2024 Bryant Bulldogs football team

2024 Bryant Bulldogs football
Conference	CAA Football
Record	2–10 (0–8 CAA)
Head coach	Chris Merritt (6th season)
Offensive coordinator	Ben McKaig (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Anthony Barese (5th season)
Home stadium	Beirne Stadium

2024 Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 15 Richmond +^		8	–	0					10	–	3
No. 9 Rhode Island* +^		7	–	1					11	–	3
No. 12 Villanova ^		6	–	2					10	–	4
Delaware*		6	–	2					9	–	2
No. 23 New Hampshire ^		6	–	2					8	–	5
Stony Brook		5	–	3					8	–	4
Towson		5	–	3					7	–	5
Elon		5	–	3					6	–	6
William & Mary		4	–	4					7	–	5
Monmouth		4	–	4					6	–	6
Maine		3	–	5					5	–	7
Albany		2	–	6					4	–	8
Hampton		2	–	6					5	–	7
Campbell		1	–	7					3	–	9
Bryant		0	–	8					2	–	10
North Carolina A&T		0	–	8					1	–	11
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – FCS playoff participant * Delaware ineligible for rankings and 2024 FCS playoffs due to transition to the FBS. Richmond and Rhode Island named co-champions as Rhode Island's only CAA loss was to Delaware. Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2024 Bryant Bulldogs football team represented Bryant University as a member of the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference (CAA Football) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by sixth-year head coach Chris Merritt and played their home games at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Beirne Stadium after practice during the season.

This season is the team's first as a member of CAA Football after leaving the Big South–OVC Football Association following the 2023 season.^[1][2]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 29	7:00 p.m.	at Delaware^[note 1]*	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE	FloSports	L 17–48	17,244
September 7	4:00 p.m.	Franklin Pierce*	Beirne Stadium Smithfield, RI	FloSports	W 21–17	N/A
September 14	2:00 p.m.	Holy Cross*	Beirne Stadium Kingston, RI	FloSports	L 22–43	N/A
September 21	3:00 p.m.	at New Hampshire	Wildcat Stadium Durham, NH	FloSports	L 17–38	11,302
October 5	12:00 p.m.	at Brown*	Richard Gouse Field at Brown Stadium Providence, RI	ESPN+	W 42–35	3,735
October 12	1:00 p.m.	Albany	Beirne Stadium Smithfield, RI	FloSports	L 17–24	1,850
October 19	1:00 p.m.	at Monmouth	Kessler Stadium West Long Branch, NJ	FloSports	L 17–55	2,852
October 26	12:00 p.m.	No. 18 Richmond	Beirne Stadium Smithfield, RI	FloSports	L 14–41	1,625
November 2	1:00 p.m.	No. 20 Stony Brook	Beirne Stadium Smithfield, RI	FloSports	L 30–31 ^OT	5,200
November 9	1:00 p.m.	at Maine	Alfond Sports Stadium Orono, ME	FloSports	L 26–38	5,548
November 16	1:00 p.m.	at William & Mary	Zable Stadium Williamsburg, VA	FloSports	L 12–22	7,186
November 23	1:00 p.m.	No. 13 Rhode Island	Beirne Stadium Smithfield, RI	FloSports	L 21–35	2,850
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[3][4][5]

^{[note 1]} The game against Delaware, a fellow member of the CAA, was played as a non-conference game and will not count in the league standings.

Game summaries

at Delaware

See also: 2024 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

Game One – Bryant Bulldogs (0–0) at Delaware Blue Hens (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	3	7	0	7	17
Fightin' Blue Hens	14	20	7	7	48

at Delaware Stadium • Newark, DE

• Date: Thursday August 29, 2024
• Game time: 7:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Cloudy
• Game attendance: 17,244
• TV: FloSports

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	BRY	DEL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bryant	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Delaware	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Franklin Pierce (DII)

See also: Franklin Pierce Ravens football

Game Two – Franklin Pierce Ravens (DII) (0–0) at Bryant Bulldogs (0–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ravens (DII)	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Beirne Stadium • Smithfield, Rhode Island

• Date: September 7, 2024
• Game time: 4:00 p.m.
• TV: FloSports

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FRA	BRY
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Franklin Pierce	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bryant	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Holy Cross

