2006 Bryant Bulldogs football team

NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2006
Team=Bryant Bulldogs

50px
Conference=Northeast-10
Division=
ShortConference=NE-10
Record=8-3
ConfRecord=7-2
CoachRank=17
APRank=15
HeadCoach=Marty Fine
OScheme=Multiple
DScheme=4-3
StadiumArena=Bulldog Stadium (c. 5,500, grass)
Champion=Northeast-10 Conference Champions
BowlTourney=DII Playoffs First Round, L. West Chester
BowlTourneyResult=29-31

chedule

Game Notes

outhern Connecticut State (Sept. 2nd)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Fighting Owls
R1=6
R2=6
R3=0
R4=8
Home=Bulldogs
H1=7
H2=21
H3=14
H4=7Bryant University senior running back Lorenzo Perry (Providence, RI) rushed for 190 yards on 33 carries and set a new school record with four rushing touchdowns to help lead the Bulldogs past Southern Connecticut, 49-20 in the season-opener for both schools Saturday. [ [http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/fball/2006/Stats/fscsbry.htm Bryant University Bulldogs ] ] Perry, a preseason all-America, scored two one-yard touchdown runs and added two 7-yard scores to lead the Bulldogs who avenged last year's season-ending 77-35 loss to the Owls. [ [http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/fball/2006/Stats/fscsbry.htm Bryant University Bulldogs ] ]

Bryant led 14-6 at the end of the first quarter and led 21-12 following a Perry score to conclude a seven-play drive with just over two minutes left to go before halftime, the Bryant defense came up big just before the end of the half. [ [http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/fball/2006/News/2006Sept2SouthernSum Bryant University Bulldogs ] ]

With the Owls driving in Bryant territory, sophomore cornerback Bryce Martins (Uncasville, Conn.) intercepted a pass attempt from SCSU quarterback Steve Armstrong (Nutley, NJ) on first down at the Bryant 38 and returned it 35 yards to the Southern 27 yard line with 34 seconds left in the quarter. [ [http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/fball/2006/Stats/fscsbry.htm Bryant University Bulldogs ] ] [ [http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/fball/2006/Stats/fscsbry.htm Bryant University Bulldogs ] ] Three plays later, Bryant quarterback Charles Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ) hit Kevin Anderson (Plainville, CT) with a three-yard touchdown pass to give Bryant a 28-12 lead at the half.

Bryant would stretch its lead to 42-12 heading into the fourth but Southern Connecticut, would open the fourth with a 13 play drive capped by a one-yard score by Armstrong to make it 42-20. [ [http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/fball/2006/News/2006Sept2SouthernSum Bryant University Bulldogs ] ] Brandon Toles (Washington, Md.) and Marcus Ganthier (Bridgeport, CT) helped key the drive with power runs by Toles and sure-handed receptions by Ganthier. Toles finished the day with 127 yards rushing on 22 carries while Ganthier had a big day for the Owls with 11 receptions (one shy of a school record) for 127 yards. [ [http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/fball/2006/News/2006Sept2SouthernSum Bryant University Bulldogs ] ]

The Bulldogs would put the game away later in the fourth as Chris Wohlheter (Newark, Ohio) intercepted an Armstrong pass across the middle and returned it a school-record 75 yards for a score. Wohlheter would finish with eight tackles. Senior Andrew McLarty (College Park, MD) had 13 tackles while Martins finished with a career-best 10 tackles. [ [http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/fball/2006/Stats/fscsbry.htm Bryant University Bulldogs ] ]

Armstrong finished the game with 212 yards on 25 for 34 passing and was intercepted twice on the day. Matt McGrath (Troy, NY) had 13 tackles (five solo) for Southern Connecticut. [ [http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/fball/2006/Stats/fscsbry.htm Bryant University Bulldogs ] ]

American International (Sept. 9th)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bulldogs
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=7
Home=Yellow Jackets
H1=6
H2=0
H3=0
H4=14AIC running back Marlon Beckles rushed for a game-high 136 yards on 30 carries and scored on a 14-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to help put the game away as the host Yellow Jackets improved to 2-0 on the season thanks to an impressive 20-7 win over Bryant University in Northeast-10 Conference action Saturday before 1,024 Saturday at John Homer Miller Field.

