NCAA Division II Football Playoffs
November 17, 2007
LISTEN TO THE GAME LIVE with John McCarthy and Jared Hager
SCSU 7, BRYANT 0 - 13:41 1st
SCSU 14, BRYANT 0 - 9:11 1st
SCSU 14, BRYANT 7 - 5:27 1st
SCSU 21, BRYANT 7 - 2:00 1st
SCSU 21, BRYANT 14 - 12:35 2nd
SCSU 21, BRYANT 20 - 8:01 2nd
SCSU 31, BRYANT 20 - Halftime
SCSU 38, BRYANT 20 - 7:25 3rd
SCSU 45, BRYANT 20 - 3:50 4th
* Freeman just ran up the middle 12 yards for another score. The score was set up by a James Williams interception of a Charlie Granatell pass at the SC40.
* Some halftime numbers. Bryant 209 yards, Southern Connecticut 338 yards. Gamble 11 rushes 73 yards, Smith 7 rushes, 49 yards . SCSU's Freeman 9 carries, 55 yards. Granatell 6 for 8 for 63 yards. Armstrong 11 of 20 for 227 yards and 3 TDs. One INT.
* Southern Connecticut had the ball first and goal just before the end of the half but could not get the touchdown and had to settle for a 22-yard field goal to make it 31-20 at the half.
* The Bulldogs have pulled within a point thanks to a 40-yard touchdown run up the middle by Lindsey Gamble. The PAT attempt failed.
* Smith added another 12-yard touchdown run to pull the Bulldogs to within a touchdown.
* The Bulldogs are on the board. Jerell Smith scored on a 3rd and 1 play from five yards out to cut the SCSU lead to 14-7. A Charlie Granatell to Jarrett Solimando 44-yard play helped set up the score.
* Southern Connecticut's Jarom Freeman just broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 Southern.
* The Bulldogs have a great crowd on hand that made the trek down I-95. Three fan busses of students are on hand plus the Bryant cheerleaders, President Ron Machtley and First Lady Kati Machtley, alums and parents.
* Bryant managed to pick up a first down on its first drive, but the drive stalled at their own 45 yard line.
* Southern Connecticut took the opening kickoff and marched down the length of the field to go up 7-0. Steve Armstrong's 15-yard touchdown pass to Craig Toulouse put the Owls on top.
* It's a sunny but chilly afternoon here at Jess Dow Field as Bryant University and Southern Connecticut are close to kickoff for their NCAA Division II Playoff game. Temps are in the low 40's but a 15 mph wind crossing the field makes the actual temperature feel like the low 30's.
* Bryant was making its second consecutive NCAA playoff appearance. Southern Connecticut was making its third consecutive playoff appearance, though hosting a playoff game for the first time at Jess Dow Field.
* Southern Connecticut owns a 5-2 series lead over the Bulldogs including a 56-28 win at Jess Dow Field two weeks ago on Nov. 2. That game saw redshirt sophomore Jarom Freeman rush for an NCAA Division II record 418 yards and run for five touchdowns.
* Southern Connecticut came into the game 16-4 at Jess Dow Field over the past four seasons including a 6-1 mark in 2007.
* Southern Connecticut brought a six-game winning streak into the game, outscoring opponents a staggering 275 to 82.
* Southern Connecticut quarterback Steve Armstrong, the Northeast-10 Most Valuable Player, is a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, given annually to the top Division II player in the nation. He entered Saturday's playoff game with 2,850 yards and a school record-tying 28 touchdown passes.
* By comparison, Bryant quarterback Charlie Granatell of Franklin Lakes, NJ was named the 2007 Northeast-10 Conference Offensive MVP for 2007. Granatell has 1,789 yards and 13 touchdowns this season and has started all 40 games since coming to campus as a freshman in 2004.
