September 27, 2008
BRYANT FOOTBALL
BRYANT FOOTBALL EARNS ITS FIRST WIN OVER DIVISION I
OPPONENT AS BULLDOGS DOWN WAGNER, 24-14 SATURDAY
BOX SCORE
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.
(9/27/08) -
Bryant tailback Jerell Smith (Brooklyn, NY)
rushed for 143 yards on 31 carries and the Bulldog defense turned
in one of its finest games of the season as the Bulldogs knocked
off Wagner College 24-14 Saturday.
The win is Bryant's first over a Division I opponent in six
tries and the first this season over a member of the Football
Championship Subdivision (Bryant defeated DII Merrimack and
Southern Connecticut earlier this year).
"We did a good job on defense today and got a couple of big
plays right when we needed it," said Bryant coach Marty Fine
following the game. "The defense really made some things
happen and we were able to stay to our game plan and come out with
a great win today."
Jay Graber completed 8 of 17 passes including a clutch 20 yard
while Lindsey Gamble added 44 yards rushing in the victory.
But the story of the day was the play of the Bulldog defense
that held Wagner to just 219 yards of offense - including 100 yards
through three quarters - before 1,467 on a wet and dreary day at
Wagner College Stadium.
Bryant overcame a pair of fumbles on punt returns in the game,
but made the plays when they had to. It didn't hurt much in
that Wagner's offense struggled against the Bryant defense all
afternoon.
Wagner did strike first as quarterback Adam Farnsworth hit tight
end Peter Zagorski with a short pass but the senior was able to
break a few tackles and rumbled down the home side line for an
80-yard score. But the play was the only highlight on
the day for the Seahawks who were penalized seven times in the game
- including several unnecessary roughness penalties.
But the Bulldog defense, coming into the game shorthanded with
several starters out of the game, stormed right back to take
command of the game.
An Andre Whyte block of a Kyle Muir punt attempt was recovered
by Anthony Castelli who returned it 4 yards to tie the game at 7-7.
Later in the first, free safety Bryce Martins helped set up the
go-ahead score intercepting Adam Farnsworth inside the Wagner 20
yard line and returning it to the 15. One play later, Lindsey
Gamble scored from four yards out to make it 14-7.
The wet conditions caused more special teams trouble for Wagner
as Muir couldn't handle another snap on a punt attempt and the
Bulldogs took over near midfield.
Bryant was able to drive down to the Wagner 3 yard line, aided
by a beautiful pass from Graber to tight end Jarrett Solimando
across the middle. But the Bulldogs couldn't get into the end
zone but did come away with three points on a Chris Bird 20 yard
field goal to make it 17-7.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with an efficient 8 play, 46
yard drive capped by a Graber 7 yard touchdown pass to Staten
Island, N.Y. native Anthony DiNaso to make it 24-7.
Another defensive surge helped put the game away in the waning
minutes. With the Seahawks driving late in the fourth,
a Samad Wagstaff blitz from the blind side forced an errant pass by
backup quarterback Matt Abbey as John Suarez picked off Abbey and
returned the ball deep into Wagner territory.
Martins led the way with six tackles while Paul Polomski
(Franklin, MA) had five tackles. Defensive end Don Smith
(Attleboro, MA) had a huge day, finishing with five tackles plus
two big sacks.
"It was a special day for him (Smith) today and for the entire
team," added Fine.
Bryant will have a bye this weekend and will return to action
Saturday, October 11th when the Bulldogs travel to face
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY (6 pm).