Bryant, winless now in four trips to Springfield, was held to only 188 yards of total offense in dropping to 1-1 on the year (1-1 NE-10). The Bulldogs, trying to avoid a letdown following last week's big win over Southern Connecticut, struggled to get its high octane offensive into gear throughout the afternoon and made too many costly mistakes against a quick AIC defense.

Bryant senior Lorenzo Perry, last week's conference and New England football player of the week, rushed for 132 yards on 25 carries marking the eighth time in his career Perry has gone over the 100 yard mark. But the AIC defense made it tough for Perry and the rest of the Bulldogs as punter Jonathan Thorpe pinned the Bulldogs deep in their own territory several times throughout the game - including a booming 56-yarder in the second quarter.

After forcing Bryant to punt on its second possession early in the first quarter, AIC's Julius Walker returned a Brian Donnelly punt 49 yards for the game's first score. The touchdown, followed by a missed extra point attempt, would be the only points in the game through three quarters as AIC led 6-0 at the half.

Bryant's defense played well throughout, keeping the Bulldogs within striking distance throughout the game and keeping the score close as Paul Polomski of Franklin, MA had a big game with 8 total tackles to go with an interception three tackles for a loss and a sack.

And it appeared to help as the Bulldogs started to show some life late in the third as Perry made a nifty run to elude three AIC defenders for a solid gain. , but a first down pass completion to Chris Peaks was called back due to a holding penalty. Instead of having the ball on the 30 yard line, the Bulldogs were backed up their own 11 and again forced to punt after failing to convert the first down.

AIC would get the ball back on the Bryant 37 and six plays later score on a 14-yard touchdown run by Beckles to make it 14-0 following the two-point conversion. The Yellow Jackets weren't through as Terrence Holley picked up a Bryant fumble after a completion on the Bryant 10 and scampered into the end zone to make it 20-0.

The Bulldogs would finally get on the board with 2:21 left to go in the game as Perry darted around the left tackle and scored on a nice 25-yard run down the left sideline. It was the 21st touchdown in Perry's career, setting a new all-time school record for career rushing touchdowns.

Granatell completed 14 of 24 passes for 100 yards. He was intercepted once and was sacked four times in the game. Justin Kix caught eight passes for 57 yards.

Merrimack (Sept. 16th)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Warriors
R1=7
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Bulldogs
H1=7
H2=7
H3=13
H4=7Behind the elusive running of senior tailback Lorenzo Perry (Providence, RI), the Bryant University football team rolled to a 34-7 win over visiting Merrimack College in Northeast-10 Conference action Saturday before a homecoming crowd of 4,854 at a sun-drenched Bulldog Stadium. Perry rushed for 233 yards on 21 carries, the fourth-best single-game rushing performance in school history as the Bulldogs improved to 2-1 overall on the year (2-1 NE-10).

Leading 14-7 at the half, Bryant stretched its lead to 21-7 thanks to a 74 yard interception return for a touchdown by junior safety Chris Wolhlheter. Wohlheter, who had a 75-yard interception return in the season opener against Southern Connecticut, picked off a Warrior pass early in the third quarter and made several nifty moves down the Bryant sideline for the score. From there, it was all Bulldogs as Perry scored on a six-yard run to cap a 7-play, 99-yard drive by Bryant to make it 27-7 and would add another 10-yard touchdown score early in the fourth.

Charles Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ) was 12 for 17 passing for 131 yards and had two touchdown passes before he was replaced by Ross Giffune (Foxboro, MA) and Jay Graber (Clarksburg, NJ) in the fourth.

The Bulldogs struck first as Granatell found Joey Brito (Pawtucket, RI) on the third play of the Bulldogs second drive of the game for a short completion. But Brito was able to turn the corner and break free down the Merrimack sideline for a 49-yard score.

Merrimack (1-2, 1-1 NE-10) would answer right back as Mike Young scored from a yard out to cap a 7-play drive for the Warriors and tie the game at 7-7 with 8:18 left in the first. Young, who had 94 yards on 19 carries in the game, carried the ball four times on the scoring drive. However, that would be all the scoring on the day for the Warriors as the Bryant defense limited Merrimack to 319 yards of total offense including 150 yards on the ground.

Merrimack starting quarterback Colin Temple completed 8 of 16 passes for 119 and was intercepted once. Backups Paul Pisani (3-for-10, 11 yards, 1 INT) and Mike Sarnese replaced Temple in the second half.

