 164 yards and three scores.

Bryant also had a good day on the ground, posting 248 yards. Senior Brenden Femiano (Northport, N.Y.) rushed for a career-high 133 yards, while redshirt sophomore Alfred Dorbor (Pawtucket, R.I.) added 79 yards on a career-high 20 carries.

Game Information
Sacred Heart 49, Bryant 26
Records: Bryant (5-3, 2-2 NEC), Sacred Heart (5-3, 3-0 NEC)
Attendance: 1,678

Key Moment

• Moments after Bryant drove 90 yards to take the lead in the first quarter, Chestnut broke free for a 75-yard TD run on the first play of Sacred Heart's next drive to retie the game. It would be the first of 20-straight points for the Pioneers.

How it Happened

• Bryant recovered an errant snap on Sacred Heart's first possession and needed just four plays to take the lead. Dorbor capped the short drive with a one-yard plunge.
• Sacred Heart evened the score on a 40-yard TD run from Meachum with 9:47 left in the first quarter.
• The Bulldogs then drove 90 yards in 10 plays to retake the lead late in the first. Femiano accounted for 51 yards on the drive, capping it with a 13-yard touchdown run.
• After a touchback, Chestnut took the handoff and raced 75 yards for a touchdown to tie it.
• The TD run started a string of 20-straight points for the Pioneers. Chestnut capped a 15-play drive that started at the SHU 8 with 10-yard TD run and Meachum broke off a 71-yard TD run on SHU's next drive to make it 27-14 with 6:00 left in the second quarter.
• Bryant was able to pull within a score right before the half with an eight-play, 67-yard drive. Redshirt senior Price Wilson (Marietta, Ga.) picked up 32 yards with a QB run and then converted a third-down pass to senior Vincent Nisivoccia (Nutley, N.J.) to keep the drive alive. Wilson capped the drive with a two-yard TD pass to Andrew Schultz (Eastchester, N.Y.).
• Sacred Heart pulled away with a 13-point third quarter. The Pioneers capitalized on a Bryant turnover, turning it into seven points on a 24-yard run by QB Kevin Duke. Chestnut then added a 62-yard run with 4:42 left.
• The backbreaker came early in the fourth quarter after Bryant pinned the Pioneers at the half yard line. Meachum took the handoff and raced 99 yards for the score to make it 47-20.
• Bryant's final points came on special teams as junior Robert Brown (Palmetto Bay, Fla.) blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown by David Onyemem (Dracut, Mass.).

Stats

• Sacred Heart outgained Bryant, 579-330.
• The Pioneers outrushed Bryant, 538-248.
• Femiano rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.
• Dorbor added 79 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
• Nisivoccia led Bryant with three catches for 49 yards.
• Wilson finished 7-of-19 for 83 yards and a touchdown.
• Costigan led Bryant with 12 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and a fumble recovery.
• Brown and junior Jesse Nemerowicz (Hudson, Mass.) finished with seven tackles apiece.
• Redshirst sophomore Fernando Casanova (Jacksonville, Fla.) posted 1.5 TFLs.

Notes and Notables

• Costigan became Bryant's all-time tackles leader with 257. The previous record was 256.
• Costigan also moved into third place in program history with 42.5 career TFLs.
• Junior Tomas Wright (St. Augustine, Fla.) recorded his 15.5 TFL of the season, moving him into 6th in program history.
• Nemerowicz became the 12th player in program history to record 200+ career tackles. He now has 203 in his career. 
• Femiano's 100-yard performance was the second of his career and the second this season.
• Dorbor now leads the team with six touchdown rushes. He has scored a touchdown in five of the eight games this season.
• Bryant blocked two more kicks in the game and now has an NCAA-leading nine blocks on the year.
• The 538 rushing yards allowed are the most by Bryant in program history.

Up Next

Bryant wraps up its three-game road trip next week as it travels to Loretto, Pennsylvania, to take on Saint Francis U.