Bryant opened its 2026 college football season with a 24-6 victory against Stonehill College on August 29, 2026, according to box score data reported by ESPN. The Bulldogs secured the win on the road, utilizing a strong fourth-quarter performance to pull away from the Skyhawks after holding a slim 7-3 lead at halftime.
How Bryant Secured the Season-Opening Win
According to ESPN game statistics, Bryant outgained Stonehill narrowly with 299 total yards compared to the Skyhawks’ 304 total yards, but capitalized on a cleaner game by committing zero turnovers against Stonehill’s one. Bryant quarterback B. Ross led the ground attack with 102 rushing yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. Wide receiver S. Wilson Jr. paced the Bulldogs’ receiving corps with three catches for 43 yards.
Defensively, Bryant relied on strong performances in the trenches and the secondary. Defensive lineman G. Sparrow tallied three solo tackles, according to the ESPN box score. The Bulldogs’ defense shut down Stonehill in the second half, surrendering only a single field goal over the final two quarters.
Stonehill College Offensive Performance
Stonehill quarterback J. O’Connell completed 19 of 30 passes for 202 yards to lead the Skyhawks’ offense, according to ESPN. Running back S. Turner contributed three receptions for 42 yards. Despite generating 304 total yards of offense, Stonehill struggled to convert drives into touchdowns against the Bryant defense, settling for two field goals.
Henritzy led the team with seven solo tackles and nine total tackles, as reported by ESPN. The Skyhawks kept the game competitive through three quarters, trailing 7-3 at the half and 7-3 heading into the fourth quarter, before Bryant pulled away with 17 unanswered points in the final period.
Game Statistics Breakdown
The matchup featured evenly matched statistics across several categories, according to the official box score data:
- Total Yards: Stonehill 304, Bryant 299
- First Downs: Bryant 19, Stonehill 17
- Turnovers: Bryant 0, Stonehill 1
- Penalties: Bryant 4-56, Stonehill 4-38
- Third-Down Conversions: Bryant 5/13, Stonehill 5/14
- Time of Possession: Stonehill 30:26, Bryant 29:34
With the win, Bryant starts its campaign at 1-0 overall and 1-0 away, while Stonehill falls to 0-1 overall and 0-1 at home, per ESPN records.
Related reading