Bryant Football Looks to Get Over “Hump” in 2016

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

 

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PHOTO: Taylor Barthelette, Bryantbulldogs.com

The Bryant University football team kicks off their 2016 campaign on Saturday at 3 p.m. at home against Merrimack. 

Bryant has had success over the last two seasons, including an 8-3 record in 2014, but have not been able to get over the hump and win the NEC title. 

"Last year we came up a bit short. We made mistakes at critical times, took penalties, turned the ball over. I mean we lost 4 games where we were ahead in the 4th quarter, win those games and things would look different," said Bryant football coach Marty Fine. 

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This season, the Bulldogs return starting quarterback Dalton Easton, wide receiver Taylor Barthelette and the majority last year's defense that gave up 22 points per game last season. 

"We think that athletically we are good enough to win this division, we just have to play better. I think our defense is good enough to keep us in the games. Our offense can't turn the ball over, can't give opponents a short field. And when we get the short field, we have to take advantage of it," said Fine, who is ready to begin his 13th season at Bryant.  

Offense 

Last season, the Bryant offense averaged 389 yards and 27 points per game coming from the arm of quarterback Dalton Easton and the legs of Ricardo McCray. 

While Dalton Easton, now in his senior year, is still under center, the offense around him will have a new look. 

Bryant's wide receiving core will be led by senior Taylor Barthelette who is coming off a career year in 2015. Barthelette caught 32 passes for 465 yards and three touchdown for Bryant last season while being effective on both deep passes and in the middle of the field. 

The rest of the Bulldogs receiving core includes senior Keenan Thompson who only caught one pass last season due to injuries and Portsmouth's Matt Sewall. 

Out of the backfield, senior Ryan Black will lead the charge for the Bulldogs. Last season behind Ricardo McCray, Black appeared in 11 games and had 37 carries for 99 yards. 

Black will also get help from Sophomore Brenden Famiano and Christian Martey. 

"It is going to be an adjustment, last year we had Ricardo McCray who was the best in the conference, this year it is going to be a bit of a three headed monster with Black getting the start," Fine said. 

Defense 

Bryant's defense gave up 22 points per game last season and will be highlighted this season by a veteran group of defensive backs. 

The group is led by senior captains Charles Wingate and Brandon Owens. 

Wingate was a second team All-NEC selection last year after finishing with 2 fumble recoveries, 38 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception return for a touchdown. 

Owens battled injuries all of last season, making just 7 tackles but is poised to be a starting safety. 

Senior safety Charles Keenan and senior corner back Raamah Vaugh will also make up the Bryant secondary. 

Up front, Bryant welcomes the return of redshirt sophomore Dillon Guthro. Guthro was injured in the first game of last season. 

Joining Guthro up front will be seniors Andrew Barton, Alex Madoian and Rahim Shillingford as well as sophomores Kevin Lazo, Anthony DiMatteo and Kodi Ojukwu. Marquise Watson could also see time up front. 

Speaking of Watson, he and Patrick Kenney will lead the Bryant linebacker corps. Combined, they have missed only one game over the last three seasons.

Watson have 203 and 198 tackles in their careers with Watson racking up 71 last season. 

Season Opener 

The Bulldogs will open their season at home by hosting Merrimack on Saturday at 3 p.m. 

"Every first game has its challenges and the challenge is the unknown. We don't know what to expect from them, there is no preseason games, no tape, It's not like the NFL," Fine said about the first game. 

After that, Bryant hits the road to play Montana before returning home for back to back home games against Brown and then Central Connecticut on the 17 and 24th of September respectively. 

The Bulldogs will only play two home games the rest of the season after that. 

 

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