Bulldogs Wash Away 17 Point Deficit to beat Minutemen 27-26

By Kevin McCaskill Jr. & Lynn Dionne McKenney

9/10/25 * 12:00 PM

(AMHERST, MA) - Last Saturday was a rainy afternoon in Amherst. The Bulldogs from Bryant University (RI) traveled to McGuirk Alumni Stadium to take on the Minutemen. Both teams lost their opening week matchup.

Approximately an hour before kickoff, the game was suspended due to lightning in the area. This year, unlike the 2023 rain delay in the Miami (OH) game, there was a heavy rain downpour and multiple flashes of lightning throughout the delay. However, the 2025 delay didn’t last 10 hours; the game was pushed back until 5:30. It’s hard to tell if the delay was a factor in the Minutemen’s performance but despite the obstacle the game had to be played.

UMass didn’t execute flawlessly in the first half but they controlled the game. The 1st quarter was very slow. Neither team could get their offense going. The Minutemen got a spark from LB Tyler Martin’s “pick-6”. Martin intercepted Bryant QB Brennan Myer and returned in 23 yards for the TD. The extra point was missed by K Derek Morris. UMass HC Joe Harasymiak remarked to the press after the game,

“Let’s take ownership too; we missed an extra point. How much did we lose by? One […] Every play matters, every play matters”

Also in the 1st quarter, starting QB Brandon Rose left the game due to an injury to his shoulder/arm. After the game, HC Harasymiak said the X-rays were negative. On Monday, he announced Rose and eight other players will be out for Saturday’s game @ Iowa, including WR TY Harding.

Grant Jordan entered the game after Rose’s injury and rose to the occasion. He did throw an INT but he did good otherwise, passing for 205 yards and running for 28 yards, which included a TD.

In the 2nd quarter, the Minutemen’s 6-0 lead was extended by a 13 yard run TD by RB Brandon Hood.

Bryant would score a FG and TD before halftime.

The Minutemen led 20-10.

In the 3rd, Myer found RB Elijah Elliot for a 43-yd pass TD which narrowed the lead 20-17.

On the second possession of the 3rd quarter, QB AJ Hairston entered the game for the Minutemen. He only played one series and completed 3/4 passes for 28 yards. The drive he lead, ended in a punt.

Jordan returned to lead the offense. Morris kicked a 25-yd FG to give the Minutemen a 23-17 lead.

On the next Bryant offensive possession, it only took 2 plays for Bryant to score, capped off by a 72 yard pass TD from Myer to Zyheem Collins.

The Bulldogs, an FCS program that had never beaten an FBS program and was 2-10 last season, had a one-point lead 24-23. They were slowly and methodically taking the momentum away from the Minutemen.

Derek Morris kicked a 53 yard FG which put the Minutemen back head 26-24. That FG also put him in the #1 spot for longest FG made in a home game, a record which stood for 50+ years.

Myer threw a late INT, caught by UMass DB DD Synder. At that juncture, most would have thought the game was over.

It wasn’t.

UMass got the possession and ran the ball three times. HC Harasymiak said on Monday, that he should have been more aggressive. The Minutemen were forced to punt.

With the help of defensive pass interference and a holding call, the Bulldogs got down to the redzone. Bryant K Bryce Soli came on to the field with four seconds left and kicked the ball straight through the uprights to give Bryant a 27-26 victory in Amherst, their 1st win over an FBS program.

Saturday‘s trio of QBs had a mixture of successes and failures. Rose didn’t have much time on the field, going 4/6 for 24 yards. Hairston only played one series and no points were added to the scoreboard during his time on the field. Jordan performed well for the Minutemen with a seamless transition into the game after Rose was injured.

Jordan is “dual-threat” QB. He looks to pass  and get through his progressions but he will take off and gain yardage.

Hairston is a passing-QB that is mobile. HC Harasymiak described him as a “gunslinger”. He stays in the pocket more often than Jordan but Hairston can make plays with his feet.

Both QBs looked comfortable in the game but it’s clear the coaching staff trusts Jordan more. He played @ Yale last season and threw for a shade under 2K yards, 22 TDs to 3 INTs and a 66% completion rate. It seems the coaches are valuing his experience over Hairston’s potential.

In a couple days, the Minutemen travel to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes, one of the more consistent teams in the FBS. The Minutemen are down their starting QB, WR, S and other players. HC Harasymiak, when asked if the goal was to leave Iowa healthy, said, “No, we are going, to win the game”.

Despite the early season struggles, the Minutemen are still fighting. Their next matchup is on Saturday 9/13 @ 7:30 PM on the Big Ten Network.