Bryant thrills sold out crowd with 43-37 victory

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Zevi Eckhaus threw for 235 yards and four touchdowns and Joe Andreessen posted 10.0 tackles and 3.0 tackles for a loss as the Bryant University football team picked up its first Big South victory, 43-37, over Campbell on Saturday afternoon at a sold out Beirne Stadium.

The Bulldogs scored on six-straight first-half possessions to build a 33-10 lead at the break and then held on late as the Camels scored the final 21 points to make things interesting. It marked Bryant's first Big South victory in program history.

Eckhaus finished 22-of-33 for 235 yards and four touchdowns, completing passes to nine different receivers. Ishod Byarm rushed for a career-high 148 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 30 carries. Jihad Edmond, Anthony Frederick, David Zorrilla and Matthew Prochaska, all seniors, caught touchdown passes.

Joe Andreessen led the defense with 10.0 tackles and 3.0 TFLs, while classmate Ryan Saddler had 10.0 tackles. The Bash Brothers combined for 3.0 sacks and 4.5 TFLs as the Bulldogs posted a season-high 6.0 sacks.

Game Information
Bryant 43, Campbell 37
Records: Bryant (3-6, 1-3 Big South), Campbell (4-5, 2-2 Big South)
Location: Beirne Stadium (Smithfield, R.I.)

Key Moment

• Bryant scored on six-straight first-half possessions to turn a 3-0 deficit into a 33-10 lead.      

How it Happened

• Campbell scored first on Saturday, converting a field goal to make it 3-0.
• The Bulldogs were able to take the lead on their first drive, going 61 yards in six plays. Ruggieri hauled in a 21-yard gain and Byarm put the ball at the Campbell 1 with an 11-yard rush. He then punched it home to make it 7-3.
• Eddie Jackson III then intercepted the Camels on the next possession. Gettman made a 43-yard field goal to make it 10-3.
• Gettman did it again on Bryant's next possession, connecting on a program record 56-yard field goal.
• Michael Otty then picked up a sack to force a three and out for the Camels. Bryant went 58 yards in six plays to take a 20-3 lead. Derick Eugene hauled in a 16-yard pass from Gage Moloney to kick start the drive before Eckhaus found David Zorrilla in the front corner of the endzone for the touchdown.
• Another three-and-out for Campbell followed and Bryant needed just three plays to go 69 yards. Ruggieri hauled in a 38-yard pass to start the drive and Edmond capped the drive with a 15-yard catch-and-run for the touchdown.
• Campbell would make it 27-10 on its next possession but the Bulldogs quickly answered, going 81 yards in 12 plays. Edmond and Zorrilla made long grabs to help get the drive going and Byarm converted a 3^rd-and-short to put the ball at the Campbell 18. Three plays later, Eckhaus threaded the needle to Frederick for the touchdown.
• Bryant pushed its lead to 36-10 as Gettman knocked down a 33-yard field goal on its first possession of the second half.  
• The Black and Gold extended their lead to 43-16 with 14:15 left in the fourth quarter as Prochaska capped a 10-play drive with a nine-yard touchdown reception.
• Campbell, however, answered with the next 21 points. A 48-yard touchdown reception by J. Hill with 5:53 left made it a six-point game.
• The Camels would get the ball back with 2:25 left and picked up 47 yards on the second play to put the ball at the Bryant 31. Following an offensive holding penalty, Ben Silver and Ryan Saddler produced back-to-back sacks. Lake Ellis broke up the fourth-down pass to seal the win.

Stats

• Campbell outgained Bryant, 522-411.
• The Bulldogs had a 28-22 edge in first downs.
• Bryant was 8-of-15 on third downs.
• Eckhaus finished 22-of-33 for 235 yards and four touchdowns.
• Byarm rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries.
• Ruggieri finished with 59 receiving yards.
• Frederick caught five passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.
• Edmond finished with four catches for 42 yards and a touchdown.
• Zorrilla had two catches for 21 yards and a touchdown.
• Andreessen finished with 10.0 tackles and 3.0 TFLs.
• Ryan Saddler had 10.0 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
• Jackson III and Ellis both intercepted passes.
• Sean Hunt posted 8.0 tackles.
• Ethan Gettman made three field goals.

Game Notes

• Bryant and Campbell were meeting for the first time in program history.
• Saturday was Ed Hobbes' birthday, father of Bryant SID Tristan Hobbes. The Bulldogs are now 3-0 since 2011 on November 5, Hobbes' birthday.
• The Bulldogs honored their 31 seniors prior to the game.
• Andreessen now has 100.0 tackles this season and 239.0 in his career. Andreeseen is the fourth individual in school history to record 100 tackles in a single season.
• Frederick now has 1,456 career receiving yards. The touchdown reception was the 13^th of his career, tying him with Chad Ward and Adam Ewing for sixth all-time.
• Ruggieri now has 819 receiving yards this season, the sixth-most in a season in program history.
• Ruggieri also has 53 catches this season, the fourth-most in a single season in program history.
• Zorrilla posted his 100^th-career catch, becoming the eighth player all-time to accomplish the feat.
• Eckhaus posted 3+ touchdown passes for the fifth time this season. He now has 19 TD passes on the year. The four touchdown passes tied his career high.
• Eckhaus now has 2,539 passing yards this season, the fourth-most in a single season in program history.   
• Dyson picked up a sack and now has 7.5 this season. He has 15.5 in his career, tied with Jay Stahl for ninth all-time.
• Ellis posted his second INT of the season.
• Jackson III was playing in his second game as a Bulldog and posted his first-career INT.
• Gettman's 56-yard field goal was the longest field goal in school history.
• Gettman tied his single-game record with three made field goals.
• Gettman also became the single-season record holder with 13 field goals this season.  

Up Next
Bryant will travel to Worcester, Mass., next weekend to face No. 6 Holy Cross.