Bryant Football Travels to Assumption Saturday
Bryant University Bulldogs (1-1, 1-1 NE-10) at Assumption Greyhounds (1-1, 1-1 NE-10) Download Game Notes (pdf)

Date: Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005
Time: 1:00 p.m. kickoff
Location: Worcester, Mass.
Stadium: Assumption Stadium
Radio: http://www.assumptiongreyhounds.com/athletics/webcast/index
Series: Bryant leads 6-0
Last Meeting: Bryant 24-6, 2004
Coaches: Bryant - Marty Fine, 2nd year (5-6).
Assumption - Corey Bailey (2-10)

* Please note, the game will be broadcast via Assumption's web site

UPDATE: The Bryant University football team heads back out on the road Saturday with a Northeast-10 Conference showdown at Assumption College. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. in Worcester, Mass. The Bulldogs will look to rebound from last week¹s heartbreaking 41-40 overtime loss at Merrimack. The Bulldogs missed a pair of point after attempts including one with 1.8 seconds remaining in regulation spoiling a record-setting performance from quarterback Charles Granatell and receiver Justin Kix. The Bulldogs will return home next weekend to host Pace for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend at Bulldog Stadium.

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS OF ASSUMPTION: Assumption comes into Saturday¹s game with a 1-1 overall record, 1-1 in the NE-10 following a 13-7 overtime win over Saint Anselm on the road on Saturday. The Greyhounds opened the year with a loss to Stonehill at home but got 186 yards rushing from Austin Davis (28 carries) vs. Saint Anselm Saturday to pick up the win. Davis also threw for a touchdown in the game, hooking up with Anthony Davy for a 10-yard score. Quarterback Jon Breuer had 167 yards passing, including a one-year run TD run for the game-winner in overtime. Assumption is under the direction of second-year coach Corey Bailey who led the Greyhounds to a 1-9 record in his first season in 2004 the lone win coming against Pace.

SERIES HISTORY WITH ASSUMPTION: This will be the seventh meeting all-time between Bryant and Assumption since the Bulldogs became a varsity program in 1999. Bryant has won all six meetings including a 24-6 win on homecoming last year. Last year¹s game was played during a torrential rain-storm. Assumption was held to just 15 yards rushing in the game.

1999 20-13 Bryant @ Worcester
2000 49-13 Bryant @ Smithfield
2001 52-36 Bryant @ Worcester
2002 43-28 Bryant @ Smithfield
2003 33-6 Bryant @ Worcester
2004 24-6 Bryant @ Smithfield

THE MERRIMACK RECAP: Bryant University quarterback Charles Granatell threw for a career-high 296 yards and three touchdowns while Justin Kix had 11 catches for a career-high 127 yards receiving Saturday but the Bulldogs come up short in the final seconds, falling to Merrimack 41-40 in overtime. Bryant scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Granatell to Sean Bergin with 2:38 left in the game to tie the game at 28-28. Merrimack would answer with a solid drive, going 67 yards on eight plays, scoring on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 36 seconds left. The Bulldogs had an apparent fumble recovery called back one play before the Warrior touchdown. With just 32 seconds left on the clock, the Bulldogs went 67 yards in the final 30 seconds to tie the game at 34-34. Shane Cheltenham hauled in a 18-yard pass from Granatell across the middle down to the Merrimack 20 yard line on first down. Cheltenham had the presence of mind to get out of bounds with six seconds left on the clock. With time for one last play, Granatell hooked up with tight end Alex Chapparo for a touchdown down the middle, needing only the extra point attempt to pull out the win. The point after failed sending the game into overtime. It was the second missed extra point attempt in the game for the Bulldogs.
In the extra period, Merrimack quarterback Colin Temple hooked up with Reynaldi Audate with a 25-yard touchdown pass, Audate's only catch of the game. On Bryant's overtime possession, the Bulldogs scored yet again as Granatell had plenty of time in the pocket where he found Justin Kix with a six-yard score. Bryant, following the last miss on the extra point attempt at the end of regulation, opted to go for two with Granatell's pass falling incomplete. Temple had 432 yards passing for Merrimack while Elfren Quiles had 14 catches for 200 yards.

NEW RECORDS SET IN MERRIMACK GAME:
- Most Pass Completions: 29, Charles Granatell (previous 15 by Granatell vs. Bentley in 2004)
- Most Pass Attempts: 49, Charles Granatell (previous 32 by Granatell vs. Bentley in 2004
- Most Receiving Yards: 127 by Justin Kix (previous 104)
- Most Receptions: 11 by Justin Kix (previous record 6)
- Most total plays: 55, Charles Granatell (previous 51 by Andre McLeod vs. AIC 2000)
- Blocked kicks: 2 by Vince Norris

* Granatell's 296 yards passing were the second-most in school history. Tony Granieri had 317 vs. Bentley in 1999

THE AIC SUMMARY: Bryant opened the 2005 season in fine fashion with a 21-0 shutout win over American International College at home. The Bulldogs racked up 337 yards of offense with a strong passing (172 yards) and running game (165 yards) on the afternoon. Sophomore quarterback Charles Granatell completed 11 of 24 passes to five different receivers including a 57-yarder to Sean Bergin in the third to set up the team¹s second score. Bryant led 7-0 at the half but got a one-yard TD run by Granatell in the third and a five-yard scamper by Lorenzo Perry in the fourth to close out the scoring. The Bryant defense was the story of the game, sacking AIC's two quarterbacks four times and intercepting freshman replacement Shane Murphy three times in the game. Bryant held AIC to just 82 rushing on the day with all-conference tailback Marlon Beckles limited to just 63 yards on the ground.

QUITE THE CROWD: Bryant, which has led the Northeast-10 Conference in attendance in four of the last five years, had 4,310 fans on hand for the opener vs. AIC Sept. 3. It was the fifth-largest crowd to see at game at Bulldog Stadium. Opened in 1998 and completed in 1999 for Bryant¹s first varsity season, Bulldog Stadium seats 4,400. The most fans on hand to see a game was 5,561 in 1998 in a game vs. Assumption during Bryant¹s club season. The only crowds larger than last Saturday¹s turnout were homecoming games which coincidently is Bryant¹s next scheduled home game as the Bulldogs will host Pace on Sept. 24th for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend.