Box Score Smithfield, R.I. (September 7) -- In the 2013 season opener, Assumption dropped a 34-7 final to Division I FCS opponent Bryant University at Bulldog Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The meeting was the first between the teams since the 2007 season, when the Bulldogs were members of the Northeast-10 Conference.
The game marks the first at Assumption for first-year head coach Bob Chesney, who came to Assumption from Salve Regina in the spring of 2013.
The Bulldogs got on the board just 2:04 into the game as Bryant blocked a Patrick Tyler (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) punt and Ricardo McCray scooped the ball up for the early 7-0 Bulldog lead. Neither team could get much going over the rest of the first quarter until late in the period when Jordan Harris pulled in a 31 yard pass to get the Bulldogs into Assumption territory as the period ended. Bryant made it a 14-0 margin just 1:32 into the second quarter as Jose Depadua pulled in a 20-yard touchdown pass across the middle from quarterback Mike Westerhaus for his second touchdown reception of the season.
Bryant added a third score with 5:50 left in the first half as McCray broke a number of tackles and rumbled up the middle for a 14-yard score and the 21-0 lead. Senior Bobby Jordan (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) and junior Sean Mayo (Holliston, Mass./Holliston) shared time at quarterback after Mayo earned the start and combined for six completions in the opening half as the Hounds had 102 yards of total offense in the first half.
A second blocked punt for a touchdown in the third put Bryant up 27-0 after the Bulldogs failed to convert the extra point attempt. The Hounds got on the board though with 12:28 left on a two-yard rushing touchdown from sophomore James Ward (New Haven, Conn./Williston Northampton) to make it 27-7. The run was set up by a 31-yard completion from Jordan to Mike Blandon (Pennsauken, N.J./Camden Catholic). With 8:28 remaining, Paul Caneveri scored from one yard out to cap a nine-play, 34-yard drive to account for the 34-7 final.
The Hounds posted 170 yards of total offense, including 108 passing yards. Defensively, senior Mike Bates (Holden, Mass./Wachusett Regional) led the team with nine total tackles and one interception, along with six tackles and two sacks for 13 yards from senior Mike Stuppiello (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township).
Bryant was led by a 114-yard effort on the ground by McCray on 18 rushing attempts.
With the loss, Assumption falls to 0-1 overall and Bryant improves to a perfect 2-0 on the season. The Hounds open Northeast-10 Conference play on Friday, September 13th as the team travels to Bentley University of a 7 p.m. start in Waltham, Mass.
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