October 10, 2009
BRYANT FOOTBALL FALLS TO FORDHAM 35-7 SATURDAY NIGHT
Bulldogs Travel to Albany Next Week
BOX SCORE
BRONX, NY - The Bryant University football team saw its two-game
win streak come to an end as the Bulldogs dropped a 35-7
non-conference decision at Fordham University Saturday night at
Jack Coffey Field. The loss drops Bryant to 3-2 on the
season while Fordham, winners of two straight after opening the
year 0-3, improves to 2-3 on the year.
In the first-ever matchup between the two schools, Bryant had
trouble containing Fordham's standout quarterback John
Skelton. A 6-foot-5, 258-pound senior from El Paso, TX,
Skelton came into Saturday's game red-hot after throwing for more
than 400 yards against Old Dominion last week to earn Patriot
League Player of the Week honors. Against Bryant Saturday,
the burly quarterback continued to air it out, completing 18 of 32
passes for 183 yards, plus throwing for two touchdowns and rushing
for another in the victory.
The Bulldogs fell behind early as Fordham scored twice on its
first two possessions to lead 14-0 after one quarter of play.
Skelton's 34-yard touchdown run in the second put the hosts up
21-0.
The Bulldogs had a golden opportunity to get on the board just
before halftime as sophomore defensive back Samad
Wagstaff picked off a Skelton pass deep in Fordham
territory. But the Bulldogs failed to get in the end zone as
a Mike Croce pass intended for receiver
Khalel Pritchard in the back of the end zone on
fourth and goal from the 15-yard line fell incomplete.
The Rams would make the Bulldogs pay, marching 85 yards in just
over three minutes and scoring on a 1-yard touchdown pass from
Skelton to his brother Stephen Skelton with 26 seconds left to make
it 28-0 at the break.
Bryant would finally get on the scoreboard late in the third as
Tim Mastrino hauled in a 28-yard touchdown pass
from quarterback Croce to make it 28-7. But
that was all the Bulldogs would get as the Rams held Bryant to just
219 yards offensive including 134 yards on the
ground. Jerell Smith, last week's NEC
Co-Offensive Player of the Week, led Bryant with 86 yards rushing
on 19 carries. Croce completed 12 of 28 passes for just 85 yards.
Bryant will travel to Albany next Saturday for a 1 pm game.
