Historic Saturday for Bryant Football; Bulldogs win, 35-6

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Ryan Saddler posted nine tackles and two interceptions and Landon Ruggieri hauled in three touchdowns and set the single-season record for receptions as the Bryant University football team closed out the 2022 season with a 35-6 victory over Robert Morris on Saturday afternoon in Moon Township.

With the victory, the Black and Gold finish the season with a 4-7 overall record and a 2-3 record in the Big South. The Bulldogs finish third in the Big South standings.

Saddler led an inspired defense that allowed just 280 yards of total offense. He finished with nine tackles, 1.0 sack and two interceptions. Colin Elliott added 8.0 tackles, while Joe Andreessen finished his record-breaking season with 5.0 tackles.

Zevi Eckhaus wrapped up his career year as well, finishing 23-of-35 for 341 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He completed passes to 12 different receivers including eight to Ruggieri who finished with 102 yards and three scores. Anthony Frederick posted four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Game Information
Bryant 35, Robert Morris 6
Records: Bryant (4-7, 2-3 Big South), Robert Morris (0-11, 0-5 Big South)
Location: Joe Walton Stadium (Moon Township, Pa.)

Key Moment

• Following Bryant's first touchdown, Andreessen provided pressure on the QB and Saddler intercepted the pass. The turnover helped setup another Bulldog score to make it 14-0.      

How it Happened

• Both offenses started slow on Saturday as the teams traded six possessions before the Bulldogs were able to break through.
• The Bulldogs drove 87 yards in seven plays to get on the board. Edmond opened the drive as he rumbled 33 yards down the visitor sideline. A third-down completion to Frederick extended the drive and AC White put the ball at the RMU 17 with a 16-yard reception. Eckhaus then found Ruggieri in the back corner of the endzone on the next play.
• Bryant's defense got the ball right back as Andreessen applied pressure and Saddler made a tumbling interception near midfield. The drive started slow as a sack set Bryant in 2^nd-and-23 but Eckhaus completed passes of 11 and 22 to Gary Cooper and Frederick to put the ball on the RMU 14. He then hit Ruggieri on the slant for the 14-yard touchdown.
• The Black and Gold extended their lead in the third quarter with a 14-play, 92-yard drive. It got started thanks to a defensive stop on 4^th-and-short. The Bulldogs picked up 24 yards on a completion to Kyle Cichanowsky and 15 more on a completion to David Zorrilla. A 10-yard completion to Ruggieri converted a third down and put the ball at the 13. Four plays later, Ishod Byarm punched it in from two yards out to make it 21-0.
• Bryant extended its lead with one play as Eckhaus connected with Frederick for a 61-yard touchdown.
• The Bulldogs' final score of the game came with 10:54 left as Ruggieri was able to separate from his defender and make a terrific catch in the front corner of the endzone.

Stats

• Bryant finished with a 486-280 advantage in total offense.
• The Bulldogs finished with 28 first downs and went 7-for-11 on third downs.
• Bryant had scoring drives of 87 yards and 92 yards.
• Eckhaus finished 23-of-35 for 341 yards and four touchdowns. He was intercepted twice.
• Frederick posted four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
• Ruggieri caught eight passes for 102 yards and three TDs.
• Edmond finished with three catches for 43 yards.
• Byarm rushed for 64 yards and a TD on 17 carries.
• Cichanowsky finished with 22 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards.
• Saddler posted 9.0 tackles, two interceptions and a sack.
• Elliott had 8.0 tackles, while Lake Ellis posted 6.0 tackles and a TFL.
• Andreessen finished with 5.0 tackles.

Game Notes

• Bryant improves to 10-3 all-time against Robert Morris. The Bulldogs are 4-3 in Moon Township.
• Bryant closes the season 4-7 overall and 2-3 in the Big South. The Bulldogs finish third in the Big South standings.
• Bryant finished the year averaging 33.3 points per game and 429.0 yards per game. The 33.3 ppg are the most in the Big South and the most in DI program history, only trailing the 2006 team that averaged 33.6.
• The 429 yards of total offense per game are also a single-season school record.
• Ruggieri completed a historic season, finishing with 65 catches for 972 yards. He becomes the second player (Jordan Harris) in school history to post 60+ receptions in a single season. Harris did it twice. Ruggieri also joins Harris as the only players in school history with 900+ receiving yards in a single season.
• The 65 receptions broke Harris' record of 64 which was set in 2013. They are also the most in the Big South.
• Ruggieri finished the year with five 100-yard receiving games.
• Ruggieri and Frederick become the first teammates to have 100 receiving yards in the same game since Frederick and Hunter Hill did it in 2019.
• Eckhaus also completed a historic season, joining Price Wilson as the only players in school history to throw for 3,000 yards in a single season. Eckhaus finished with 3,228 yards.
• Eckhaus now has 5,620 passing yards in his first two seasons. He moved past Mike Croce into fourth place all-time on Saturday.
• Eckhaus also finished the year with 253 completions, a career-high and the second-most (257) in a single season in program history.
• Eckhaus finished the year with 26 touchdown passes, the second-most in a single season in program history. Eckhaus now has 47 in his two-year career, the third-most in program history.
• Eckhaus posted 3+ touchdown passes for the seventh time this season and threw for 300+ yards for the sixth time.  
• Eckhaus finished the year with 3,393 yards of total offense. It is the most in a single season in school history, breaking the previous record of 3,263. Eckhaus also became the third player in school history with 6,000+ yards of total offense (6,027).
• Andreessen finished his historic season with 116.0 tackles, including 77 solo tackles.
• Andreessen ends his Bryant career with 256 tackles, tied for the third-most in program history.
• Andreessen finished with 18.5 TFLs this season, the fourth-most in a single season in program history.
• Andreessen finished with 37.5 career TFLs, the seventh-most in school history.
• Saddler finished the year with 96.0 tackles, a new career high and the seventh-most in a single season.
• Saddler also became the 15^th player in school history to record 200 career tackles. He finishes his career with 204.
• Saddler's two interceptions give him three on the year, which is second in the Big South.
• Frederick's sixth-career 100-yard game gives him 1,621 career receiving yards, moving him past Sean Bergin and into fourth place all-time at Bryant.
• Frederick now has 105 receptions in his career, tying him with Matt Tracey for 6^th all-time.
• Frederick finished with five receiving TDs and gives him 14 in his career, tying him with Justin Kix for fifth all-time.
• Frederick finished the year with 1,535 all-purpose yards, the ninth-most in a season in program history. He now has 2,485 for his career, moving him into ninth place in school history.
• Zorrilla posted his 101^st career reception, pushing him into eighth in program history. He finishes with 1,203 career receiving yards.
• Byarm finishes the year with six total touchdowns (5 rush, 1 receive).
• Gettman finished his season with 14 field goals and 40 PATs for 82 points. The 82 points are the most by a kicker in school history and tied for the 8^th-most among all players. It is the most points by a Bryant player since Ricardo McCray finished with 90 points in 2014.
• Gettman's 40 PATs tied him with Tom Alberti for the second-most all-time and the most in a single season in DI program history.