Bryant University

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Nicholas Stoyanovich's 25-yard field goal with two seconds left capped an incredible rally as the Bryant football team overcame a nine-point deficit with a minute to play to defeat North Carolina A&T, 31-30, on Saturday night at Beirne Stadium.

With their third-straight victory, the Bulldogs improve to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the CAA. Bryant's 4-1 start is its best since the 2018 team also started 4-1. The Bulldogs hit the road next Saturday, traveling to in-state rival Brown for a noon kick.

Saturday night's game looked bleak for the Black and Gold after a 68-yard touchdown gave the Aggies a 30-21 lead with 2:18 to play. Bryant, however, would drive 75 yards in 12 plays to make it a two-point game. Four key receptions by Jose Leon helped put Bryant inside the 10, and Brennan Myer's shovel pass to Kendrick Agenor on 4th-and-goal from the five made it 30-28 with 0:39 to play. On the ensuing kickoff, Jack Donnelly delivered a perfectly placed onside kick that Sean Wilson Jr. recovered.

Myer would open the game-winning drive with an 11-yard completion to Keylijah Williams before scrambling for 11 more yards to put the ball at the NCAT 28. Leon came through with another big catch, hauling in a 20-yard reception through contact to put the Bulldogs to the nine. Nicholas Stoyanovich then drilled home the decisive 25-yard field goal to give Bryant its first and only lead of the night.

Game Information
Bryant 31, NC A&T 30  
Records: Bryant (4-1, 2-0), NC A&T (1-5, 1-2)

Key Moment

• Kendrick Agenor scored a touchdown to make it 30-28 with 39 seconds left. Sean Wilson Jr. would then recover an onside kick at midfield. Myer then drove the Bulldogs 42 yards in 37 seconds, setting up Stoyanovich for the game-winning field goal.

How it Happened

• The Aggies began the game with the ball and led a ten-play drive that resulted in a five-yard touchdown pass (7-0).
• With just over two minutes left in the first quarter, NC A&T scored on a pass off of a QB scramble (14-0).
• After a partially blocked punt, the Bulldogs began the drive at midfield and produced an eight-play drive that saw Sean Wilson Jr. catch two balls for 28 yards, and Jordan Bennett run in a ten-yard touchdown to cut the deficit in half with six and a half minutes left in the second quarter (14-7).
• The Aggies led a 13-play drive that was stopped in the red zone by the Bulldog defense, resulting in a 23-yard field goal with 56 seconds remaining in the first half (17-7).
• The Bulldogs fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half. The Aggies then recorded an eight-play drive that resulted in a 34-yard field goal (20-7).
• The Black and Gold began their next drive at the 9:40 mark of the third quarter and drove 83 yards, converted three fourth downs and capped off a 19-play drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown from Kendrick Agenor (20-14) at the start of the fourth quarter.
• The Aggies responded with a 13-play drive that was stopped at the one-yard line, resulting in an NC A&T chip-shot field goal (23-14) with seven minutes left in the game.
• Bryant then produced a nine-play drive that had six runs and was capped off by a Bennett one-yard rushing touchdown, his second of the game, cutting the deficit to two with 3:30 remaining in the fourth quarter (23-21).
• On the next drive, NC A&T faced a third down and hit a 68-yard touchdown pass with just over two minutes left (30-21).
• Bryant would then tally a 13-play drive with Agenor hauling in a shuffle pass for a touchdown (30-28) with 39 seconds left.
• The Bulldogs' special teams would then execute a successful onside kick, which was recovered by Sean Wilson Jr. at midfield. Jack Donnelly recorded the kick.
• After the onside kick was recovered, Myer led a drive where he hit Keylijah Williams for eleven yards and threw back-to-back passes to Jose Leon for 31 yards, setting up the Bulldogs for a game-winning field goal.
• Stoyanovuch then nailed a 25-yard field goal for the victory (31-30).

Stats

• Bryant tallied 345 total yards compared to the Aggies 356.
• The Bulldogs finished with 25 first downs, went 4-of-12 on third down and 4-of-4 on fourth down.
• Bryant scored 24 fourth-quarter points.
• NC A&T scored on 5-of-6 red zone trips, but produced touchdowns on just two of the six.
• Bennett recorded two touchdowns and 30 yards on nine carries.
• Agenor posted two total touchdowns, 30 yards on the ground and three receptions.
• Leon had a career-high 96 yards and eight receptions.
• Myer threw for 215 yards on 21-of-31 (67%) passing and a touchdown. He also ran for 34 yards.
• Drake Lusk led the defense with eight tackles.
• Ezra Carter recorded five tackles and a tackle for loss.
• Michael Fileppo posted a tackle for loss.
• Stoyanovich went 1-for-2 on field goals.

Game Notes

• Bryant is now 1-1 vs North Carolina A&T.
• Bryant is now 4-1 for the first time since 2018.
• The Black and Gold are 4-0 vs FCS opponents this season.
• This is the Bulldogs' first three-game winning streak since 2018.
• The Black and Gold earned their third CAA victory since joining the conference 
• Bennett recorded his first career multi-touchdown game. He now has four touchdowns on the season.
• This is Agenor's second career multi-touchdown game and first receiving score of the season.
• Leon set career highs in both receptions (8) and yards (96).
• This is Myer's second 200+ passing-yard game of the year and eighth in his career.
• Fileppo posted his first career tackle for loss.
• Bryant recovered their first onside kick since 2024.
• The successful onside kick was Donnelly's first kick of his collegiate career.

Next Up
Bryant will face in-state rival Brown on Saturday for a noon kickoff in Providence.