November 16, 2009
BULLDOGS WRAP UP ‘09 SEASON AT DUQUESNE SATURDAY
GAME NOTES (pdf) / WOON RADIO / LIVE STATS / LIVE VIDEO
After a big 35-12 win over Saint Francis (PA) last weekend on
Senior Day, the Bryant University football team heads back out to
Pittsburgh, Pa. for the second time this season when the Bulldogs
take on Duquesne University (3-7, 2-5 NEC) in the season finale
this Saturday. Kickoff is at noon. The game will be broadcast live
on WOON 1240 AM with John McCarthy and Robb Garafalo. The Bulldogs
(4-6, 3-4 NEC) snapped a five-game losing skid with a 35-12 win
over Saint Francis (PA) last week as senior tailback Jerell
Smith (Brooklyn, NY) rushed for a career-best 239 yards
and three touchdowns. For his efforts he was named the NEC
Offensive Player of the Week. Smith had 100 yards in the
first quarter alone and finished with the fifth-best single game
rushing total in school history. The 239 yards were also
season-high in the NEC this season.
The Bulldogs scored on their first three possessions and held SFPA to just two passing yards in a game that was played during a steady rain throughout the afternoon. Earlier this season, Bryant defeated Robert Morris 20-13 in Moon Township, Pa., outside of Pittsburgh. The Bulldogs are 2-0 in the state of Pennsylvania, defeating Saint Francis 23-0 last year in Loretto, Pa. In fact, Bryant is 5-0 against NEC teams from Pa., defeating Robert Morris, Duquesne, SFPA last year and this year posting wins over RMU and SFPA. At 3-4 Bryant is currently alone in sixth-place in the NEC standings, a game ahead of Duquesne (2-5). The Bulldogs were picked to finish seventh in the preseason coaches poll.
LAST YEAR VS. DUQUESNE
In the first-ever meeting between the two schools last season,
Jerell Smith rushed for 139 yards as the Bulldogs rallied from
behind to win 24-10 at Bulldog Stadium. Bryant trailed 10-9
heading into the fourth quarter but outscored the visiting Dukes
15-0 to earn the victory. Lindsey Gamble (Roxbury, MA) (94 yards)
scored on a 29-yard run early in the fourth and following a 25 yard
field goal, defensive end Cheyenne Ray (Bellport, NY) picked off a
Connor Dixon pass and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown to round
out the scoring. Bryant had 445 yards of total offense.
Dixon, now a receiver, completed 16 of 28 passes for 193 yards but
was intercepted twice.
QUICK HITS
- Saturday's game with Duquesne is the 112th game in the Bryant
football history (59-52 overall) and 22nd competing at the Division
I level.
- After last week's win over Saint Francis (PA), Bryant is now 23-8
at home in the last six seasons and now 5-1 on Senior Day games
under coach Fine. The Bulldogs were 3-2 this season on their home
turf.
- This will be the second meeting all-time between the Bulldogs and
Duquesne. Last year Bryant won 24-10 in Smithfield, RI.
- Jerell Smith (Brooklyn, NY) has 389 yards rushing in two games
against Saint Francis. Smith had 150 yards in last year's
23-0 win in Loretto, Pa.
- Smith's 239 yards Saturday was a career-best and the second time
he has gone over 200 yards in his career. Smith had 221 yards
in the win over Southern Connecticut in 2008. His 239 yards
Saturday was the fifth-best single-game rushing total in school
history. Lorenzo Perry's 313 against Stonehill in 2005 is the
most by a Bryant running back in a game.
- Smith now has gone over 100 yards in 15 games in his career and
five times this season. He had 100 yards in the first quarter
alone Saturday. His three rushing touchdowns against SFPA
gives him 17 for his career, good for fourth all-time in Bryant
history. He is currently third all-time with 2,975 rushing
yards.
- Aaron Bryant's (New London, Conn.) 4 blocked kicks is a new
school record. As a team, Bryant has a school record 7 this
season.
- Defensive back Michael Morgan (New London, Conn.) has 26 career
pass breakups, just one shy of all-time leader Bryce Martins who
has 27 from 2005-08.
- Chris Bird (Monument Beach, Mass.) made 5 PAT's Saturday giving
him 69 for his career (school record). Bird shares the school
record for PATs in a game with 7 against Saint Anselm in
2007.
- Paul Polomski (Franklin, Mass.) had five tackles to give him 217
for his career (third all-time).
- Bryant's defense held Saint Francis to 133 total yards including
just 2 passing yards in the game. Both teams combined for 12
fumbles on the rainy afternoon- mostly on quarterback snaps from
center.
- Saint Francis was 0-for-11 on third-down.
- Bryant honored 23 seniors prior to the start of Saturday's game.
This year's senior class was 16-3 at Bulldog Stadium during their
career and have been a part of 27 wins over their four-year
careers.
- Bryant has scored 22 times in 29 chances in the red zone this
year (76 percent). Opponents have scored on 21 of 26 (81
percent) visits inside the Bryant 20 yard line.
LOOKING AT DUQUESNE
Duquesne comes into Saturday's game with the Bulldogs 3-7
on the year (2-5 in the NEC) after earning a 45-42 win at Sacred
Heart last weekend. Freshman Charlie Leventry kicked a
31-yard field goal as time expired to give the visiting Dukes the
win. Leventry, DU's starting punter, was handling
placekicking duties for the first time in his career for an ill
Eric Duale and his heroics helped cap a fourth quarter that saw a
total of 45 points scored. Freshman running back Larry McCoy
tied a school record with five touchdown runs and quarterback Kevin
Rombach completed a school record 26 passes (26-for-30, 86.7
percent) for 252 yards in the win. SHU's Dale Fink
threw six touchdowns in the game for the Pioneers including four to
receiver Steve Tedesco. McCoy finished with 121 yards on 20
carries. Duquesne led 21-7 at the half only to see Sacred
Heart tie it at 21-21 entering the fourth and after falling behind,
set up the game-winning score with a drive starting on their own 33
yard line with 1:04 left and moved the ball to the SHU 14 yard line
on a 35-yard pass from Rombach to backup quarterback now receiver
Connor Dixon with two seconds left. Duquesne racked up 450
yards of total offense in the game.
