Bryant explodes for 56-10 win over SCSU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Zevi Eckhaus threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Bryant University football team to a 56-10 victory over Southern Connecticut on Saturday afternoon at Beirne Stadium.

The Bulldogs racked up 623 yards of total offense and held the Owls to just 286 yards of offense and forced a pair of turnovers. Bryant has now won each of the last three meetings with the Owls.

Eckhaus had a big bounce-back game for the Black and Gold, completing 25-of-35 for 310 yards and four touchdowns, while Anthony Frederick posted 147 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. Ryan Clark and Gary Cooper each finished with a pair of touchdowns.

Joe Andreessen finished with four tackles and became the 14^th player in program history to collect 200 career tackles. Ryan Saddler and Dontae Lunan each recorded their first-career interceptions.

Game Information
Bryant 56, Southern Connecticut 10
Records: Bryant (2-4), SCSU (0-6)
Location: Beirne Stadium (Smithfield, R.I.)

Key Moment

• Saddler's first-career INT came late in the first half and setup a Bryant score that made it 28-3 before the break.      

How it Happened

• Bryant's opening drive ended in points as the Bulldogs went 67 yards in just four plays. Byarm did the heavy lifting, picking up 21 yards on the ground before weaving his way through traffic for a 31-yard touchdown reception to cap the drive.
• The Owls answered with a 12-play drive that ended with a field goal.
• Bryant looked to extend its lead but an interception in the endzone ended the threat.
• The Bulldogs defense, however, stopped the Owls at midfield and the offense went 90 yards in 12 plays to take a 14-3 lead. A roughing the passer penalty helped extend the drive and Eckhaus' 14-yard completion to Matthew Prochaska converted a 4^th-and-6. Clark capped the drive with a one-yard plunge.
• Bryant extended its lead with a nine-play, 66-yard drive. The Bulldogs converted three times on third down, including a 32-yard reception by Frederick. On 3^rd-and-10 from the SCSU 16, Eckhaus found Cooper in the back of the endzone for the touchdown, giving the Black and Gold a 21-3 lead.
• Ryan Saddler helped Bryant extend its lead, intercepting a pass near midfield to setup a 10-play, 63-yard scoring drive. Frederick and Ruggieri had catches of 21 and 16 before Eckhaus connected with Ruggieri in the back corner of the endzone to make it 28-3.   
• Bryant wasted little time in the second half, stopping the Owls on three plays before scoring on just four plays. Eckhaus hit Frederick down the middle of the field for a 38-yard scoring strike.
• The Black and Gold added a pair of touchdowns as Clark capped a 10-play, 57-yard drive with a one-yard run, and Cooper caught a six-yard pass to cap an eight-play, 74-yard drive.
• Bryant closed its scoring in a big way as Gage Moloney connected with Derick Eugene for a 57-yard touchdown.

Stats

• Bryant outgained SCSU, 623-286.
• The Bulldogs finished 9-of-12 on third downs.
• The Bulldogs also held the ball for 36:50.
• Eckhaus finished 25-of-35 for 310 yards and four touchdowns.
• Gage Moloney came on in relief and finished 6-of-7 for 113 yards and two touchdowns.
• Frederick finished with five catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. He added 46 return yards for 147 all-purpose yards.
• Ruggieri posted six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown.
• Taylor Wright-Rawls caught four passes for 46 yards.
• Eugene finished with three catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
• Byarm rushed for 64 yards on eight carries and also caught a 31-yard touchdown pass.
• Fabrice Mukendi rushed for 61 yards on 11 carries.
• Clark added 28 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries.
• Andreessen, Lake Ellis and Saddler all finished with four tackles.
• Andreessen added a sack, while Saddler intercepted  pass.
• Lunan posted two tackles and intercepted a pass.    

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 5-6 all-time against Southern Connecticut. The Bulldogs have won each of the last three meetings.
• The Bulldogs' 56 points are tied for the third-most in program history, while the 623 yards are the second most.
• Bryant's 706 all-purpose yards are the fifth-most in program history.
• Andreessen became the 14^th player in program history to reach 200 career tackles.
• Andreessen now has 29.0 career TFLs, moving him into sole possession of 10^th place in program history.
• Frederick moved into ninth all-time in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He now has 1,305 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. Frederick passed both Matt Sewall and Tom Kennedy in yards.
• Frederick also posted his fifth-career 100-yard receiving game.
• Frederick finished with 46 return yards and now has 620 on the season, tied for the third-most in single season program history.
• Cooper posted his first-career touchdown receptions.  
• Clark posted his second multi-TD game of the year and now leads the Big South with six touchdown rushes.   
• Eckhaus threw for 300+ yards for the third time this season and the sixth time in his career.
• Eckhaus matched his career high with four touchdown passes.  
• Ruggieri collected 75+ receiving yards for the third time this season.
• Eugene caught his second touchdown pass of the season.
• Moloney threw for a pair of touchdowns for the first time in his career.

Up Next
Bryant welcomes Charleston Southern to Beirne Stadium next Saturday for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.