Bryant eases past Greyhounds 38-28 in Homecoming Northeast-10 football slugfest
September 22, 2007
BRYANT 38, ASSUMPTION 28
WORCESTER, Mass. --- Sophomore running back LINDSEY GAMBLE (Boston, MA/Reading) rushed for four touchdowns and a career-high 182 yards to lead Bryant University past Assumption College, 38-28, in a Northeast-10 Conference football game here SATURDAY at the Multi-Sport Stadium.
Senior quarterback CHARLIE GRANATELL (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Ramapo) played well in a support role completing 18-of-30 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown, while senior strong safety MARCUS LINDSEY (Bridgeport, CT/Central) made a team-high 9-1--10 tackles.
For Assumption College freshman running back HERBERT WOODARD (Salem, NJ/Salem) rushed 23 times for 127 yards and a touchdown and junior quarterback TAYLOR HUMPHREY (Lafayette, CA/Miramonte) completed 21-of-39 passes for 235 yards and a score. Defensively, junior free safety CHRIS MARTINO (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) finished with a career-best 6-8--14 tackles and a pair of break-ups.
After Bulldog junior punter BRIAN DONNELLY (East Dennis, MA/Yarmouth) knocked a punt 46 yards into the endzone the Hounds drove 80 yards in eight plays to take the lead in the first period.
A 37-yard pass from Humphrey to senior wide out JAKE BEERS (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) and four rushes by Woodard totaling 36 yards set the Hounds up at the one-yard line. Humphrey sneaked in for the touchdown and senior JON EISELE (Lower Gwynedd, PA/Vermont Academy) kicked the conversion for a7-0 advantage,
The Bulldogs would answer on the next possession driving 60 yards in 11 plays for a 23-yard field goal by freshman CHRISTOPHER BIRD (Monument Beach, MA/Bourne). Sophomore running back JERELL SMITH (Brooklyn, NY/Saint Francis Prep) carried five times for 29 yards and Granatell connected with senior tight end TYLER DI GIOVANNI (Columbia, CT/Windham) for 14 yards to highlight the drive. Hounds' senior defensive back MIKE MOONAN (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) made a key defensive breakup on the third-down play in the endzone to force the field goal attempt.
The Bulldogs would assume command on their next series as the Greyhounds were stopped on a fourth-down and one play at the Assumption 30. Bryant then drove for the go-ahead points highlighted by three Gamble rushes for 18 yards and a 12-yard Granatell pass to junior tight end JARRETT SOLIMANDO (DeMarest, NJ/DeMarest). Gamble scored from five yards out on an off-tackle left play and Bird converted for a 10-7 lead with 7:28 left in the half.
The second big play of the first half came as Gamble raced 73 yards to set his team up at the Hounds one with just 40 seconds left. Granatell found sophomore tight end DOUG EMERZIAN (Rowley, MA/Triton Regional) on the last play of the half. Bird's conversion made it 17-7 at the break.
In the third period the Bulldogs drove 40 yards in five plays to make it 24-7 (with Bird's conversion) as Gamble finished the march with a one-yard plunge. A Granatell 24-yard pass to senior wide receiver SEAN BERGIN (New Windsor, NY/Newburgh Free) highlighted the drive.
The Greyhounds then came-to-life cashing in a fumble recovery by senior end JARED KELLY (Canton, MA/Xaverian)---forced by freshman linebacker JEFF MOORE (Worcester, MA/St. John's). Humphrey scored on a 18-yard keeper around right end on the first play. Eisele's conversion made it 24-14.
Bryant answered as Gamble rushed four times for 34 yards---including the final 22 for the touchdown (with Bird conversion)---and Granatell pass to Bergin for 25 more as the Bulldogs moved to a 31-14 lead.
Assumption would then score two touchdowns to make it a three-point game at 31-28.
Granatell was sacked by Bates who forced a fumble and subsequent recovery by Moore at the Greyhound 36. Humphrey found junior wide out JOEY FABIANO (Westwood, MA/Westwood) for 21 yards, Woodard rushed for five more and then Humphrey found sophomore wide receiver DAVID CANNEY (Templeton, MA/Narragansett) for 13 yards. Woodard then rushed three times---the first for 20 yards right up-the-middle---for the score (followed by Eisele's conversion).
On their next series they drove 84 yards in nine plays. Woodard rushed five times for 36 yards and Humphrey completed two passes to Beers for 11 yards and eight yards for the score.
The Bulldogs would extend the lead to 10 points on the ensuing series keyed by a pair of Granatell-to-Solimando passes for 16 and 31 yards. Gamble's fourth TD with 5:25 left sealed it.
GREYHOUNDS NOTES: freshman running back HERB WOODARD (Salem, NJ/Salem) is only the third Greyhound to rush for over 400 yards in consecutive games . . . Rich Dandini (1987) (429 yards vs. Providence (241) and M.I.T. (188) . . . Woodard (2007) (404 vs. Saint Anselm (277) and Bryant (127) . . . and Billy DeMalia (2000) (403 vs. Stonehill (306) and Pace (97) . . . he leads the team with 441 yards on 52 carries and averages 8.5 per attempt.
Junior quarterback TAYLOR HUMPHREY (Lafayette, CA/Miramonte) has completed 62-of-122 passes (54.9) for 801 yards and five touchdowns . . . he is only the second Greyhound quarterback to have more than 20 completions in a game (Chad Carges '01 did it four times).
Senior wide out JAKE BEERS (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) had five catches for 86 yards to run his season totals to 14 catches for 195 yards and his career numbers to 122 catches (just 18 to tie Eric Mauer '01 record of 140) for 1,486 yards (behind Don Kinney '89 (1,686) and Mauer (2,166) . . . he has now caught a pass in 18 straight games.
Sophomore wide out DAVID CANNEY (Templeton, MA/Narragansett) had seven catches for 85 yards to run his season totals to 27 catches for 374 yards.
Defensively, Martino (6-8--14), junior linebacker MITCHELL WELCH (Southington, CT/Southington) (5-7--12), freshman strong safety KEITH BATES (Holden, MA/Wachusett) (4-7--11) and senior linebacker JEFF SLOAT (Auburn, ME/Edward Little) (5-5--10) all had career-best game tackle totals.
NEXT WEEK: the Greyhounds (1-3, 1-2) are at Northeast-10 Conference rival Bentley College FRIDAY at 7 p.m., Bryant (3-0, 3-0) hosts conference rival Pace University SATURDAY at 1 p.m.
