September 25, 2010

BRYANT FOOTBALL FALLS TO CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 41-24
Linebacker Jason Riffe Sets School Record with 17 Tackles

Jason Riffe set a school record with 17 tackles against Central Connecticut Saturday. (Bryant Athletic Communications photo)

NEW BRITAIN, CONN. – Despite another 100-yard rushing performance from sophomore Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, Conn.) and a school record defensive performance by linebacker Jason Riffe (Newton, Mass.), the Bryant University football team came up short Saturday, falling to Central Connecticut State 41-24 on a warm and humid afternoon at Arute Field.

After winning three straight to start the season, the Bryant University football team (3-1, 0-1 NEC) dropped its first game of the season against Central Connecticut State University (2-2, 1-0) Saturday afternoon. 

Playing on the road for the first time this season, things started well for the Bulldogs (3-1, 0-1 NEC) who raced out to a quick 10-0 lead in the first quarter. 

On its first possession, Bryant drove 76 yards in nine plays with Brown rushing the ball for 40 yards in the drive and scoring his seventh touchdown of the season, a 15-yard run up the middle to put the Bulldogs up 7-0.  

The key play of the drive came on a nice 30-yard pass completion from quarterback Mike Croce (Waterbury, Conn.) to tight end Matt Tracey (Littleton, Colo.) on third down moving the ball deep inside CCSU territory.

On Central Connecticut State's ensuing possession, the Blue Devils would attempt a fake punt on fourth and two, but Bryant's defense stepped up and denied the pass, giving the offense great field possession on the Blue Devils' 38 yard line.  The Bulldogs were able to get inside the red zone but settled for a field goal to make it 10-0. 

From there, the Blue Devils went to work offensively.  

Running back Everett Benjamin, a transfer from Hofstra University, would score twice in just under three minutes early in the second including one on a 42-yard run to put the hosts ahead for the first time in the game, 14-10.  

The Blue Devils would add a field goal just before the half to head to the locker room leading 17-10.

Bryant close to within three twice in the second half after a Shavoy Lawrence Paterson, N.J.) 60-yard end-around down the Bryant sideline and a Doug Emerzian (Rowley, Mass.) 3-yard touchdown reception to pull the Bulldogs to within 27-24 with 4:27 left in the third. 

But that would be as close as the Bulldogs would get as Central Connecticut pulled away with two more scores.

Brown finished with 123 yards rushing on 22 carries while freshman Jordan Harris (Lincoln University, Pa.) had three catches for 65 yards.  Jason Rife (Newton, Mass.) led the way with a school record 17 tackles to lead the way defensively while teammate Joshua Janes (Portsmouth, R.I.) had 11 tackles.

Benjamin led the way for CCSU with 188 yards rushing while quarterback Gunnar Jespersen gained 108 yards on the ground.

Bryant will travel to Wagner next Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.