Oct. 10, 2009

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery ;|  Football Highlights vs. Bryant

Bronx, N.Y. - People arriving for tonight's Fordham-Bryant football game were greeted by bright Hollywood-type lights shining on Keating Hall, which was being used to film scenes for the upcoming movie, Wall Street 2. Just across the street from Keating Hall, under a different set of lights, the Fordham football team put together one of its best all-around games of the year, defeating Bryant, 35-7, on Jack Coffey Field.

With the win, the Rams improve to 2-3 on the year while Bryant falls to 3-2.

Last week, it was the Fordham offense on display as the Rams set a school record for total yards in a game. Tonight it was the defense's turn to shine, holding Bryant to 219 yards of offense, despite missing two contributors to injury.

Even though the defense led Fordham tonight, the Rams' offense wasn't quiet, gaining over 400 yards for the fourth time in five games this year. The offensive attack was well balanced as Fordham gained 244 yards rushing and another 183 passing.

"We finally played a complete game," said Fordham head coach Tom Masella. "I thought we played well on offense, defense and special teams. The kids played hard and it was nice to see that hard work pay off. Hopefully this is something we can build on for next week."

Senior quarterback John Skelton led the passing attack, completing 18 of 32 passes for the 183 yards and two touchdowns, both to his brother Stephen Skelton, while junior running back Xavier Martin paced the running game, gaining 122 yards on 19 carries with one score.

"Having the running game get going really helps our offense," said John Skelton. "The offensive line did a good job blocking, especially setting the edge so the backs could get outside."

Martin, who enjoyed his second straight 100-yard rushing game and the tenth of his career, also commented on the play of the offensive line. Tonight's starters were Jonathan Sheridan at center, Lloyd Morrison and Frank Rizzo at guards and Andrew Tyshovnytsky and Adnan Vandyck at tackles.

"We're only as good as the offensive line," said Martin. "The line sets up everything we do and tonight they did a great job opening holes and protecting John."

After the Fordham defense held the Bulldogs to a three-and-out on the first possession of the game, the Rams took over on their own 45 following a punt. Skelton and Martin went to work with Skelton completing two straight passes to pick up 15 yards and then putting the ball in the hands of Martin twice for a game of 13 yards to put the ball on the Bryant 28. After an incomplete pass, Martin broke through the line and found his way into the end zone for a 7-0 Fordham lead just under four minutes into the game.

Bryant drove the ball to the Fordham 27 on the ensuing possession but on third down and six from the 27 a Michael Croce pass attempt was incomplete and a 44-yard Chris Bird field goal attempt was short.

The Rams took over on their own 27 and covered the 73 yards on eight plays with Darryl Whiting taking it in from the six for a 14-0 Ram advantage with 4:49 left in the first. Skelton completed two big third down passes on the drive, the first to his brother Stephen for a 24-yard gain and later in the drive a 13-yarder to Asa Lucas that placed the ball on the Bryant 26. Skelton then connected with David Moore with a 20-yard pass before the Whiting score.

Early in the second quarter Fordham took over following a punt on its own 35, taking just 1:34 to put the ball in the end zone for a 21-0 lead. Skelton started the drive with a 19-yard pass completion to Jason Caldwell that was backed up ten yards for a holding call on the Rams downfield. After an incomplete pass, Martin gained 14 yards on a rush and Skelton found Brad Pierre with an eight-yard completion to put the ball on the Bryant 34. Two plays later, Skelton scampered around the left side and down the sideline, going into the end zone untouched with 10:12 left in the half.

Bryant threatened later in the half as Samad Wagstaff intercepted a Skelton pass on the Fordham 45, returning the ball to the Fordham 18. The Bulldogs got down to the Fordham 15 but a fourth down Croce pass to Kahel Pritchard fell incomplete.

The Rams then drove 85 yards on ten plays to take a 28-0 lead with 26 seconds remaining in the half. The big play of the drive was a 20-yard completion from Skelton to Moore on fourth down and four from the Bryant 32 that placed the ball on the 12. Whiting then gained 11 yards on the next play before the first Skelton-to-Skelton touchdown pass of the night covered the final yard.

Fordham took the second half kickoff and drove to the Bulldogs' 29 but a fourth down Skelton pass intended for Lucas was incomplete.

Bryant appeared to be ready to get on the scoreboard on the ensuing possession, moving down to the Fordham six, but on second down Jerrell Smith fumbled on the one and the ball was recovered in the end zone by Fordham's Ryan Darcey for the touchback.

The Rams were able to move the ball to their own 48 before being forced to punt and Patrick Murray's punt was blocked by Aaron Bryant and recovered for the Bulldogs by Manny Frangiadakis on the Fordham 29. Bryant moved down to the Fordham 11 before Smith was tackled for a loss of five yards by Jordan Bledsoe and Croce was sacked on the next play by Isaiah Leake to put the ball back on the 28. But on fourth down Croce found Tim Mastrino on the right side of the end zone for a touchdown to cut the Fordham lead to 28-7, with a minute left in the third.

It didn't take long for the Rams to get the seven points back as Zach Crosby returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards to give Fordham the ball on the Bryant 29. Four plays later, Skelton hooked up with his brother again, this time an 18-yard scoring strike, to put the Rams up 35-7, 25 seconds into the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs had one last chance to score later in the fourth but Jay Jackson sacked Croce on fourth down from the Fordham 42 to thwart the drive.

Stephen Skelton led all Fordham receivers with eight catches for 74 yards and the two touchdowns while Moore finished with four catches for 53 yards. Whiting gained 56 yards on eight carries with the one score.

Defensively, Jamal Haruna led the Rams with eleven tackles, four solo, while Cliff Stuckey added ten stops, six solo, including one for loss.

The Rams will next be in action next Saturday, October 17th, as they travel to Ithaca, N.Y., to face Cornell University in their final non-conference game of the year at 12:30 p.m.

Notes
The Rams improved their record in night games (games that start at 6:00 p.m. or later), to 9-13 all-time with the win...The game marked the second straight for the Rams against an opponent it has never played before...Bryant is in its second year of competition on the NCAA Division I level (the Bulldogs played on the Division II level from 1999 until 2007)...When Douglas Papy came on to play quarterback for the Rams in the fourth quarter it marked the first time this year that John Skelton did not take every snap in a game at quarterback...The last time a quarterback not named John Skelton took a snap in a game was last November when Clayton Busch did so against Marist...Stephen Skelton has now caught 18 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns over the past two games...John Skelton's career-record numbers are now 631 completions for 7,740 yards and 53 touchdowns...Skelton entered the game leading the NCAA in total offense and passing yards/game...The defensive line was missing senior Darzell Wright (injured) and sophomore Thomas Lloyd (ill)...The Fordham golf team was honored at the end of the third quarter for winning the 2009 ECAC Division I championship earlier in the day.