See also: 2024 Holy Cross Crusaders football team

Game Three – Holy Cross Crusaders (0–2) at Bryant Bulldogs (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Crusaders	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Beirne Stadium • Smithfield, Rhode Island

• Date: September 14, 2024
• Game time: 2:00 p.m.
• TV: FloSports

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	HC	BRY
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Holy Cross	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bryant	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at New Hampshire

See also: 2024 New Hampshire Wildcats football team

Game Four – Bryant Bulldogs (1–2) vs New Hampshire Wildcats (2–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0
Wildcats	0	0	0	0	0

at Wildcat Stadium, Durham, NH

• Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
• Game time: 3:00 PM
• TV: FloSports

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	BRY	UNH
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bryant	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
New Hampshire	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Brown

See also: 2024 Brown Bears football team

Game Five – Bryant Bulldogs (1–3) vs Brown Bears (2–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	13	0	22	42
Bears	7	7	7	14	35

at Richard Gouse Field at Brown Stadium • Providence, RI

• Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Cloudy, 72 °F (22 °C)
• Game attendance: 3,735
• Referee: Antonio Marcella
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Scott Cordischi (play-by-play) and John Anderson Jr. (analyst)

Game information

First quarter BRY – Aldrich Doe 31-yard pass from Jarret Guest (Bryce Soli kick), 9:10. Bulldogs 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 78 yards, 5:44. BRWN – Qwentin Brown 1-yard run (Christopher Maron kick), 3:01. Tied 7–7. Drive: 10 plays, 52 yards, 2:57. Second quarter BRWN – Qwentin Brown 1-yard run (Christopher Maron kick), 12:30. Bears 14–7. Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 3:46. BRY – Landon Ruggieri 18-yard pass from Jarrett Guest (Bryce Soli kick), 8:55. Tied 14–14. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:35. BRY – Bryce Soli 22-yard field goal, 1:55. Bulldogs 17–14. Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 5:38. BRY – Bryce Soli 27-yard field goal, 0:01. Bulldogs 20–14. Drive: 9 plays, 42 yards, 1:15. Third quarter BRWN – Qwentin Brown 1-yard run (Christopher Maron kick), 4:54. Bears 21–20. Drive: 11 plays, 93 yards, 4:15. Fourth quarter BRY – Landon Ruggieri 38-yard pass from Jarrett Guest (Bryce Soli kick), 14:20. Bulldogs 27–21. Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 2:58. BRWN – Matt Childs 58-yard pass from Jake Wilcox (Christopher Maron kick), 12:35. Bears 28–27. Drive: 5 plays, 77 yards, 1:38. BRY – Dylan Kedzior 46-yard run (Jarrett Guest run), 10:50. Bulldogs 35–28. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:45. BRWN – Matt Childs 15-yard run (Christopher Maron kick), 4:37. Tied 35–35. Drive: 11 plays, 98 yards, 4:00. BRY – Landon Ruggieri 30-yard pass from Jarrett Guest (Bryce Soli kick), 1:45. Bulldogs 42–35. Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 2:44.

Statistics	BRY	BRWN
First downs	25	24
Total yards	517	462
Rushing yards	180	163
Passing yards	337	299
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	26–39–0	22–41–0
Time of possession	33:09	26:51

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bryant	Passing	Jarrett Guest	26/39, 337 yards, 4 TD
	Rushing	Dylan Kedzior	11 carries, 93 yards, TD
	Receiving	Landon Ruggieri	10 receptions, 190 yards, 3 TD
Brown	Passing	Jake Wilcox	21/38, 294 yards, TD
	Rushing	Matt Childs	8 carries, 58 yards, TD
	Receiving	Matt Childs	5 receptions, 93 yards, TD

Albany

See also: 2024 Albany Great Danes football team

Game Six – Albany Great Danes (2–3) at Bryant Bulldogs (2–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Great Danes	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Beirne Stadium • Smithfield, Rhode Island

• Date: October 12, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• TV: FloSports

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	ALB	BRY
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Albany	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bryant	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Monmouth

See also: 2024 Monmouth Hawks football team

Game Seven – Bryant Bulldogs (2–4) at Monmouth Hawks (3–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0
Hawks	0	0	0	0	0

at Kessler Field • West Long Branch, NJ

• Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (FloSports): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	BRY	MONM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bryant	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Monmouth	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 18 Richmond

