SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University football team fell to Holy Cross by a score of 43-22 on Saturday at Beirne Stadium.
 
Jarrett Guest threw for 255 yards with two touchdowns while producing 84 yards on the ground. Landon Ruggieri had five catches for 87 yards and a score, and Fabrice Mukendi recorded 61 all-purpose yards with a receiving touchdown.
 
Lonnie Rice led the defense with nine tackles, and Collin Elliot produced five tackles and his first career sack.
 
Markiel Cockrell blocked a punt that Chris Yates recovered in the endzone.

 
 
Game Information
 Holy Cross 43, Bryant 22
Records: Bryant (1-2, 0-0), Holy Cross (1-2, 0-0)
Location: Beirne Stadium (Smithfield, R.I.)


Key Moment
 

• The Crusaders scored a touchdown to end the first half, gain the lead (21-16), and then held the Bulldogs to six second-half points while tallying 22.

 
How it Happened
 

• Bryant forced a three-and-out on the game's first drive and followed that possession with a seven-play drive capped off by a Bryce Soli field goal (3-0).
• On the ensuing kickoff, Harris-Lopez of the Crusaders returned the kick-off 90 yards, giving Holy Cross the lead (7-3).
• The Bulldogs then began the next drive on their own 20 and quickly moved to mid-field off of a 28-yard pass to Drew Montez. The guest then found Ruggieri twice, including a ten-yard score in the back corner of the endzone, regaining the lead for Bryant (10-7).
• The Crusaders were then pinned inside the ten off of a Steve Lubischer special teams tackle. Holy Cross went three out and punted out of their endzone, which was blocked by Cockrell and recovered by Yates for the Bulldog's score to end the first quarter (16-7).
• Holy Cross cut the lead to two with four minutes left in the second quarter from a seven-play touchdown drive, scoring off of an 8-yard pass (16-14).
• With two minutes remaining in the first half, the Crusaders led a four-play touchdown drive, converted on a 30-yard TD pass, to take the lead from the Bulldogs at halftime (21-17).
• The Black and Gold began the second half with the ball and then turned the ball over off of an interception at mid-field.
• HC responded with an eight-play TD drive, scoring off of a rushing touchdown punched in from the one-yard line (28-16).
• The Crusaders scored before the third quarter's end on a six-play touchdown drive (35-16).
• The Bulldogs, to begin the fourth quarter, produced an eight-play touchdown drive, which was led by two rushes for 30 yards by Guest and a 12-yard receiving TD by Mukendi (35-22).
• The game was put out of reach when Holy Cross recorded a 13-play touchdown drive that took nine minutes off the clock, giving the Bulldogs the ball back down 21 with three minutes remaining in the game (43-22).

 
 
Stats
 

• Guest tallied 255 yards and two scores through the air, producing 84 yards on the ground (334 all-purpose).
• Ruggieri caught five passes for 87 yards and a score.
• Mukendi had 61 all-purpose yards and a receiving TD.
• Rice recorded nine tackles to lead the Bulldogs.
• Devon Anderson produced six tackles and a TFL.
• Elliot registered 1.5 TFLs and a sack.
• Cockrell blocked a punt, which Yates recovered for a score.

 
Game Notes
 

• Guest threw his second consecutive game of 200+ yards.
• Guest produced a career-high 84 yards rushing.
• Ruggieri scored for his second straight game. He has recorded 14 catches for 216 yards and four TDS in the last two games.
• Elliot tallies his first career sack.
• Anderson has two consecutive games with a TFL.
• Rice recorded a career-high nine tackles.
• The Bulldogs registered their first special teams TD of the season.
• Bryant has recorded a block in back-to-back contests.
• Mukendi tallied his second career receiving TD.

 
Next Up
Bryant will head north to face CAA opponent UNH in Durham on Saturday.