By Ryan Barry
NEFJ Correspondent

AMHERST – A tornado warning, torrential rain, and a two hour delay couldn’t stop the Bryant Bulldogs from upsetting UMass 27-26  at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Saturday evening.

Trailing 26-24 with 1:45 left in the game, sophomore quarterback Brennan Myer (22-for-44, 318 yds, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) led the Bulldogs deep into UMass territory. Executing perfect clock management, Bryant worked the game down to just four seconds left, setting up kicker Bryce Soli to nail a 25-yarder to win the game.

Bryant head coach Chris Merritt had complete confidence in setting Sioux Falls, South Dakota native to win the game.

“He’s a senior, I just told him right there, you’re in a position kids in his position dream about, and he did a great job,” said Merritt. “The whole process – snapper, holder, protection, everything was great.”

The Bulldogs (1-1) led 24-23 with 4:11 left in the game, but an incredible 53-yard kick from Minutemen sophomore kicker Derek Morris put UMass ahead 26-24.

Needing at least a field goal to get their lead back, Bulldog sophomore quarterback Brennan Myer (22-for-44, 318 yds, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) forced a deepball and was picked off by UMass redshirt senior safety DD Snyder.

The Minutemen (0-2) had a chance to ice the game late, but a stout three-and-out forced by the Bryant defense put the ball in Myer’s hands once more to set up the game winning drive.

Merritt spoke highly of the way Myer handled himself in the win.

“Brennan, he’s pretty damn good,” laughed Merritt. “He was the sparkplug for our offense when we felt we had to throw the ball until the running game got going, and in the fourth quarter that’s where we were able to play balanced football because of his play.”

Sophomore Zyheem Collick (3 rec, 93 yds, 2 TDs) consistently made big plays for the Bulldogs, with graduate receivers Elijah Elliot (6 rec, 63 yds, 1 TD) and Tristen Riley (5 rec, 73 yds) also having big games. For the Minutemen, one of the biggest developments from the game came early on in the game, with redshirt junior quarterback Brandon Rose (4-for-6, 24 yds) going down with an injury.

Graduate Grant Jordan (13-for-22, 205 yds, 1 INT; 9 car, 28 yds, 1 TD) took the reins for most of the game, with sophomore AJ Hairston (3-for-4, 28 yds) also seeing a drive.

Redshirt junior Jacquon Gibson (7 rec, 89 yds; 3 car, 11 yds) had another impactful game, and even saw action running the ball out of the backfield for the first time this season. The long layoff from the lightning delay was felt once the game kicked off, as both offenses sputtered to a three and out and stalled drives at midfield.

On the fifth possession of the game, UMass redshirt junior linebacker Tyler Martin (9 TotTk, 1 INT, 1 TD) perfectly read an underthrown Myer pass to pick it off and take it back for six, giving the Minutemen their first lead of the game.

After immediately forcing a punt on the next Bryant drive, the Minutemen offense returned to the field with Jordan under center. With Rose sidelined, Jordan led an impressive eight play, 61-yard drive that capped off with a 13-yard Brandon Hood (11, 39 yds, 1 TD) run to increase the lead to 13-0.

The Bulldogs responded on the ensuing drive with a 37-yard Soli field goal to cut the lead to 13-3 early in the second quarter.

Momentum continued for Bryant on the next UMass drive as a poorly thrown ball from Jordan was intercepted by sophomore safety Azarel Juste (6 TotTk, 1 INT) in Minuteman territory. Fortunately for UMass, the defense held strong and forced a deep Bryant field goal which went wide left, keeping their lead at 13-3.

The Minutemen made the Bulldogs pay for not capitalizing on the interception, as Jordan found the end zone on a five-yard scramble to earn his first touchdown in a UMass uniform, and give the Minutemen a 20-3 lead late in the second half.

Needing some kind of spark before the half, the Bulldogs mustered an 11 play, 69-yard drive for their first score of the day, with Myer finding sophomore Collick for a nine-yard pass to cut the lead to 20-10.

UMass started the second half with an impressive drive deep into Bulldog territory before a missed 38-yard Norris field goal attempt turned the ball back over to Bryant. The Bulldogs made the miss hurt immediately with a quick drive into the UMass half ending with a beautiful 43-yard strike from Myer to graduate wide receiver Elijah Elliot to cut the lead to 20-17.

Two drives later, the Minutemen added three points from a 25-yard Norris field goal to extend the lead to 23-17.

Looking to take advantage of another red zone trip without a touchdown, Bryant made UMass pay right away with an incredible 72-yard touchdown from Myer to Collick again to give the Bulldogs a 24-23 just before the end of the third quarter.

From there, the Morris field goal followed by Soli’s game winner helped bring an end to the chaotic game.

For the Bulldogs, the splendors of this game couldn’t be higher going into the regular season. For the Minutemen, a painful loss to another FCS program clouds an already difficult start to the season.

UMass return to action next week with a trip to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes under the lights at Kinnick Stadium. The Bulldogs return home to host the Bentley Falcons.