Chris Arnold had four catches for 33 yards for the Bulldogs, including a 10-yard touchdown reception from Granatell with only six seconds left before halftime, giving the Bulldogs a lead they would not relinquish.

Andrew McLarty (College Park, MD) had 7 tackles to lead the way defensively while Marcus Lindsey (Bridgeport, CT) and Paul Polomski (Franklin, MA) each had six tackles.

Assumption (Sept. 23rd)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Greyhounds
R1=7
R2=0
R3=14
R4=0
Home=Bulldogs
H1=7
H2=10
H3=7
H4=21Bryant University quarterback Charles Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ) completed 17 of 27 passes for 267 yards and equaled a school record with four passing touchdowns to lead the host Bulldogs to a 45-21 win over Assumption College before 2,142 at Bulldog Stadium Saturday. Bryant (3-1, 3-1 NE-10) got 124 yards rushing on 24 carries from senior running back Lorenzo Perry (Providence, RI) while senior Chris Peaks (Silver Spring, Md.) added 56 yards as the Bulldogs racked up 453 yards of total offense against the Greyhounds.

The Bulldog defense, led by Andrew McLarty's (College Park, Md.) seven tackles, held Assumption to just 199 yards of offense including only 26 yards rushing. Starting running back Kevin L'Ecuyer had just 10 yards in limited action for the Greyhounds.

Bryant led 17-7 at the half, but Assumption (2-2, 2-2 NE-10) would pull to within 17-14 early in the third quarter following a Jake Beers 38-yard touchdown reception from backup quarterback Marshall Tharpe with 10:28 left in the quarter.

Assumption would force the Bulldogs to punt on their next possession, however after mishandling the snap, punter Brian Donnelly (East Dennis, Mass.) picked up a couple of key blocks for a 10-yard gain to the Assumption 47, good enough for a Bryant first down.

One play later, Granatell found receiver Justin Kix (Shoreham, NY) cutting across the middle for a 47-yard touchdown and the Bulldogs never looked back.

Senior Alex Chaparro (North Bergen, NJ) had five catches for 67 yards for the Bulldogs and added three touchdowns including a 15-yarder early in the fourth to give Bryant a 31-21 lead. Kix led the Bulldogs with 101 yards receiving on four catches.

Jarel Capers had 46 yards rushing for the Greyhounds while Tharpe finished the day completing 14 of 28 passes for 174 yards and three TDs. He was intercepted once and sacked twice. Beers led the Greyhounds with five catches for 81 yards and two scores.

Pace (Sept. 30th)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bulldogs
R1=7
R2=10
R3=0
R4=14
Home=Setters
H1=7
H2=7
H3=3
H4=0Senior running back Lorenzo Perry (Providence, RI) rushed for 200 yards and scored twice to help lead the Bryant University football team to its third-straight win, 31-17 over Pace University Saturday afternoon before 2,482 at Pace Field.

The win improves Bryant to 4-1 (4-1 NE-10) on the season heading into next Saturday's showdown with first-place C.W. Post at Bulldog Stadium. CW Post, a 34-0 winner over Saint Anselm Saturday, will enter next week's game 4-1 overall and 4-0 in the NE-10. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Against Pace, the Bulldogs fell behind early in the first as Setter quarterback Daniel Moyer connected with Chris Ansanzo for a 62-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the game.

But Bryant would answer immediately on its next drive. Jon Zenquis (Northbridge, Mass.) helped set up a five-play scoring drive with a 29-yard kick return up to the Bryant 42 yard line. From there, quarterback Charles Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ) and the Bulldogs put together a strong drive highlighted by a 31 yard completion to Sean Bergin down to the Pace 6 yard line. On the very next play, Perry would punch it in to tie the game, 7-7 with 11:53 left.

Perry would add an 18-yard touchdown run in the second while freshman Bobby Heilmann (Wyckoff, NJ) connected on a 31-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs ahead 17-7 in the second quarter, but Pace would answer with a late score just before the half to trim the lead to 17-14.

Pace (3-2, 2-2 NE-10) would score the only points of the third quarter, thanks to a 29-yard field goal, but Bryant would put the game away with a two-yard Granatell to Kevin Anderson (Plainville, Conn.) touchdown pass to open the final quarter. After a defensive stop, Bryant's Justin Kix (Shoreham, NY) would haul in a 37-yard score from Granatell and the Bulldogs would roll from there.

