April 21, 2007

BRYANT SPRING FOOTBALL GAME
Black Defeats White 42-24 Saturday Afternoon

SMITHFIELD, RI -  The Bryant University football team concluded its 2007 spring practice with the annual Black & Gold game Saturday afternoon.  The game, featuring the offense vs. defense saw the Bulldog offense come out on top, 42-24 before more than 300 sun-drenched fans at the Turf Field Complex.

After a defensive battle at the start that saw the defensive side take a 6-4 lead after one, the offense awoke in the second, highlighted by a Jay Graber (Clarksburg, NJ) 55-yard scoring strike to Anthony Garafalo (Rockland, Mass.), giving the offense a 15-12 lead at the half. 

Howard University transfer Jerell Smith (Brooklyn, NY) ignited the offense in the second half, turning in several dazzling runs through the Bulldog defense.  The junior used his speed to run for 100 yards on just 10 carries, scoring twice.  The first coming on a five-yard run to the right and the second on a 15-yard run late in the fourth quarter. 

Graber finished the game completing five passes for 109 yards.  Starter Charlie Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ), seeing action in the first quarter, completed seven passes for 72 yards.   Senior tailback Chris Peaks (Silver Spring, Md.) had 61 yards rushing. 

Defensively, seniors Chris Wohlheter (Newark, OH.) had three tackles and one fumble recover while James Lewis (New Haven, Conn.) had four tackles.  Don Smith (Attleboro, Mass.) chipped in with a pair of sacks on the afternoon.

The Bulldogs will open the 2007 football season on Saturday, September 8 when the Yellow Jackets of American International College visit Bulldog Stadium for a 1 p.m. game.

Scoring
Team                      1              2              3              4              -               Total
White                     6              6              7              5              -               24
Black                      4              11            12            15            -               42

Rushing:  Jerrell Smith 10-100-1;  Chris Peaks 9-61-0, Lindsey Gamble 2-12-0, Vinton South 1-5-0; John Stickney 6-21-0; Tim McManus 3-14-0.

Passing:  Charlie Granatell 7-18-0-72; Jay Graber 5-11-0-109, 2 TDs;  Kurt Spear 4-10-1-72; Nick Scardelli 2-4-0-32.

Receiving:  Anthony Garafalo 5-114-2;  Doug Ermezian 4-44-0; Tyler DiGiovanni 2-18-0; David Cosenza 1-30-0; Andrew Salinger 1-18-0; Ryan Buckley 2-13-0.

Defense Leaders: James Lewis 4 tackles; Chris Wohlheter 3 tackles, 1 fumble recovery;  Peter Gauthier 4 tackles, 2 sacks; Alex Garcia 2 tackles, 2 sacks; Don Smith 3 tackles, 1 sack; Kevin Menawonu 2 tackles, 1 PBU; Anthony Thomas 1 PBU; Kevin White 2 tackles, 1 INT; Mark Gunther 3 tackles, Nick Candito 3 tackles; Paul Polomski 2 tackles.

Notes ... Anthony Garafalo 55 yard touchdown reception from Jay Graber at end of second quarter ... Garafalo 5 yard touchdown reception in third.