Bryant rallies past SFU on Family & Friends Weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Daniel Adeboboye's five-yard touchdown reception and Luke Samperi's subsequent PAT capped a 10-play, 75-yard, game-winning drive as the Bryant University football team rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Saint Francis U, 18-17, in front of a full house on Family and Friends Weekend.

Bryant trailed 14-3 heading into the fourth quarter but scored twice in the final 3:18 to earn its first win over Saint Francis U since 2015. Psaveon Reaves caught a nine-yard touchdown pass to cap a 10-play, 99-yard drive to make it 14-11 and the Bulldogs' defense allowed the offense another chance to win the game.

The Bulldogs' game-winning drive was aided by a pair of personal foul penalties on the Red Flash, including a face masking penalty on 4th-and-10.

Zevi Eckahaus finished 27-of-48 for 206 yards and two scores and David Zorrilla caught a career-high 11 passes for 98 yards. Adeboboye finished with 70 yards on 18 carries and eight catches for 47 yards and the game-winning score.

The senior trio of Ricardo Martinez, Ryan Saddler and Joe Andreessen combined to make 27.0 tackles as the Bulldogs held SFU to just 275 yards of total offense. Kenny Dyson Jr. finished with 1.5 sacks and 3.5 TFLs.

Game Information
Bryant 18, Saint Francis U 17
Records: Bryant (4-3, 2-1 NEC), SFU (3-4, 2-1 NEC)
Location: Smithfield, R.I. (Beirne Stadium)

Key Moment

• On 4th-and-10 from the Bryant 38, Eckhaus scrambled for the first down but came up two yards short. SFU, however, was flagged for a face mask, extending the Bryant drive.
• Eckhaus then found Adeboboye in the back corner of the endzone to tie the game 17-17 with 0:32 remaining.    

How it Happened

• Saturday's game was a defensive battle through the first two and a half quarter. Luke Samperi's 35-yard field goal with 2:57 left in the first quarter was the only scoring until the third quarter.
• In the third quarter, SFU took advantage of a fortuitous bounce, recovering a punt at the Bryant 31 that hit a Bryant player. The Red Flash took a 7-3 lead with a two-yard touchdown pass.
• Bryant then pinned the Red Flash at their own two but Marques DeShields raced 98 yards for a touchdown two players later to give SFU a 14-3 lead.
• Bryant's defense then stuffed the Red Flash on 4th-and-goal from the Bryant 1 to get the ball back with 8:18 remaining. The Black and Gold then moved the ball 99 yards to close the gap.
• Eckhaus and Zorrilla hooked up for 13 yards on 4th-and-8 to start a stretch of three-straight receptions. A 15-yard roughing the passer call pushed the ball across midfield and another roughing the passer moved the ball to the SFU 19. Two plays later, Eckhaus found Reaves in the back of the endzone. Eckhaus then converted a two-point rush to make it 14-11 with 3:18 left.
• Bryant attempted an onside kick but the ball caromed out of bounds. The Black and Gold, however, held SFU to a 45-yard field goal and took over with 2:05 left.
• Macklin Kortebein made a 23-yard reception on 1st-and-20, and the face mask extended the game four plays later. Eckhaus then raced 12 yards to the SFU 10 and a personal foul pushed it to the SFU 5. Two plays later, Adeboboye caught a perfectly thrown ball in the back corner of the endzone to tie the game. Samperi then hit a PAT to make it 18-17.
• Dyson Jr. and Eaton Jr. then closed the game with a sack as time expired.

Stats

• Bryant outgained SFU, 350-275.
• The Bulldogs posted 23 first downs.
• Bryant finished 7-of-18 on third down.
• Eckhaus completed 27-of-48 passes for 206 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
• He also rushed for 41 yards on seven carries.
• Adeboboye rushed for 70 yards on 18 carries and caught eight passes for 47 yards and a score.
• Zorrilla finished with 11 catches for 98 yards.
• Martinez led Bryant with 10 tackles.
• Saddler posted 9.0 tackles, including seven solo.
• Andreessen added 8.0 tackles and 1.0 TFL.
• Dyson Jr. had 1.5 sacks and 3.5 TFLs in the win.
• Jack Daly finished with 5.0 tackles and 1.0 TFL.

Game Notes

• Bryant picked up its first win over SFU since 2015. The Bulldogs now own a 7-6 lead in the all-time series.
• Bryant improved to 3-0 at home this season. It is the ninth time in program history the Bulldogs have started 3-0 at home.
• Adeboboye now has 16 career touchdowns. He caught a touchdown for the second-straight week.
• Zorrilla has now caught 23 passes for 300 yards the last three weeks.
• Zorrilla's 11 receptions tie him with Justin Kix for the third-most in a game in program history.
• Reaves posted his second TD of the year and his first-career reception touchdown.
• Eckhaus now has 11 touchdown passes to just two interceptions on the season. 
• Dyson Jr. posted a career-high 3.5 TFLs and now has 5.0 sack and 9.0 TFLs on the season.
• Ethan Gettman set a program record with an 82-yard punt in the third quarter.

Up Next

Bryant travels to Staten Island next weekend to face Wagner. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m.