Granatell finished the game completing 10 of 14 passes for 179 yards while Kix had 5 receptions for 89 yards.

Perry carried the ball 33 times in the game including a long rush of 49 yards in the third quarter. For Perry, the 200 yards rushing in the game marked the 10th time the senior has gone over the 100-yard rushing mark in a game and the fourth game of his Bryant career with at least 200 yards in a game.

The Bulldogs held Pace to just 76 yards rushing in the game led by Scott Shuryn's 27 yards, though Moyer had a strong day passing for the Setters, finishing with 242 yards on 23 of 37 passing and one touchdown.

Freshman Paul Polomski (Franklin, Mass.) had 10 tackles while senior Andrew McLarty (College Park, Md.) had eight tackles - six of which were solo stops.

C.W. Post (Oct. 7th)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Pioneers
R1=7
R2=3
R3=0
R4=14
Home=Bulldogs
H1=0
H2=7
H3=0
H4=14Paul Jennings' six-yard touchdown reception with 32 seconds remaining capped a thrilling last minute drive for No. 22 C.W. Post as the Pioneers rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to defeat host Bryant University, 24-21 before 3,722 fans at Bulldog Stadium. Pioneer senior Woody Aime (Cambria Heights, NY) intercepted three Bryant passes in the game. C.W. Post improves to 5-0 in the Northeast-10 (5-1 overall) while Bryant drops to 4-2 overall and 4-2 in the NE-10.

With just 50 total yards at the half, the Bryant offense came alive in the second half, thanks to the hard-running of Bulldog senior Lorenzo Perry (Providence, RI). Perry rushed for 108 yards in the second half and provided the key lift the offense needed. Bryant trailed 17-7 early in the fourth, but would pull to within 17-14 thanks to a seven-yard score by Perry with just over 12 minutes left. Perry would finish the game with 153 yards, his 11th 100-yard rushing game in his career.

From there, the Bryant defense stuffed the Pioneer offense twice on third down late in the quarter, setting up a go ahead score. On fourth-and-one on the C.W. Post 29 yard line, the Pioneer defense thought the handoff would go to Perry, but instead Bulldog quarterback Charlie Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ) found tight-end Alex Chapparo (North Bergen, NJ) alone for a touchdown, giving Bryant a 21-17 lead.

C.W. Post would get the ball back with just over two minutes left and proceeded to drive 60 yards for the game-winning score. Quarterback Nick Georgetti (Holbrook, NY) helped keep the drive alive with a first-down run on third and 10, moving the ball across midfield with a little over a minute left. A roughing the passer penalty would help the Pioneers move deep into Bryant territory.

With the ball on the Bryant six, Georgetti faked an inside handoff and found Jennings alone on the right side who was able to get into the end zone for the game winner.

Bryant would get the ball back with good field position following an excessive celebration penalty was called on the C.W. Post team. Following a 21-yard return by Bryce Martins (Uncasville, Conn.) to the C.W. Post 49 yard line, the Bulldogs were able to move the ball to the Pioneer 43, but Granatell was intercepted by Jamal Ramsey (Elmont, NY) at the 10 with nine seconds remaining, ending Bryant's chances of an upset.

Georgetti completed just 12 of 27 passes for 103 yards while Josh Amaro (Staten Island, NY) led the Pioneers with 166 yards on 23 carries. The 166 yards by Amaro are the most Bryant has allowed an opponent to rush for in a game this season. Bryant had 233 yards of total offense in the game.

tonehill (Oct. 14th)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bulldogs
R1=7
R2=14
R3=14
R4=0
Home=Skyhawks
H1=7
H2=7
H3=0
H4=0Coach Marty Fine and the Bryant Bulldogs made sure there would be no letdown after a tough, last-minute lost to C.W. Post last week.

The Bulldogs started fast, and weathered a Stonehill push to take a 35-14 win over the Stonehill Skyhawks Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs jumped on the Skyhawks in front of their homecoming crowd behind the strong running of senior Lorenzo Perry, who scored the first touchdown of the day on an electric 62-yard run. A Justin Kix touchdown reception and another Perry touchdown gave the Bulldogs what appeared to be a commanding lead.

Perry finished with 247 yards rushing and three touchdowns. It was Perry’s best rushing game of the year, and good for the third-best in school history. Perry holds that record with a 313-yard performance last year versus Stonehill. However, the pesky Skyhawks came back to score two touchdowns in the last three and a half minutes to cut the deficit to 21-14 at the half.

