BRYANT FOOTBALL FALLS TO WEST CHESTER 31-29 IN NCAA FIRST ROUND

BOX SCORE

SMITHFIELD, RI - Tyler Downes interception of a Charlie Granatell pass with under two minutes remaining proved to be the decisive turnover as visiting West Chester would hold on for a 31-29 win over Bryant University in an NCAA Division II first round game here Saturday at Bulldog Stadium. West Chester (9-3) will advance to face Bloomsburg in the second round next Saturday.  Bryant, playing in its first postseason game since the program's inception in 1999, ends its season at 8-3.

Both teams combined for more than 800 yards of offense on the day, putting together excellent scoring drives throughout the afternoon as the 5,234 fans in attendance were treated by two of the nation's top offensive teams.

Bryant's Lorenzo Perry scored from six yards out midway through the fourth quarter to pull the Bulldogs to within two, 31-29 with 8:49 remaining.  Bryant's two-point conversion attempt to tie the game was intercepted by West Chester's Michael Walter, preserving the Golden Rams slight edge.  Perry finished with 132 yards on 39 carries in the game.

The Golden Rams, ranked No. 24 nationally, would start their next drive on their own 29 yard line, looking to use as much time off the clock as possible. But Bryant's defense was up to the task, stopping Brendan Hargros' run on fourth down, giving the Bulldogs another chance to take its first lead of the game and the possible win.

Converting two third down plays for first downs, the Bulldogs drove down to the West Chester 22 yard line with the clock ticking with under two minutes left. 

But on third down, Granatell, who played very well, looked to find teammate Justin Kix but was intercepted by Downes at the 20 yard line, ending Bryant's hopes for a playoff win. Granatell's interception was the only turnover of the game as the Bulldog junior signal caller completed 17 of 30 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns. 

Granatell's counterpart, Bill Zwaan of West Chester, completed seven of 12 passes for 174 yards in the game while tailback Brent Steinmetz rushed for 142 yards on 23 carries and added two rushing touchdowns. 

West Chester, playing in its third consecutive postseason, struck first as Zwaan connected with Michael Washington for a 75-yard touchdown on the game's first play from scrimmage. Bryant would strike back as Ryan Buckley hauled in an 11 yard touchdown pass from Granatell to cap a 9-play, 56 yard drive.

The two teams would continue to counter before Alex Walsh's 25-yard field goal just before the half sent the visiting Golden Rams into the locker room leading, 24-20. 

In the second, Bryant got a 26 yard field goal from Bobby Heilmann to pull the Bulldogs within 24-23 late in the third, but West Chester would counter to push the lead back to 31-23 heading into the fourth quarter.

In the final stanza, Perry's touchdown run would be the only scoring of the quarter, and the final points of the game, as Downes' interception kept the Golden Rams' season alive and into the second round of the playoffs.