November 7, 2009

FOOTBALL FALLS AT SACRED HEART 24-14

BOXSCORE

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -  Bryant sophomore quarterback Mike Croce passed for 181 yards while Khalel Pritchard had four catches for 77 yards but it was not enough as Sacred Heart used a balance offensive attack to pick up a 24-14 win over the visiting Bulldogs on Homecoming here Saturday. 

Sacred Heart (2-7, 2-5 NEC) came into the game last in the NEC in rushing with only 100 yards per game on the year but the Pioneers, behind the hard running of Marcel Archer and Brian Friedman in the first half, gained 184 yards on the ground against a Bryant defense that had success against the run this season.

SHU took the game's opening possession and drove 71 yards for the game's first score.  With Friedman and Archer picking up big gains, the Pioneers drove deep inside Bryant territory but failed to convert on third down on the Bryant 5 yard line and had to settle for a short 22-yard field goal.

Forced to punt on its first two possessions, the Bulldogs finally got things going following a good punt return by freshman Jordan Brown up to the Bulldog 34 yard line.  On the first play from scrimmage, senior running back Lindsey Gamble broke through for a 41 yard run down to the Pioneer 25 yard line.    

Three plays later, running back Mike Canfora made amends for a dropped pass a play earlier as the junior took a Mike Croce screen pass 23 yards down to the Pioneer 6 setting up first and goal for the Bulldogs.  Canfora would later score from a yard out to put Bryant on top 7-3.     

SHU quarterback Dale Fink had a good day as the junior hit senior standout Steve Tedesco, the NEC's leading receiver, with a 30-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone to put SHU back on top 10-7.  The Pioneers would stretch the lead to 17-7 on its next drive on a 1-yard run by Archer who helped set up the score with a 49-yard run down the right sideline.

Trying to avoid falling too far behind and looking to put some points on the board before halftime, Croce moved the Bulldogs downfield with an efficient scoring drive.  An 18-yard pass play to Pritchard moved the ball across midfield and two first-down pass plays to tight ends Matt Tracey and Matthew Hunt had the Bulldogs looking to strike.

With a minute to go, Croce again connected with Pritchard across the middle on fourth down and the speedy receiver beat a pair of defensive backs into the end zone for a 31 yard score to pull the Bulldogs to within 17-14.

SHU's Fink would connect with Rich Rossi with a 16-yard score midway through the third quarter in what would prove to be the only points for either team in the second half.  Archer amassed 106 yards rushing in the first half but just three in the second half to finish with 1009.  Fink completed 19 of 32 passed for 175 yards and two touchdowns.

Tedesco, who came into the game leading the conference with 6 catches per game, had four in the first half for 60 yards.   The senior had one catch for 9 yards in the second. 

Gamble had 73 yards rushing on just six carries for Bryant while Jerell Smith had 55 yards on 13 attempts.  Croce completed 15 of 30 passes for 181 yards.  Andrew Regan led the defense with 9 tackles (7 solo) while Peter Gauthier had 8 stops.

Bryant (3-6, 2-4 NEC) will return home next weekend hosting Saint Francis (PA) for Senior Day. Kickoff is set for noon.