SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Bryant returned home to Beirne Stadium on Saturday for Homecoming and delivered a gritty, physical performance, holding off Princeton for a 21-14 victory to spoil the Tigers’ season opener. 

Bryant relied on a relentless ground attack that racked up 162 yards and generated all three of Bryant’s the Bulldogs touchdowns. Quarterback Brennan Myer set the tone on the ground, pushing ahead for a short rushing score in the first half to put the Bulldogs on the board. Tailback OJ Ross added a touchdown run in the third quarter, before Princeton’s Ethan Clark answered early in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard plunge to deadlock the game at 14-14. 

Bryant answered the Tigers’ surging momentum with a decisive fourth-quarter drive. Myer efficiently distributed the football downfield to reset the cadence before Jordan Bennett finished off the possession with an 11-yard touchdown run to push Bryant back ahead 21-14 with 8:25 remaining. 

The Bryant defense then stepped up when it mattered most. Defensive back Ezra Carter halted Princeton’s final drive with a late interception, allowing Bennett to pick up a game-clinching first down and seal the victory. Drake Lusk anchored the defensive effort with nine tackles and a sack, while Omaris McMiller Jr. recorded a key first-half interception and a blocked field goal. 

Head Coach Chris Merritt emphasized the resilience and physical execution his team showed down the stretch.

“Winning our home opener on Homecoming in front of this crowd means a lot, but I’m most proud of how our guys responded when Princeton tied it up in the fourth quarter,” Merritt said. “Our offensive line reset the line of scrimmage, our backs ran hard, and our defense stepped up when the game was on the line. Finding a way to finish against a disciplined Ivy League football team shows the growth of this program.”

For Myer, taking control on the ground and staying composed through adverse moments were key to navigating the high-stakes final quarter.

“We knew it was going to be a 60-minute fight,” Myer said. “When they leveled the game early in the fourth, there was no panic on our sideline. We just executed our game plan, trusted our line to create running lanes, and took what the defense gave us. Getting the win in front of our home crowd is huge for our momentum.”

With the win, Bryant improves to 3-1 overall on the season and heads into a bye week before hosting North Carolina AT&T in two weeks.