Bryant University

FAIRFIELD, CONN. - OJ Ross rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns to lift the Bryant football team to a 31-23 victory over Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon at Sikorsky Credit Union Field.
 
With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the CAA. Bryant will close out the regular season next Saturday, November 21, when it hosts Rhode Island.

Ross led a Bryant rushing attack that churned out 219 yards and four touchdowns. He carried the ball 19 times for 138 yards and two scores, while Brennan Myer completed 12-of-17 for 159 yards and also added a rushing touchdown.
 
Bryant's defense was led by 10 tackles from Drake Lusk. Ezra Carter collected an interception.

Game Information
Bryant 31, Sacred Heart 23
Records: Bryant (7-4, 5-2), Sacred Heart (4-6, 4-4)

Key Moment

• The Bulldogs stopped Sacred Heart on fourth down and then drove down the field for a Jordan Bennett touchdown with under eight minutes remaining in the game, making it a two-possession game (31-16)

How It Happened
 

• The Bulldogs began the game with the ball and led a methodical 16-play drive that had 13 runs, leading to a 23-yard field goal from Nicholas Stoyanovich (3-0). The drive took eight and a half minutes.
• Sacred Heart countered with a nine-play drive that saw two 20+ yard runs and resulted in a one-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown with just under three minutes left in the first quarter (7-3).
• The Pioneers would produce an eleven-play drive that was stopped by the Bulldog defense on 3rd and 2, resulting in a 33-yard field goal at the 7:40 mark of the second quarter (10-3).
• The Bulldogs would respond with an eight-play drive that had Shamar Fowles, Koby Keenan, and Brian Williams all have a reception for 10+ yards. This set up Brennan Myer who ran it in for a seven-yard touchdown, tying the game at ten with four minutes left in the first half.
• Sacred Heart began the second half with the ball and drove to the Bulldogs five-yard line, before the Bulldog defense stopped the drive, forcing a field goal at the 8:25 mark of the third quarter (13-10) to break the tie.
• The Bulldogs would then drive down the field on the next drive, Sean Wilson Jr., came up with a clutch eight-yard catch on third down to keep the drive going. This led to a 36-yard rushing touchdown for OJ Ross on the right side, giving Bryant their first lead of the game since the opening drive of the first quarter (17-13) with four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
• The Pionners would get within the ten-yard line again, thanks to a 42-yard run. The Bulldogs defense stopped them, forcing a field goal and keeping the lead jus before the end of the third quarter (17-16).
• The Bulldogs would respond with an eight-play drive, that was capped off by a 21-yard rushing touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter to the outside for OJ Ross, his second of the day (24-16).
• The Bulldog defense stopped Sacred Heart on fourth down and then the offense drove down the field for an eight-yard Jordan Bennett touchdown. This drive was highlighted by a 37-yard highlight catch from Fowles, getting the Black and Gold inside the ten-yard line (31-16).
• SHU would counter with an eleven-play drive that resulted in a four-yard passing touchdown (31-23) with three and half remaining in the game.
• Bryant was able to pick up a pair of first downs to ice the game.

Stats

• Sacred Heart outgained Bryant, 407-378.
• The Bulldogs rushed for 219 yards and four touchdowns.
• Bryant was also 7-of-12 on third down.
• Ross ran for 138 yards on 18 carries, and tallied two touchdowns.
• Bennett ran in for a touchdown and posted 32 yards on nine carries.
• Myer had 159 yards (12-for-19) and ran in for a score as well, tallying 25 yards on the ground.
• Fowles hauled in four receptions for 74 yards, including a 37-yard reception.
• Koby Keenan posted four receptions for 41 yards.
• Drake Lusk tallied ten tackles.
• Carter recorded an interception.
• Scott Walker and Gideon Bedada each had 1.5 tackles for loss.

Game Notes

• Bryant improves to 7-6 all-time against Sacred Heart. The Bulldogs have won each of the last two meetings.
• The Bulldogs now have seven wins for the first time since 2021. Bryant's five conference wins are also its most since 2021.
• Ross posted his second game this season with 100+ rush yards.
• This is his first career multi-touchdown game.
• Bennett now leads the Bulldogs with seven rushing touchdowns.
• He has a rushing touchdown in three straight games.
• Myer tallied his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, a career-high, and his second in a row.
• Fowles had his fifth game of 50+ yards and his third in a row.
• Kennan recorded a career-high 41 yards receiving.
• Lusk had his fourth game of 10+ tackles

Next Up
Bryant welcomes URI on Saturday for senior day and the regular season finale. Kickoff is set for 1:20 p.m. and the game will air on Prime.