See also: 2024 Richmond Spiders football team

Game Eight – No. 18 Richmond Spiders (5–2) at Bryant Bulldogs (2–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 18 Spiders	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Beirne Stadium • Smithfield, Rhode Island

• Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• TV: FloSports/MASN

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	RICH	BRY
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Richmond	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bryant	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 20 Stony Brook

See also: 2024 Stony Brook Seawolves football team

Game Nine – No. 20 Stony Brook Seawolves (6–2) at Bryant Bulldogs (2–6) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
No. 20 Seawolves	10	7	7	0	7	31
Bulldogs	0	7	10	7	6	30

at Beirne Stadium • Smithfield, Rhode Island

• Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 5,200
• Referee: Todd Boys
• TV announcers (FloSports): Jake Zimmer (play-by-play) and Tim Lynch (analyst)

Game information

First quarter (11:11) SBU – Roland Dempster 5-yard run, Enda Kirby Kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:49; Stony Brook 7–0) (5:04) SBU – Enda Kirby 36-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 42 yards, 2:51; Stony Brook 10–0) Second quarter (6:07) BRY – Landon Ruggieri 15-yard pass from Brennan Myer, Bryce Soli kick (Drive: 14 plays, 99 yards, 6:44; Stony Brook 10–7) (1:55) SBU – Johnny Martin 1-yard rn, Enda Kirby kick (Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:06; Stony Brook 17–7) Third quarter (11:02) BRY – Bryce Soli 30-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 62 yards, 3:58; Stony Brook 17–10) (9:16) SBU – Jayce Freeman 40-yard pass from Tyler Knoop, Enda Kirby kick (Drive: 5 plays, 69 yards, 1:40; Stony Brook 24–10) (9:04) BRY – Markiel Cockrell 75-yard run, Bryce Soli kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:12; Stony Brook 24–17) Fourth quarter (13:32) BRY – Tristen Riley 19-yard pass from Brennan Myer, Bryce Soli kick (Drive: 3 plays, 25 yards, 1:15; Tied 24–24) Overtime SBU – Roland Dempster 2-yard run, Enda Kirby kick (Drive: 4 plays, 25 yards; Stony Brook 31–24) BRY – Landon Ruggieri 25-yard pass from Brennan Myer, two-point conversion failed (Drive: 1 plays, 25 yards; Stony Brook 31–30)

Statistics	STBK	BRY
First downs	26	21
Total yards	432	443
Rushing yards	147	105
Passing yards	285	338
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	23–30–0	28–40–1
Time of possession	31:57	28:03

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Stony Brook	Passing	Tyler Knoop	23/30, 285 yards, TD
	Rushing	Roland Dempster	25 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Jasiah Williams	10 receptions, 96 yards
Bryant	Passing	Brennan Myer	28/39, 338 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Markiel Cockrell	4 carries, 79 yards, TD
	Receiving	Dylan Kedzior	9 receptions, 100 yards

at Maine

See also: 2024 Maine Black Bears football team

Game Ten – Bryant Bulldogs (2–7) at Maine Black Bears (4–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0
Black Bears	0	0	0	0	0

at Alfond Sports Stadium • Orono, ME

• Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (FloSports): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	BRY	ME
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bryant	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Maine	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at William & Mary

See also: 2024 William & Mary Tribe football team

Game Eleven – Bryant Bulldogs (2–8) vs William & Mary Tribe (6–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0
Tribe	0	0	0	0	0

at Zable Stadium, Williamsburg, VA

• Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 PM
• TV: FloSports

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	BRY	W&M
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bryant	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
William & Mary	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 13 Rhode Island

See also: 2024 Rhode Island Rams football team

Game Twelve – No. 13 Rhode Island Rams (0–0) at Bryant Bulldogs (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 13 Rams	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Beirne Stadium • Smithfield, Rhode Island

• Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• TV: FloSports

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	URI	BRY
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rhode Island	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bryant	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

1. Washburn, Rob. "CAA Football Welcomes Bryant University As Its Newest Member In 2024". caasports.com. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
2. "Bryant Football accepts invitation to join CAA Football in 2024". August 9, 2023.
3. "Bryant Bulldogs Schedule 2024". ESPN. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
4. "2024 Football Schedule". Bryant University Athletics. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
5. "2024 Bryant Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 20, 2024.