Image courtesy of Bryant Athletics
By Mike Scandura
NEFJ Correspondent
SMITHFIELD – As quarterback Zevi Eckhaus goes, so goes Bryant’s offense.
Just ask Robert Morris.
Eckhaus, a junior, torched the Colonials by completing 22-of-36 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns and also ran six times for 86 yards plus another touchdown as the Bulldogs prevailed, 43-24 in a Big South-OVC game on Homecoming Saturday.
“He’s the best offensive player we’ve got,” Bryant coach Chris Merritt said. “I’ve said this before. When he plays well the offense plays well. When he struggles, we struggle. When he’s focused like he was out there tonight and just took what the defense gave that’s the kind of play we can expect to get from him.”
Eckhaus has amassed an impressive 2,959 yards of total offense in six games and has 56 career touchdown passes to his credit.
“Zevi had a great rebound night,” Merrit said. “He completed 50 percent of his passes against Rhode Island for about 128 yards. Through the first half, if you add in a couple drops some guys had, he was pretty well on point.”
Despite the fact Bryant (3-3, 1-0) allowed 24 points, the defense made its presence felt because it forced turnovers for a sixth consecutive game. In this case Austin Edmonds, Michael Otty and Chris Eaton recovered fumbles and Lake Ellis intercepted a pass which he returned 55 yards.
But, the cherry on top of the proverbial sundae came in the first quarter when Maximus Villar tackled Cyrus Bonsu in the end zone for a 9-0 lead.
“The defense forced turnovers and came up with big stops,” Merritt said. “The pass rush was big for the defense. Not only did it force a lot of hurries, we got some sacks, some turnovers and it forced an interception. Anytime the defense can combine great pass coverage with a great pass rush we’re all for it.”
As a result of that pass coverage and pass rush, RMU quarterbacks Anthony Chiccitt and Tyler Szalkowski combined to complete 21-of-33 passes for a modest 186 yards.Bryant scored on its second possession with a six-play, 65-yard drive which Eckhaus capped by tossing a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Powell.
After Villar’s safety, Eckhaus upped the lad to 16-0 when he reeled off a 16-yard run for a 16-0 lead.
“They don’t expect Zevi to run the football,” Merritt said. “I don’t like him to run the football. But for this game plan we needed to do some things with the ‘Q’ run that took advantage of their not expecting him to run.He had about four or five designed runs tonight.”
Eckhaus tossed a four-yard touchdown run to Gary Cooper for what appeared to be a comfortable 22-0 lead. But on their next possession, the Colonials (0-2, 2-5) tricked Bryant when Garrett Fairman faked a punt and ran 33 yards to Bryant’s 15. That set up a 15-yard TD pass from Chiccitt to D.J. Moyer.
RMU then made it 22-14 at halftime thanks to Chiccitt’s six-yard run.
“We gave up the fake punt and a couple of touchdowns on some gimmick stuff,” Merritt said. “We made it a ballgame and said we had to come out in the third quarter and take it back.”
Which is exactly what happened. Otty’s fumble recovery led to a 16-yard touchdown pass from Eckhaus to Javin Dames. Bryant sealed the deal when Simi Bakare sandwiched touchdown runs of one and eight yards around a 24-yard touchdown pass from Szalkowski to Landen Lucas.
“We’ll enjoy this for three hours and then it’s on to Eastern Illinois tomorrow,” Merritt added.
