Bryant falls to Akron on Saturday

AKRON, Ohio – The Bryant University football team went toe-to-toe with FBS-member Akron on Saturday afternoon, falling 35-14 in its first-ever game against a team from college football's highest level.

Bryant stayed with the Zips for three quarters, sending the game to the fourth tied 14-14. Akron, however, scored 21 unanswered points in the final stanza to earn the victory.

Freshman Fabrice Mukendi piled up 109 all-purpose yards, classmate Zevi Eckhaus completed 15-of-22 passes and Marc Taglieri Jr. caught his first-career touchdown to pace the offense.

Ryan Saddler collected a career-high 13 stops and Ricardo Martinez added 10 for the Bryant defense. The Bulldogs were able to force a turnover and held Akron to 3-of-5 inside the redzone.

Game Information
Akron 35, Bryant 14
Records: Bryant (1-2), Akron (1-2)
Location: Akron, Ohio (InfoCision Stadium)

Key Moment

• Tied 14-14 and facing third-and-goal from the Bryant 20, DJ Irons scrambled away from several Bryant defenders and raced into the corner of the endzone to break the tie.   

How it Happened

• Akron scored first, grabbing the lead with 3:28 left in the first quarter. Irons connected with Micha Mathison for a 38-yard touchdown.
• The Zips made it 14-0 with a six-play, 71-yard drive at the start of the second quarter. Irons rushed for 15 yards on a third down and then threw a 24-yard TD pass two plays later.
• Bryant was able to answer with an 11-play, 60-yard drive to get on the board. Mukendi's 30-yard return gave the Bulldogs good field position to start. Eckhaus and Matt Prochaska connected for 15 yards on 3rd-and-11 and Shai Young made a five-yard grab on third-and-four to keep the drive alive. An 11-yard reception by Prochaska put the ball at the Akron 3 and Eckhaus hit Taglieri Jr. for a 4-yard TD two plays later.
• Akron attempted to add a late score but Bryant's defense stood tall twice. First, Martinez stopped Jonzel Norrils on a 4th-and-1 carry. On Akron's next possession, the Zips had the ball at the Bryant 4 but Saddler made two huge stops. He first forced a fumble to make it fourth down and then stuffed Irons in the backfield on 4th-and-1.
• Akron started the second half with the ball and drove to the Bryant 10 before Darnel Shillingford punched the ball free from the running back. Saddler recovered and Bryant followed with a 14-play, 83-yard drive to tie the game.
• A pass interference penalty extended the drive early and Mukendi took the ball across midfield with a 14-yard reception. Jihad Edmond then made an 11-yard reception on 3rd-and-10 and Gary Cooper got the Bulldogs to the Akron 6 with a 13-yard reception. Three plays later, Mukendi pushed his way across the goal line to tie it.
• Akron would then drive down to the Bryant 3 before an unsportsmanlike penalty backed them up. A dropped snap sent the Zips into the fourth quarter facing third-and-goal from the Bryant 20. Irons scrambled to his left and then reversed fields and was able to tuck himself inside the pylon for the game-deciding TD.
• Kona Mumpfield added a six-yard TD reception and Anthony Williams capped the scoring with a one-yard TD run.

Stats

• Akron outgained Bryant, 578-146.
• Bryant finished with 14 first downs and went 5-for-11 on third downs.
• Mukendi rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. He caught three passes for 23 yards and had a 30-yard return, finishing with 109 all-purpose yards.
• Eckhaus finished 15-of-22 for 110 yards and a touchdown.
• Prochaska had two catches for 23 yards.
• Taglieri Jr. caught a TD pass.
• Saddler finished with 13 tackles, including 10 solo stops. He also had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
• Martinez posted 10 tackles, seven solo.
• Shillingford finished with six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
• Joe Andreessen posted six tackles.

Game Notes

• Bryant was playing its first-ever game against an FBS program.
• Mukendi now has two rushing touchdowns on the year.
• Taglieri Jr. becomes the second Bryant tight end in as many weeks to catch a touchdown.
• Saddler finished with a career-high 13 tackles.

Up Next

Bryant will face Pioneer League member Marist next Saturday in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.