Bulldogs fall to Brown in 2OT, 44-38

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Bryant University football team dropped another heartbreaker on Saturday afternoon, falling to in-state foe Brown, 44-38, in two overtimes at Brown Stadium.

Both teams scored in the first overtime but the Bears stopped the Bulldogs on 4^th-and-1 in the second overtime. Brown then converted on a long third down and punched in the game-winning score from three yards out to end the game.

Zevi Eckhaus completed 24-of-42 passes for 336 yards and three scores, while Anthony Frederick finished with 232 all-purpose yards and two scores. Landon Ruggieri added his first-career 100-yard receiving game.

Joe Andreessen led the defense with 12.0 tackles, 1.0 sack, 2.0 TFLs, a fumble recovery and an interception. He also blocked a PAT. Colin Elliott had 10.0 tackles and an interception and Lake Ellis had five tackles and an interception.  

Game Information
Brown 44, Bryant 38
Records: Bryant (0-3), Brown (1-0)
Location: Brown Stadium (Providence, R.I.)

Key Moment

• Brown stopped the Bulldogs on a 4^th-and-1 in the second overtime before scoring on its possession in the second OT.    

How it Happened

• Brown scored first on Saturday with a field goal.
• Frederick received the ensuing kickoff at the goal line and raced down the middle of the field for his first-career return score. The play went 100 yards and gave the Black and Gold a 7-3 lead.
• Bryant's defense then forced turnovers on the Bears' next four possessions. Ellis intercepted the Bears on the Bryant three, Chris Yates recorded a strip sack that Andreessen recovered and Andreessen intercepted a pass of his own.
• The Black and Gold were able to get three points out of it as Ethan Gettman knocked down a 26-yard field goal.
• Bryant maintained its 10-3 lead at the half thanks to a highlight-reel interception from Elliott. The Bears threw a fade to the corner of the endzone that CJ McGarity Jr. broke up. As the ball knocked free it was popped into the air and Elliott dove and scooped it up before it hit the ground.
• The Black and Gold quickly extended their lead in the second half as Jihad Edmond took a short pass from Eckhaus and turned into six points with a 40-yard run down the middle of the field.
• Brown quickly answered with a 50-yard TD run.
• Bryant would answer with an eight-play, 81-yard drive. Bryant converted twice on third down before Eckhaus hit Frederick in the back corner of the endzone to make it 24-10.
• The Bears were able to make it tight with back-to-back scores to start the fourth quarter. Andreessen blocked the PAT on the second score to keep Bryant ahead, 24-23.
• Bryant pushed its lead to eight with a 10-play, 65-yard drive. Derick Eugene posted a pair of 11-yard receptions and Ruggieri made a spectacular one-handed grab on third down to keep the drive alive. Ryan Clark punched it home three plays later to make it 31-23 with 2:40 to go.
• Brown was able to tie the game with an eight-play, 74-yard drive.
• In overtime, Brown got the ball first and scored.
• Bryant was able to tie it as Eckhaus connected with AC White for a 25-yard score.
• The Bulldogs were then stopped on 4^th-and-1 to setup the Bears' game-winning drive.   

Stats

• Brown outgained Bryant, 505-452.
• The Bulldogs finished 8-for-16 on third downs.
• Eckhaus finished 24-of-42 for 336 yards and three scores. He was intercepted twice.
• Clark posted 65 yards and a score on 11 carries.
• Ruggieri caught nine passes for 119 yards.
• Eugene finished with four catches for 55 yards.
• White posted a touchdown reception for the second-straight week.
• Frederick finished with 232 all-purpose yards. He had 197 kick return yards and 35 reception yards.
• Frederick posted a pair of touchdowns, with one being a 100-yard kick return score.
• Edmond posted a 40-yard touchdown reception.
• Andreessen led Bryant with 12.0 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sack, 1 TFL and an interception. He also blocked a PAT.
• Elliott posted 10.0 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception.
• Ryan Saddler collected nine tackles and 2.0 TFLs.
• Ellis added an interception.   

Game Notes

• Bryant falls to 2-5 all-time against Brown.
• Saturday marked Bryant's second overtime game of the season.
• Saturday also marked Bryant's longest game in program history.
• Eckhaus threw for 300+ yards for the fifth time in his career.
• White posted a touchdown for the second-straight week.
• Frederick finished with a career-high 232 all-purpose yards.
• Frederick matched the longest kick return in program history with his 100-yard return score.
• Clark posted his first rushing touchdown of the season.
• Edmond has now caught a touchdown in three of Bryant's last four games dating back to last season.
• Andreessen has now posted 10+ tackles in each of the first three games of 2022.
• He posted his second interception and blocked his second PAT of the year.
• Elliott and Ellis both posted their second-career interceptions.
• Ruggieri set career highs with nine receptions and 119 receiving yards.   

Up Next
Bryant travels to Long Island next Saturday to take on the Sharks. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.