Bryant quckly retook the momentum after the break. Another Perry touchdown and a 72-yard touchdown reception by Justin Kix again silenced the Stonehill faithful. In what was a sloppy game, the teams combined for seven turnovers (four by Bryant). Bryant however, dominated the total offensive numbers, outgaining Stonehill 551 to 248. Junior quarterback Charlie Granatell finished with an efficient 274 yards on 13 of 17 passing. With the win, Bryant moves to 5-2 in the Northeast-10 conference

t. Anselm (Oct. 21st)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Hawks
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Bulldogs
H1=6
H2=14
H3=7
H4=14Bryant University senior running back Lorenzo Perry (Providence, RI) rushed for 224 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to a 41-0 win over visiting Saint Anselm on Parents and Family Weekend at Bulldog Stadium. With the win, Bryant improves to 6-2 overall (6-2 NE-10) while Saint Anselm remains winless on the season at 0-8 (0-7 NE-10).

Perry, ranked No. 3 nationally in yards rushing per game, got the Bulldogs on the board quickly, scoring on a 54-yard touchdown run on only the third play of the game. After receiving the opening kickoff, Perry scampered for a pair of seven yard runs up the middle before finally breaking free, just past the midfield stripe leaving a host of Hawks defenders behind to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.

Bryant's defensive would account for the next score as Michael Morgan (New London, Conn.) picked off a Geoff Stevens pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. It was Morgan's second interception returned for a touchdown this season and his third pick of the year.

Leading 20-0 at the half, Bryant would make it 27-0 on a 6 yard touchdown run by Perry and would add two more scores in the fourth including a 25-yard touchdown pass from Charlie Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ) to Justin Kix (Shoreham, NY). For Kix, it was his fifth touchdown reception of the season and 12th of his career, leaving him just one touchdown short of tying the school record of 13. Granatell, who completed 9 of 19 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns, set the school record for touchdown passes in a season with his 14th coming on the Kix touchdown.

Saint Anselm was held to just 180 yards of total offense and allowed five sacks by the Bryant defense - three from Mark Gunther (Clarksburg, NJ). Ryan Drago rushed for 105 yards on 20 carries to lead the Hawks while Stevens finished with 32 yards on 7 of 18 passing while backup Nick Barese was 4 for 8 passing for just five yards. Marcus Lindsey (Bridgeport, Conn.) led the Bryant defense with nine tackles in the game while Gunther finished with eight stops.

Bentley (Nov. 4th)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bulldogs
R1=20
R2=9
R3=0
R4=7
Home=Falcons
H1=7
H2=0
H3=0
H4=8Bryant quarterback Charlie Granatell (Franklin Lakes, NJ) completed 15 of 21 passes for 278 yards in leading the Bulldogs to a 36-15 win over Bentley College Saturday afternoon at Bentley Football Field. The win improves Bryant to 7-2 on the season, tying last year's school record for wins in a season, while Bentley drops to a 5-5 overall. At 7-2 in the conference, the win, coupled with Merrimack's 13-10 win over C.W. Post, gives the Bulldogs a share of the conference championship. CW Post, Merrimack, Southern Connecticut and Bryant end the conference schedule 7-2. There is no tiebreaker procedure in the NE-10.

Lorenzo Perry rushed for 195 yards on 33 carries as the Bulldogs 500 yards of total offense in the game. Defensively, the Bulldogs stepped up, holding Bentley to 164 yards of offense. The Bulldog defense dominated the offensive line up front, picking up five sacks on the day and holding Bentley to a paltry 15 yards rushing.

Bryant scored on its first drive of the game, putting together an efficient six-play, 63-yard scoring drive. In fact, the Bulldogs threw a little trickery into the contest, calling for a reverse on the very first play of the game. With the Bentley defense overplaying in anticipation the ball would go to Perry, the Falcons were caught off guard as Perry handed to Vince Norris who gained 21-yards on the play.

Perry would later punch it in from 10 yards out to give the Bulldogs the early lead.

A 23-yard field goal from Bobby Heilman and a two-yard touchdown run by Chris Peaks, Bentley would finally get on the board as Paul Tetzel returned the ensuing kickoff after the Peaks' touchdown 84-yards to cut the Bryant lead to 16-7.

