Football Scrimmages Sacred Heart

August 26, 2004

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (8/26/04) – The Bryant University football team scrimmaged Sacred Heart University Thursday afternoon in a final tuneup for the season opener September 4 at American International College. The Bulldogs fell to the Division I-AA Pioneers 13-7 in a scrimmage that was conducted for just two quarters following a controlled-type practice for the first hour.

Both teams had trouble finding the endzone in the first quarter, but the Pioneers were finally able to break through early in the second. Pioneer quarterback Dan Ammel hit Jason Payne with a screen pass and Payne was able to elude a Bryant defender for a seven yard touchdown. The extra point attempt was blocked.

Sacred Heart’s defense would account for the team’s final score as Mike Scott blocked a Mike Lajterman (Ramsey, N.J.) punt near the goal line and Jon Wilson picked up the loose ball and returned it three yards to make it 13-0.

The Bulldogs would answer with their best drive of the afternoon. Freshman quarterback Charles Granatel (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) hit Nick Nappi (Portland, Maine) with a 20-yard touchdown strike down the middle of the field to cap a six-play, 75-yard drive by the Bulldogs.

Granatel completed six of 17 passes for 103 yards, highlighted by a 55-yard pass play to Justin Kix (Shoreham, N.Y.) down the left sideline during Bryant’s scoring drive.

The Bulldogs, under the direction of first-year coach Marty Fine, will open the 2004 season Saturday, Sept. 4 at American International College in a Northeast-10 Conference game starting at 1 p.m.. The Bulldogs will host Merrimack College the following week, Sept. 11 at Bulldog Stadium (1 p.m.).

Click here for the box score.