A.I.C. Holds On For 15-7 Win Over Bryant in Football Saturday
September 4, 2004
BULLDOGS FALL IN SEASON OPENER 15-7
Greg Daniel had 14 tackles on Saturday
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ? American International sophomore running back Marlon Beckles rushed for 109 yards on 28 carries to lead the host Yellow Jackets to a 15-7 win over Bryant University in Northeast-10 Conference football action here Saturday. The loss spoils the debut of Bryant first-year coach Marty Fine as the Yellow Jackets improved to 6-0 all-time against the Bulldogs.
Bryant, led by freshman quarterback Charles Granatell?s (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) 218 yards passing, drops to 0-1 on the season.
The Bulldogs, displaying a new passing offense, wasted little time getting on the board in the game. On Bryant?s fifth play of its opening drive, Granatell hit Justin Kix (Shoreham, Mass.) with a 51-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0 Bryant just two minutes into the game.
But on the ensuing kickoff, Bryant tried an on-side kick, hoping to catch the Yellow Jackets off guard, but Mike Lajterman?s (Ramsey, N.J.) kick failed to go ten yards and A.I.C. started the drive on the Bulldog 45.
Bryant?s defense, which played rather well despite the warm temperatures at John Homer Miller Field, held the Yellow Jackets on downs and forced A.I.C. to punt the ball away. However, on the Bryant?s next possession, Granatell was intercepted on the Bulldog 31 and the Yellow Jackets would convert as Mark Belanger?s 19-yard field goal put the Yellow Jackets on the board with 6:23 left in the first.
The interception would be the first of three thrown by the Bulldogs, but despite the turnovers, the Bulldogs had plenty of opportunities in the game.
Perhaps the turning point of the game came with under two minutes left in the first half. Trailing 9-7, the Bulldogs put together an excellent drive and were knocking on the goal line in the final seconds looking to head into the locker room with the lead at the half. However, with a few seconds remaining and the ball on the A.I.C. 3-yard line, tailback J.P. Scott (Bronx, N.Y.) fumbled the handoff from Granatell and the Yellow Jackets were able to recover and would run out the first half clock.
Chris Peaks (Silver Spring, Md.) had a strong day running the ball for Bryant, finishing with 51 yards on 11 carries while Justin Kix (Shoreham, N.Y.) had a career-best 96 yards on four receptions. Nick Nappi (Portland, Maine) had three catches for 65 yards. Granatell, in his first collegiate game at quarterback for the Bulldogs, completed 12 of 29 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown, but was intercepted three times, with the third coming as time expired in the end zone.
Lajterman, set a new school record with a 69-yard punt in the fourth quarter, breaking his old record of 66 yards set last year at Southern Connecticut. But the story of the day was mistakes as Bryant committed eight penalties and turned the ball over four times in the game.
A.I.C., controlled the time of possession as well, holding onto the ball for 37 minutes while the Bulldogs had the ball for 22:58.
Defensively, Andrew McClarty (College Park, Md.) had a big day with 14 tackles including seven solo stops. Greg Daniel (Providence / La Salle) had 11 tackles for the Bulldogs who will return home next Saturday to host Merrimack College at Bulldog Stadium (1 p.m.).