The Bulldogs would answer, scoring twice in the final 2:20. Alex Chaparro hauled in a five-yard touchdown from Granatell with just over two minutes left. A 21-yard run by Perry and a 51-yard pass play to Norris down to the Bentley five helped set up the score.

The Bulldog defense would force Bentley to punt once again and benefited from a personal foul on Bentley to start the drive on the Bentley 29 yard line. From there, Granatell connected with Kix in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard score to make it 29-7 Bryant at the half.

For Kix, it was his 13th career touchdown reception, tying Adam Ewing's school record.

Bentley had just 51 yards of total offense (22 rushing) in the first half and managed only four first downs. Bryant racked up 342 yards of offense in the first half and picked up 14 first downs.

After a scoreless third quarter as cold chill set in on the field, Bentley went to backup quarterback Henry Morris who helped engineer an 80-yard scoring drive as the Falcons pulled to within 29-15 with a two-point conversion.

From there, Bentley's defense stiffened and forced the Bulldogs to a quick three and out, but a solid punt by Brian Donnelly backed up Bentley to start its drive on its own 37 yard line with just over five minutes left.

But Bentley could not move the ball, failing to pick up a first down on four pass plays and turning the ball over to the Bulldogs with four minute left, but in solid field position.

Looking to run the clock out, Perry picked up a 40-yard run around the right side all the way down to the Bentley 12 and two plays later, Granatell found Kevin Anderson in the end zone to put the game away.

Becker (Nov. 11th)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Hawks
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Bulldogs
H1=42
H2=0
H3=0
H4=0

West Chester (Nov. 18th)

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Golden Rams
R1=14
R2=10
R3=7
R4=0
Home=Bulldogs
H1=7
H2=13
H3=3
H4=6Tyler Downes interception of a Charlie Granatell pass with under two minutes remaining proved to be the decisive turnover as visiting West Chester would hold on for a 31-29 win over Bryant University in an NCAA Division II first round game here Saturday at Bulldog Stadium. West Chester (9-3) will advance to face Bloomsburg in the second round next Saturday. Bryant, playing in its first postseason game since the program's inception in 1999, ends its season at 8-3.

Both teams combined for more than 800 yards of offense on the day, putting together excellent scoring drives throughout the afternoon as the 5,234 fans in attendance were treated by two of the nation's top offensive teams.

Bryant's Lorenzo Perry scored from six yards out midway through the fourth quarter to pull the Bulldogs to within two, 31-29 with 8:49 remaining. Bryant's two-point conversion attempt to tie the game was intercepted by West Chester's Michael Walter, preserving the Golden Rams slight edge. Perry finished with 132 yards on 39 carries in the game.

The Golden Rams, ranked No. 24 nationally, would start their next drive on their own 29 yard line, looking to use as much time off the clock as possible. But Bryant's defense was up to the task, stopping Brendan Hargrose's run on fourth down, giving the Bulldogs another chance to take its first lead of the game and the possible win.

Converting two third down plays for first downs, the Bulldogs drove down to the West Chester 22 yard line with the clock ticking with under two minutes left.

But on third down, Granatell, who played very well, looked to find teammate Justin Kix but was intercepted by Downes at the 20 yard line, ending Bryant's hopes for a playoff win. Granatell's interception was the only turnover of the game as the Bulldog junior signal caller completed 17 of 30 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns.

Granatell's counterpart, Bill Zwaan of West Chester, completed seven of 12 passes for 174 yards in the game while tailback Brent Steinmetz rushed for 142 yards on 23 carries and added two rushing touchdowns.

West Chester, playing in its third consecutive postseason, struck first as Zwaan connected with Michael Washington for a 75-yard touchdown on the game's first play from scrimmage. Bryant would strike back as Ryan Buckley hauled in an 11 yard touchdown pass from Granatell to cap a 9-play, 56 yard drive.

The two teams would continue to counter before Alex Walsh's 25-yard field goal just before the half sent the visiting Golden Rams into the locker room leading, 24-20.

In the second, Bryant got a 26 yard field goal from Bobby Heilmann to pull the Bulldogs within 24-23 late in the third, but West Chester would counter to push the lead back to 31-23 heading into the fourth quarter.

In the final stanza, Perry's touchdown run would be the only scoring of the quarter, and the final points of the game, as Downes' interception kept the Golden Rams' season alive and into the second round of the playoffs.

References