Bryant too tough for St. Anselm
Smithfield, R.I. -- Taking on its first Division I opponent since the 2003 season, the Saint Anselm College football team dropped a 44-21 decision to Football Championship Subdivision opponent Bryant University on Saturday afternoon in front of 1,867 fans at a sunny Bulldog Stadium.
After a three and out by the Hawks on the game's first possession, Bryant took possession at midfield and capped off a scoring drive with a 19-yard rush off the left tackle by sophomore Jordan Brown 4:22 into the opening quarter.
With the score 7-0 after one quarter, the Bulldogs took advantage of a Hawk turnover to make the score 14-0 with 13:24 left in the second quarter. After Bryant pinned Saint Anselm at the 2-yard line on a punt, Hawk quarterback Michael Pierce had his pass from the end zone intercepted by Samad Wagstaff, who returned it 23 yards to the 2-yard line. Senior Michael Canfora rumbled into the end zone on the next play..
Midway through the second quarter, Bryant got a 61-yard rush down the near sideline from Brown, down to the 5-yard line to set up a first-and-goal for the Bulldogs. On third down, Bryant tried to connect in the back of the end zone, but the pass from Mike Croce was picked off by Saint Anselm's Mark Colantonio to end the scoring threat.
The Bulldogs made it 21-0 with 4:13 left in the first half when Franck Tebou blocked the punt by Shea Cerio, which Tebou then recovered at the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Brown scored his second TD of the day to extend the Bryant lead late in the half. Bryant extended the lead to 27-0 with 2:38 left as Wagstaff picked off his second Pierce pass of the day, returning it 53 yards for the touchdown.
Saint Anselm got on the board with 1:20 left in the half, when Pierce found freshman Justin Bernard open on the right side for a 37-yard scoring pass to help cut the lead to 27-7.
The Hawks tried an onside kick to start the third quarter, but the Bulldogs took advantage and returned the kick to the Saint Anselm 22-yard line. After a 15-yard rush by Canfora made it a first-and-goal situation, the Hawks held the Bulldogs to a 22-yard field goal by Chris Bird to make it 30-7.
Bryant added to the lead midway through the quarter as Brown scored his third rushing touchdown of the afternoon, dodging a pair of Hawk tacklers for the 9-yard score and the 37-7 advantage.
The Hawks inserted junior Marc Wilson at quarterback for the ensuing series and on a third-down play, he was picked off to set up a nine-yard touchdown run by Canfora to make it a 44-7 score with 5:51 left in the third. Wilson picked up the second Hawk touchdown of the game with 3:35 left in the third as he pulled down a 9-yard touchdown pass from Pierce to make it a 44-14 score. Wilson was split wide left, pulled down the pass at the 2-yard line and scrambled in for the score. The score was set up by a 26-yard rush up the sideline by Wilson and a 19-yard reception by senior Marcel Bouie.
Saint Anselm cut the lead to 44-21 with 7:20 left as Pierce found a wide open Brandon Gomes behind the Bulldog defensive backs for a 43-yard TD pass.
Pierce finished 22 of 37 for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman Keith Charles finished with 19 carries for 52 yards. Wilson was the leading receiver for the Hawks. He pulled down seven catches for 52 yards with one touchdown.
Sophomore safety Ethan Sylvain led the Hawks with 10 tackles
The loss dropped Saint Anselm to 0-2 overall. The Bulldogs improved to 2-0. The all-time series now stands at 7-3 in favor of Bryant.
Saint Anselm returns to the field on next Saturday, when the Hawks will face Bentley University at Grappone Stadium (1 p.m.).
