MANCHESTER, NH (Oct. 14) -- It's a battle of first year programs this Saturday as the Saint Anselm College football team looks into the mirror and takes on Bryant College in an Eastern Football Conference showdown at Grappone Stadium at 1:00 p.m.
A large crowd is expected as the Hawks host the Saint Anselm "Family Weekend" game. The Grappone Stadium's 2,500 grandstands seats have already sold out and only general admission tickets remain.
The game poses an interesting twist as these two programs already have a bit of history and a developing rivalry, inspired by their first year status and long time school rivalry within the Northeast 10 Conference.
Saint Anselm began football this season after last playing varsity football in 1941. Bryant started the program this year for the first time in the college's 150 plus year history. Both became full time members of the Division II Eastern Football Conference this year.
The Hawks and Bulldogs tangled last season as both teams staged warm-up exhibition seasons and Saint Anselm walked away with a wild 28-20 victory. A year later, both squads are full time varsity status and this year's game also counts in the EFC standings.
"We're looking forward to hosting Bryant," noted Hawks Head Coach Geoff Harlan. "We faced them last season but we realize that both teams have changed and matured since last year. Bryant is playing good football right now and are coming off a nice win for their program." Harlan referred to Bryant's 44-39 surprise home victory over traditional power Bentley College.
The Bulldogs are off to a 3-1 start overall and own a 2-1 record in EFC play. Like Saint Anselm, Bryant is playing a nine game first year season.
The Bulldogs produced league wins over Assumption (20-13) and Bentley and a non conference win over Mount Ida (31-20), another first year Division III program. Bryant's only loss thus far is a 13-7 setback to Pace.
Bryant has put together a solid blend of a total offense and team defense that ranks fifth in the league respectively.
Offensively, the Bulldogs are averaging just over 25 points per game and 366 total yards, 200 of which has come in their running game.
"Bryant has shown a solid rushing game so we know our rushing defense will have to be up to the task," said Harlan.
That Bulldog running game stems from Austin Martin (117 carries for 602 yards), who is averaging just over 150 yards per game on the ground and 5.1 yards per carry, while Scott Paltrow (17 carries, 140 yards) has added 35 yards per game.
The Hawks defense will attempt to counter with leadership from linebackers such as Geoff Raby (Attleboro, MA), who has moved into the EFC lead with 51 tackles (including a league best 33 solo tackles) along with Lance Flagg (Simsbury, CT) who has added 35 tackles. The two linemen have harassed opposing quarterbacks, registering four sacks each.
Bryant also poses a stiff defensive test for a Hawks offense that is averaging 206 yards per game in the air, but is struggling on the ground with just over 100 yards per game. Bryant's rushing defense has limited the opposition to an EFC best 106 yards per game.
Lineman Greg Wolnyiec has led the Bulldogs in tackles thus far with 27 (19 solo) and two sacks, while Scott Murphy has added 20 (14 solo).
Bryant's air attack stems from quarterback Tony Granieri who is third in the league in pass efficiency and has hit on 48 of 86 attempts for six touchdowns against just three interceptions. Granieri's top targets have included Mike Carti, who has grabbed 17 passes for 12.5 yards per game and two touchdowns, while Gerius Brantley has caught 13 passes for 10.8 yards per game and a touchdown.
On the Saint Anselm side of the ball, quarterback Kyle Van De Giesen (North Attleboro, MA) enjoyed one of his stronger games last week completing 21 of 42 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns in the Hawks 34-15 loss at Pace University. Overall, the sophomore quarterback is hitting on 43% overall (68-160) with seven touchdowns and has helped the Hawks to the third best passing offense in the league (206 yards per game) and sixth best total scoring offense.
Van De Giesen's top target remains tight end Kevin L'Ecuyer (Fitchburg, MA) who is tied with freshman Mike Verronneau for the team lead in receptions with 11 and is averaging 24 yards per reception, 10th in the EFC. Verronneau caught eight passes last week and is averaging 10.3 yards per catch. Tight end Brian Johnson and wide out Travis Pelletier (Deerfield, NH) have also helped the Hawks offense with nine catches each.
Jon Turner (Foxboro, MA) continues as the Hawks top rusher with 250 net yards this season (3.6 avg) and has five touchdown carries, while senior Jeremy Forest (New Boston, NH) has been the Hawks top fullback with 116 yards and a 4.8 average.
Defensively, the Hawks line is giving up 186 yards on the ground per game, seventh in the EFC, but the team is working to improve a pass defense that is ninth giving up 131 yards per game.
Last week, the big play cost the Hawks in the fourth quarter as Pace took two turnovers and turned them into a quick 14 points, scoring twice on big plays within moments of regaining possession. Turnovers have been a live-by-the-sword, die-by-the-sword aspect to the Hawks fortunes over the last two weeks. The Hawks turned five Assumption turnovers into 24 points in a victory over Assumption two weeks ago, but three turnovers last week led to 21 Pace points.
"Those turnovers and scoring drives were tough to take," noted Harlan referring to two Pace second half touchdowns that came almost immediately after a Hawks turnover. "You can't give up the ball and then give up a big play week in an week out and expect to win. It's an aspect of our pass defense we have been working on. We hope to continue to improve in that area."
Overall, Harlan is optimistic for his Hawks chances. "We know there will be a big crowd and when Grappone Stadium is full, it's a great place to play football," said Harlan. "Our players are excited for this game. Bryant is a quality program and we expect a real battle."
