September 8, 2007

BRYANT FOOTBALL DEFEATS AIC 13-7 IN DEFENSIVE BATTLE
BOX SCORE

Anthony Thomas (above) helped seal Saturday's win with a 37-yard interception return in the fourth quarter against AIC.  www.dspics.com

SMITHFIELD, RI - Senior quarterback Charlie Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ) completed 11 of 17 passes for 104 yards while sophomore linebacker Paul Polomski (Franklin, Mass.) picked off two passes and recovered a fumble to help lead the Bryant University football team to a 13-6 win over visiting American International at a sweltering Bulldog Stadium Saturday. 

With temperatures reaching 90 by kickoff, the 2,242 fans at the season opener for both teams saw a defensive battle throughout the afternoon as both offensives struggled to get into gear. 

On a day that saw Bryant (1-0, 1-0 NE-10) manage just 181 yards of total offense, it was the defense that came through when the team needed it the most.  Returning eight starters, the Bulldogs forced AIC into four turnovers on the afternoon - including three interceptions.  Bryant would have had four interceptions but a Bryce Martins (Uncasville, Conn.) pickoff in the third was negated due to a roughing the passer penalty on the Bulldogs.

Things didn't look good early for AIC (0-1, 0-1 NE-10).  The Yellow Jackets lost starting quarterback Shane Murphy early in the second quarter to a leg injury and did not return.  His replacement, Dena Barnes completed just two of 12 attempts, but a blocked punt helped set up AIC's first score. 

The Yellow Jackets recovered on the Bryant 12 yard line and two plays later, Barnes scored on a quarterback keeper.  The point after failed, giving AIC a 6-0 lead.

The Bulldogs would answer just before the half as Andrew Salinger scored on a 4-yard pass from Granatell, giving the Bulldogs a 7-6 lead at the break. A 33-yard pass play by Granatell to Sean Bergin (New Windsor, NY) helped set up the scoring play. 

After a scoreless third quarter, the Bulldogs put the game away late in the fourth on Polomski's second interception of the afternoon. 

With AIC facing a second and six from their own 35 yard line, Bryant got a strong push from it's defensively line as Don Smith (Attleboro, Mass.) got in the backfield and pressured Barnes into throwing an ill-advised pass across the middle where Polomski was there to pick it off.  The sophomore raced down the left sideline 44 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-6 and the Bulldogs would hold on from there. 

Bryant will travel to Merrimack College this Friday night for a 7 p.m. Northeast-10 game.  AIC will travel to Bentley next Friday night for an NE-10 game in Waltham, Mass.

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