After dropping their first conference game to Albany, 28-17, last week, the Colonials come home to Joe Walton Stadium to host Bryant Saturday Oct. 22 at noon. The Bulldogs handed RMU their only conference loss last season in a 27-21 battle at Bryant.
Both RMU and Bryant are coming off conference losses, the Bulldogs lost 40-35 to Monmouth last week, and are looking to stay in the hunt for a conference crown or at least a share of one.
The Bulldogs have won all three previous contests between the two NEC foes, and come in with the nation’s leading rusher in junior Jordan Brown. Last week Brown rushed for 160 yards and three scores, and has rushed for at least 100 yards in the previous seven games straight.
The Colonials feature the nation’s 18th-ranked rushing defense and has yet to allow a 100-yard rusher. Led by hard-hitting safety Cameron Chadwick, RMU is giving up just over 100 yards average total on the ground. Chadwick led all tacklers last week with 16 total tackles; eight solo and eight assists.
On the flipside, quarterback Jeff Sinclair will look to rebound from last week’s setback and continue his scoring ways against a Bryant defense that picked him off three times last year including two that were ran back for scores. On the year, Sinclair has thrown for eight scores while running for four more. Last week, he threw for 158 yards and a score and rushed for 78 more and another touchdown.
All-American tight end Shadrae King has proven to be Sinclair’s go-to target to nobody’s surprise. King leads the Colonials in receptions (28), receiving yards (294) and receiving touchdowns (4).
King now currently has 122 career receptions, which further cements him as number one in Colonial history breaking former wide receiver Tyjuan Massey’s career mark of 112 from 2002 to 2005.
The Bulldogs will look to slow down the Colonial duo with senior defensive back Samad Wagstaff, who had a 90-yard pick-six a year ago off Sinclair. On the line, captain Joshua Janes will look to contain the Colonial rushing attack that managed only 135 yards against the Great Danes last week.
RMU can still capture a share of the NEC title only if Albany finishes the season with one conference loss while the Colonials must win out. To win the championship outright Albany must drop two conference games while RMU wins out.
The Colonials look to start such a winning streak Saturday, though, against Bryant as they’re also looking to capture their first win in program history against the Bulldogs.
Ed. Note: The Colonials lost to Bryant 27-34
