October 2, 2010

COMEBACK FALLS SHORT IN 29-21 LOSS AT WAGNER SATURDAY
Bulldogs Host Sacred Heart Next Weekend For Homecoming & Reunion Weekend

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – A potential game-tying drive at the end of regulation ended with a fumble the Bryant University football team dropped a heartbreaker 29-21 at Wagner College Saturday afternoon in Northeast Conference action.

For the fifth-straight game, Bryant's (3-2, 0-2 NEC) offense was able to cash in on its first drive after the Bryant special teams blocked its third punt of the season.  Three plays later, sophomore running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) ran it in for his eighth touchdown of the season from two yards out to give Bryant a 7-0 edge.

On the ensuing possession Wagner's offense drove the ball down to the Bryant 5-yard line where Jason Riffe(Newton, Mass.) would strip the ball on a quarterback draw to give Bryant possession  inside its own three-yard line. 

Wagner (2-2, 1-1) would take advantage on defense, sacking quarter Mike Croce (Waterbury, Conn.) in the back of the endzone to make the score 7-2.

The home team would go on to score ten unanswered points to end the first quarter. 

Facing a third down and eight in the beginning of the second quarter, Croce dropped back in the pocket and found a flanking Brown who made several defenders miss before racing down the sideline for a 48-yard touchdown putting Bryant up 13-12.

Wagner would take a 22-13 lead into the locker room thanks to a 6-yard touchdown pass from Doscher to Chris Jaeger and a 30-yard field goal by Lopez.

Wagner would open the second half with a quick strike after a fumbled snap on a Bryant punt to go up 29-13.  Bryant quickly gained momentum back after freshman Jeremy Woodson (Fresno, Tex.) ran the ensuing kickoff 53 yards to the Wagner 25-yard line.  Three plays later, Mike Canfora (Verona, N.J.) trucked his way through the line of scrimmage for his seventh rushing touchdown of the season bringing the team back to within a touchdown plus conversion.

Riffe would step up once again, blocking a Wagner 27-yard field goal attempt to give the Bulldogs one last chance with just under two minutes to play.

Taking over on their own 20, the Bulldogs (3-2, 0-2 NEC) went nowhere early, taking a sack and losing 13 yards on a reverse.  Facing third and 26, quarterback Mike Croce (Waterbury, Conn.) hooked up with tight end Matt Tracey (Littleton, Colo.) for a 31 pass play for a first down.

A 10-yard run by tailback Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) moved the ball down to the Wagner 34 yard with under a minute left.  But following an incomplete pass, the Bulldogs coughed up the ball on a bad snap and Wagner was able to recover and run out the clock.

Brown finished with 102 yards rushing on 18 carries, marking the fifth time this season he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark.  Andrew Regan (West Newbury, Mass.) led the Bulldogs in tackles with a career-high 13 on the day, while Riffe had another solid outing, recording 12 tackles, forcing two fumbles and one blocked field goal.

Bryant returns home to face NEC rival Sacred Heart Saturday at 1 p.m. for Homecoming 2010. Fans can watch every minute live on bryantbulldogs.tv or listen at www.bryantbulldogs.com.