August 30, 2008

BRYANT COMES UP SHORT, 42-35 IN THE OPENER SATURDAY AT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT

BOX SCORE

NEW BRITAIN, CT (8/30/08) - If there were any questions as to whether the Bryant University football team was ready for Division I, Saturday's effort at Central Connecticut provided all the answers.  Facing a talented Blue Devil team in the school's season opener, Bryant pushed the hosts to the limit before coming up short, 42-35 Saturday night at Arute Field. 

Bryant rushed for 134 yards on the ground led by Jerell Smith's 93 yards on 14 carries while Lindsey Gamble gained 81 yards to go over the 1,000 yard mark for his career. 

Bryant (0-1) trailed 21-13 at the half, but roared back as the Bulldog defense kept the Blue Devil offense in check for most of the second half.  A Lindsey Gamble 24-yard run down to the Central 33-yard line early in the fourth helped set up a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jay Graber to Michael Canfora, trimming the lead Central lead down to two, 21-19.  Going for the two-point conversion, Graber hit Vinton South across the middle to complete the 2-point conversion and tie the game at 21-21.

Another strong defensive stop forced Central into another three and out by the Blue Devil offense.  But on the ensuing punt, the Blue Devils failed to get the punt off and the Bulldogs took over deep in the Central Connecticut territory. Three plays later, Gamble rumbled in from a yard out and the Bulldogs took their first lead of the game.

James Mallory finally gave Central Connecticut (1-0) fans something to cheer for in the second half as he broke free down the left side line for a 92-yard touchdown run to knot the game back up at 28-28. 

Special teams play haunted the Bulldogs and after failing to pick up a first down, Central managed to block another Bulldog punt and Cory Robinson fell on the ball in the end zone to push the Blue Devils back out in front 35-28.  

Central Connecticut opened the game blocking a Bryant punt on the Bulldogs' opening drive in the first quarter as Jordan Knight picked up the loose ball and ran it back 22 yards for the game's first score. 

Bryant would answer again, however, as Canfora and Graber hooked up for a 20-yard touchdown to tie the game at 35-35 with 4:43 left to go in the game, but a big play by Central put the game away moments later.

On second down, junior Nick Colagiovanni saved day for the Blue Devils as quarterback Aubrey Norris completed a short pass to Colagiovanni but the junior broke free through the secondary for a 70-yard touchdown to make it 42-35 with 3:25 left. The Bulldogs were unable to counter, coming short as Graber's fourth-down pass with just over a minute left fell incomplete and the Blue Devils were able to run out the clock.

Bryant finished with 350 yards of total offense as quarterback Jay Graber completed 19 of 36 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns.  Paul Polomski and Bryce Martins led the defensive effort with 10 and nine tackles respectively.

Chris Bird had a big day kicking a 37-yard field goal in the first half and adding a school-record 47-yard field goal at the end of the half to make it 21-13 at the break.  Bryant got a gift penalty from Central Connecticut as Jerell Smith made a nice 32-yard run down to the Central 29 as time expired in the half.   But a facemask penalty added 15 yard penalties, giving the Bulldogs one more play and Bird just squeaked his kick just inside the uprights.

Bryant will host former Northeast-10 Conference rival Southern Connecticut in the home opener next Saturday.  Kickoff at Bulldog Stadium is 1 p.m.  The game will be carried live on WOON-AM 1240.