STONY BROOK, N.Y. – No. 20 Stony Brook football team heads to Smithfield, Rhode Island, as they are set to face Bryant University for the first time since 2019 on Saturday, Nov. 2. 

No. 20 Stony Brook (6-2, 3-1 CAA) at Bryant (2-6, 0-4 CAA)

WHERE: Smithfield, R.I.
VENUE: Beirne Stadium
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 2, 1:00 p.m.
HOW TO WATCH: FloFootball
LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast

SERIES HISTORY
… OVERALL – 3-1
… AT STONY BROOK – 3-1
… AT BRYANT – NA
… FIRST MATCHUP – Oct. 5, 2013 (Stony Brook 21 vs. Bryant 13)
… LAST MATCHUP – Aug. 29, 2019 (Stony Brook 35 vs. Bryant 10)

OPENING KICK

• This marks the fourth matchup in program history between these two teams, the first since Stony Brook defeated Bryant on Aug. 29, 2019, 35-10. The offense led by Tyquell Fields and Isiah White rushed for 247 yards and passed for 196, while the defense led by Synceir Malone held visiting Bryant to just 38 rushing yards in the victory. 
• In their last time out, the Seawolves earned their first victory over a ranked opponent since 2021 after defeating No. 15 William & Mary 35-13 last Saturday on homecoming. 
• Stony Brook earned the No. 20 spot in the AFCA Coaches and Stats Perform Top-25 Polls as announced by both organizations on Monday. 
• The 5-2 start for the Seawolves mark their best start since the team began the 2018 season 6-2. 
• Dempster ranks second in the FCS in rushing touchdowns (14) and sixth in rushing yards per game (118.4). 
• The current FCS biggest improvement in wins from the 2023 to 2024 season are the Seawolves (0-10 to 5-2), followed by McNeese St. (0-10 to 4-4). 

LAST TIME OUT

• Stony Brook used a big 220-yard output on the ground, including 144 yards from Roland Dempster, and two rushing touchdowns to pick up a 35-13 win against No. 15 William & Mary on homecoming at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium.
• Tyler Knoop led Stony Brook's passing attack with 240 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns. Dempster paced the Seawolves rushers with 144 yards and two touchdowns in the contest, picking up 5.3 yards per carry. He also added 58 receiving yards. Knoop's most prolific target in the ballgame was Jayce Freeman, who caught three passes for 101 yards and one score.
• A.J. Roberts showed out for the Stony Brook defense, recording 11 tackles, 0.5 TFL, a pick-six, and two pass breakups. Franco Milano added an interception and Deshawn Jones Jr. had one interception in the win. Shamoun Duncan-Niusulu also had a career-high and team-best 11 tackles.
• Stony Brook out-gained William & Mary 460-354, including a 220-120 advantage on the ground.
• The Seawolves took potential points off the board by forcing three turnovers on their own half of the field.
• Stony Brook went 3-for-3 on fourth down, limiting William & Mary to one conversion on its three attempts.
• It marked the first victory over a ranked team for Stony Brook since they defeated Delaware at Lavalle Stadium in 2021.

OH MY GOSH, BILLY COSH! 

• The current FCS biggest improvement in wins from the 2023 to 2024 season are the Seawolves (0-10 to 6-2), followed by McNeese St. (0-10 to 4-5). 
• The 6-2 start for the Seawolves mark their best start since the team began the 2018 season 6-2. 
• Head coach Billy Cosh is currently the second youngest FBS or FCS head coach in the country. 
• The six wins by Cosh is tied for third most by any first-year head coach in the FCS this season (8, Tim Polasek - NDSU). 
• Cosh is the fastest coach in program history to reach six wins and with the victory will clinch their first winning season since 2018 (7-5). 

RANKINGS IN THE FCS AND CAA

• THIRD DOWN % DEFENSE: 41.2% - 9TH FCS | 1ST CAA 
• FOURTH DOWN CONVERSION: 68.4% - 13TH FCS | 2ND CAA 
• DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS: 2 - 12TH FCS | 2ND CAA 
• PASSES INTERCEPTED: 9 - 17TH FCS | 2ND CAA 
• NET PUNTING: 40.4 - 16TH FCS | 3RD CAA 
• TEAM SACKS: 22 - 11TH FCS | 2ND CAA 
• PASSING YARDS ALLOWED: 185.8 - 27TH FCS | 4TH CAA
• TURNOVERS GAINED: 18TH - 5TH FCS | 1ST CAA 
• TURNOVER MARGIN: +2 - 11TH FCS | 2ND CAA 
• TIME OF POSSESSION: 33:51 - 4TH FCS | 1ST CAA
• RUDY SILVERA: PASS DEFENDED PER GAME: 1.4 - 10TH FCS | 2ND CAA 
• TYLER KNOOP: COMPLETION PERCENTAGE: 71.1% - 6TH FCS | 1ST CAA 
• TYLER KNOOP: PASSING EFFICIENCY: 153.5 - 16TH FCS | 4TH CAA 
• ROLAND DEMPSTER: RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS: 14 - 2ND FCS | 2ND CAA 
• ROLAND DEMPSTER: TOTAL RUSHING YARDS: 947 - 7TH FCS | 1ST CAA
• ROLAND DEMPSTER: ALL PURPOSE: 150.1 - 7TH FCS | 1ST CAA 
• ENDA KIRBY: FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE: 80% - 18TH FCS | 3RD CAA

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS 

• Head coach Chris Merritt enters his sixth season at Bryant with a career record of 25-32. 
• The Bulldogs enter the matchup second to last in the CAA with their 2-6 (0-4 CAA) record. They have defeated Franklin Pierce University and Brown University this season. 
• Bryant has the 19th best passing offense in the FCS led by QB Jarrett Guest. He's 27th in the FCS in passing touchdowns (13) and 18th in the FCS in passing yards per game (239.1). 
• Landon Ruggieri continues to make headlines as he ranks second in the FCS in touchdown receptions (9) and sixth in total receiving yards (745) this year. 
• Cole Niles paces the defense with a team-high 50.0 tackles, including 5.0 tackles for loss. 
• Ben Silver leads the team with 4.5 sacks in 2024 and two players have recorded an interception this season for the Bulldogs (Colin Elliott and Olatunde Mkparu). 

To purchase season, single game, mini plans or group tickets, click here or call 631-632-WOLF (9653) or email seawolvestickets@stonybrook.edu.

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