Projo Sports Blog

Junior running back Jerell Smith helped the Bryant University football team avenged last year's NCAA playoff loss to Southern Connecticut with a 39-36 victory Saturday at Smithfield in front of 2,417 fans. Smith's 221 yards on 34 carries and two fourth quarter touchdowns helped seal the game for the Bulldogs. Key defense and special teams play in the final period of play also played a major part in the victory
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After the Owls took a 28-21 lead late in the third quarter, Bryant got an interception from Samad Wagstaff as the third quarter came to a close that resulted in Smith's first touchdown, a 10-yard run with 14:19 remaining in the game. The failed kick kept the Bulldogs behind at 28-27.

Southern Connecticut fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Smith's second touchdown of the afternoon, a five-yard run, a minute later gave the Bulldogs the lead for good even though the Bryant pass conversion failed. After another mishandled kickoff by the Owls, Mike Canfora closed out the scoring for the Bulldogs a little more than two minutes later with a one-yard plunge. Once again Bryant failed to convert the pass.

Backup quarterback Kevin Lynch rallied the Owls with a six-yard toss to Pete Digangi to pull within three with 7:53 remaining but after a punt by Bryant, Lynch threw another interception and the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock.

Bryant will host former Northeast-10 Conference rival Merrimack College next Saturday for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend. Kick-off at Bulldog Stadium is 1 p.m.

 Tags  Bryant University College football

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