Box Score AMHERST, MASS. - Bryce Soli drilled a game-winning 25-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bryant football team to its first-ever victory over an FBS program as the Bulldogs defeated UMass, 27-26, on Saturday night in Amherst.

The win, Bryant's first against an FBS program in six tries, completed an incredible day in Amherst for the Black and Gold as Bryant men's soccer earned a 1-0 win over the 20th-ranked UMass soccer program earlier in the day. The Bulldogs will now turn their attention to next Saturday's home opener against Bentley. Kick off is set for 6:00 p.m.

On Saturday, Bryant trailed 20-10 at the half but outscored the Minutemen 17-6 in the second half behind an impressive effort from sophomore Brennan Myer. He completed 9-of-18 passes for 205 yards that included scoring plays of 43 yards to Elijah Elliott and 72 yards to Zyheem Collick. With Bryant trailing by two and 1:45 on the clock, Myer completed 4-of-6 passes to move the Bulldogs into UMass territory. A holding call on the Minutemen put Bryant inside the red zone and Soli was able to deliver the good as he banged home the game-winner from 25 yards out.

Myer finished 22-of-44 for 318 yards and three touchdowns, while Collick caught three balls for 94 yards and two scores. Elliott rushed for 47 yards on 11 carries and also caught six passes for 63 yards and a score. Brandon Perkins led the defense with a career-high 14 tackles (2.0 TFLs), Lonnie Rice posted seven stops and Azarel Juste collected six tackles and his second interception in as many games.

Game Information
Bryant 27, UMass 26
Records: Bryant (1-1, 0-0), UMass (0-2, 0-0)
Location: McGuirk Alumni Stadium (Amherst, Mass.)

Key Moments

• Beau Shugarts collected a huge sack on 1st-and-20 from the Bryant 24 with 5:16 left in the fourth quarter. The play helped hold UMass to a field goal.
• Soli walked it off as time expired, drilling a 25-yard field goal.

How it Happened

• The game was a defensive battle to start and continued with UMass earning the first points of the game on a 23-yard pick six in the first quarter (6-0).
• The Minutemen scored a 13-yard rushing touchdown in the beginning of the second quarter that was the result of an eight-play 61-yard drive that began in the final minutes of the first quarter (13-0).
• The Bulldogs got on the board off a 37-yard field goal from Bryce Soli. This drive was highlighted by 14-yard catches from both Koby Keenan and Aldrich Doe (13-3).
• UMass would score a TD on a five-yard quarterback rush. The touchdown was set up thanks to a 50-yard deep ball (20-3).
• The Bulldogs responded with an 11-play, 69-yard drive that was capped off by a nine-yard TD pass from Brennan Myer to Zyheem Collick (20-10). The drive also saw two catches for Tristen Riley, which totaled 15 and 13 yards.
• UMass missed a field goal to begin the second half, and the Bulldogs took over on their own 20-yard line. Bryant would respond with a five-play drive that was finished off with a 43-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Elliott up the seam to get the Black and Gold within three points (20-17).
• The Minutemen would then produce a seven-play drive that was stopped by the Bulldog defense in the red zone, resulting in a UMass FG (23-17).
• The Bulldogs countered quickly as Myer connected with Collick for a 72-yard touchdown down the right sideline on just sthe second play of the drive to take the lead in the third quarter (24-23).
• UMass would conduct a 13-play drive that was stopped by Shugarts' big sack and a huge Kaden Hamilton hit over the middle. The two plays set up the Minutemen for a 53-yard field goal, which was hit with four minutes left in the game (26-24).
• The Bulldogs would turn it over on the next possession but the defense was able to force a three-and-out, giving Bryant the ball back at its own 14 with 1:45 left.
• Myer opened the game-winning drive with a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw to Doe for 20 yards. He hit Elliott on the same sideline for seven yards but a false start and an incompletion made it 3rd-and-8. Myer then rolled out and hit Riley along the UMass sideline for nine yards to the Bryant 45. After an incompletion, Myer dropped it in perfectly for Riley along the Bryant sideline for 25 yards. A holding penalty on a deep ball to Collick move Bryant to the UMass 20 with 1:05 left and the Bulldogs then ran the ball five times, picking up a first down and ridding UMass of its timeouts. Bryant eventually set up Soli from 25 yards out and he knocked it through to set off a raucous celebration.

Stats

• Bryant outgained UMass, 399-358, and held a 25-21 advantage in first downs.
• The Bulldogs finished 4-of-14 on third down.
• Myer finished 22-of-44 for 318 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked twice.
• Elliott rushed for 47 yards on 11 carries and caught six passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 110 all-purpose yards.
• Collick was targeted four times and caught three passes for 94 yards and two scores. He caught scoring passes of nine and 72 yards.
• Riley finished with five catches for 73 yards, while Doe (3 catches, 39 yards) and Keenan (3 catches, 36 yards) each had three.
• Perkins led the defense with 14 tackles and 2.0 TFLs.
• Rice finished with seven tackles.
• Juste posted six stops and an interception.
• Dixon Hudson recorded six tackles and 1.5 TFLs.
• Gideon Bedada and Shugarts picked up Bryant's two sacks on the night.
• Soli finished 2-of-3 on field goals, hitting from 37 and 25, while missing from 47.
• Keylijah Williams finished with 132 return yards.

Game Notes

• Bryant's win over UMass is its first over an FBS program in school history. 
• It marks the third big win for the Bulldogs in Amherst in recent memory. In December of 2020, men's basketball earned a road win at UMass. Earlier Saturday, men's soccer defeated No. 20 UMass, 1-0.
• Riley matched his career-high in receptions for a second-straight week, while his 73 receiving yards are a new water mark.
• Collick's touchdowns were the first two of his career. The 72-yard touchdown completion is the sixth-longest in program history.
• Elliott recorded his first touchdown as a Bulldog in addition to career highs in receptions and receiving yards.
• Soli joins Luke Samperi (2018 at Fordham) and Ethan Gettman (2022 at LIU) as the only kickers in DI program history to deliver a game-winning field goal as time expired.
• With two field goals, Soli is now 13-of-18 on field goals in his career.
• Myer threw for 300+ yards for the second time in his career and completed 20+ passes for the third time.
• Myer has now throw multiple touchdown passes in five of his six career starts.
• Perkins set a new career high with 14.0 tackles.
• Juste has now intercepted a pass in each of the first two games of the season
• Hudson matched his career high with six tackles.
• Dorian Helm returned to Amherst after playing three seasons at UMass. He finished with three tackles and a half TFL.

Next Up
Bryant opens its home schedule on Saturday, September 13 when it welcomes former NE-10 rival Bentley to Beirne Stadium. Bryant will also be celebrating the official opening of the Navigant Credit Union Field House prior to kickoff. Tickets can be purchased at BryantBulldogs.com/tickets.