Gettman's field goal lifts Bryant over LIU, 31-29

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Ethan Gettman kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bryant University football team to a 31-29 victory over Long Island University on Saturday afternoon at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium.

Gettman's game-winning field goal secured the Bulldogs' first victory of the 2022 season. Bryant is now 1-3 and begins Big South play next Saturday at North Carolina A&T.

Bryant led for much of Saturday's game but the Sharks kicked a 28-yard field goal with 55 seconds left to make it 29-28. The Black and Gold executed their two-minute drill to perfection, however, moving the ball to the LIU 15 with three seconds left. Gettman then drilled his third field goal of the year to give the Bulldogs the win.

Zevi Eckhaus finished 19-of-30 for 180 yards, while Ishod Byarm posted his first-career 100-yard game with 107 yards on 16 carries. Ryan Clark rushed for three scores, becoming the first Bulldog since 2014 to accomplish that feat.

Joe Andreessen and Ryan Saddler led a Bryant defense that held the Sharks to five field goals. Andreessen posted 13.0 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and returned a fumble for a touchdown, while Saddler had 11.0 tackles, 1.0 sack and two pass breakups. Kenny Dyson Jr. collected a pair of sacks.

Game Information
Bryant 31, Long Island 29
Records: Bryant (1-3), LIU (0-4)
Location: Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium (Brookville, N.Y.)

Key Moment

• Gettman sent the Black and Gold home happy with a 37-yard field goal as time expired.     

How it Happened

• LIU opened the scoring with a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive that was capped by a two-yard touchdown from Shemar Paul.
• Anthony Frederick's 34-yard return gave Bryant great field position for its first drive and the Bulldogs capitalized, going 57 yards in nine plays. Eckhaus escaped a sack to pick up nine yards on third-and-9 and Derick Eugene followed with an 11-yard reception. Clark capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown run up the middle.
• Bryant forced a quick three-and-out and took over at the LIU 33 after a shanked punt. Fabrice Mukendi picked up a first down on a third down carry and Clark capped the drive with a two-yard plunge for his second score.
• The Sharks were able to pull within four as Michael Coney capped a 13-play drive with a 34-yard field goal.
• Bryant's defense extended the lead with a defensive touchdown. LIU quarterback Derek Green fumbled the football on his own 10 and the ball was kicked around before Andreessen recovered it in the endzone for the touchdown, making it 21-10 with 6:34 left in the first half.
• LIU put the final points on the board with a 19-yard field goal with 1:15 left. Jayvis Rayside made a big stop on third down from the two in order to force the field goal.    
• Bryant's first drive of the second half stalled on a failed fourth-and-goal from the LIU 2. The Bulldogs were successful on their next drive as Clark pounded it home for his third score of the game. The touchdown made it 28-13 with 2:54 to go in the third.
• The Sharks answered quickly with a four-play, 65-yard drive.
• LIU pulled closer as it turned an interception into a 14-play drive that ended with a field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball kicked weirdly and deflected off the Bulldogs and was recovered by the Sharks at the Bryant 15. The Bulldogs, however, stood tall and held the Sharks to a field goal. Dyson Jr.'s sack on third down forced the field goal.
• The Sharks then got the ball back with 5:54 to go and drove 79 yards in 10 plays. The five-minute drive stalled as Ben Silver made a tackle on 3^rd-and-2 to force another field goal.
• Bryant started its game-winning drive at the 26, with Eckhaus scrambling for seven yards on first down. He hurried to the line and dumped it off to Byarm and the shifty back picked up 12. A 17-yard completion to Frederick followed and stopped the clock. A pass interference call on LIU on the next play pushed Bryant 15 yards down the field. Frederick then caught an eight-yard out with three seconds to go.
• Gettman's first attempt at the game-winner was waved off on a false start penalty. The junior was cool and collected, though, drilling the 37-yarder to send the Bulldogs home happy.

Stats

• LIU outgained Bryant, 412-345.
• Bryant finished with 24 first downs.
• The Bulldogs were 7-of-12 on third downs.
• Eckhaus finished 19-of-30 for 180 yards and no touchdowns.
• Clark rushed for 27 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries.
• Byarm posted 107 yards on 16 carries.
• Landon Ruggieri caught six passes for 64 yards, while Frederick had three catches for 34 yards.
• Andreessen posted 13.0 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
• Saddler collected 11.0 tackles, 1.0 sack and two pass breakups.
• Jayvis Rayside finished with 9.0 tackles.
• Jack Daly had 4.0 tackles and 1.5 TFLs, while Dyson Jr. had 2.0 sacks.
• Gettman made a 37-yard field goal and finished 3-for-3 on PATs.     

Game Notes

• Bryant improves to 3-1 against LIU at the Division I level.
• The game-winning for the Bulldogs is their first since 2018 when they walked off against Fordham.
• Gettman is now 3-for-3 on field goals this year.
• Andreessen posted the first defensive touchdown of his career.
• Andreessen has posted 10+ tackles in each of the first four games of the season.
• Eckhaus was held without a touchdown pass for the first time in his career as a starter.
• Clark posted the first multi-TD game of his career. He now has three rushing scores in the last two weeks.  
• Clark is the first player since Ricardo McCray in 2014 to rush for three touchdowns in a game.    

Up Next
Bryant opens Big South play next weekend when it travels to Greensboro to face North Carolina A&T on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.