Bryant’s football program went winless in league play just two seasons ago in 2024, followed by a lonely road triumph at Albany in 2025. That’s a brutal stretch, and now the Bulldogs are looking to finally find their way in the Coastal Athletic Association. Their quest for relevancy kicks off this Saturday night, Aug. 29, against Stonehill at W.B. Mason Stadium. It’s a 6 p.m. kickoff, and every snap matters if they want to escape the shadow of those rough years.
QB Woes and What’s Different This Season
Last season showed glimpses of potential before everything went sideways. Bryant actually opened 2-1, even pulling off a stunning road upset of Massachusetts. But then the wheels fell off, marked by back-to-back two-point losses to Campbell and Towson. They got handled by Maine at home and faded in the second half against Brown. A huge factor in that slide was quarterback health. Brennan Myer was knocked out with a broken collarbone, and Ridge Docekal also suffered an injury. Suddenly, Jaden Keefner, who started the year third on the depth chart, was taking snaps. Coach Chris Merritt addressed the past struggles, saying, “We’re right there.” He believes it’s “going to be those pieces of execution and those depth issues that hopefully we’ve addressed in the offseason.” Good news for fans: Myer is the likely starter for Stonehill, with Keefner backing him up and freshman Bodhi Wolford pushing for the third spot. Merritt sounds confident, stating, “Brennan has done a great job and picked up where he left off.” He even added, “He looks like he’s played before.”
New Faces and a Game-Changing Facility
Beyond Myer’s return, there are some fresh faces aiming to make an impact. Running backs OJ Ross from Long Island and Kendrick Agenor from California PA each pushed for 1,000 rushing yards at their previous stops in 2025. That’s serious talent in the backfield! Wide receiver Sean Wilson, who came from Virginia and Florida Atlantic, along with tight end Noah Branham out of West Virginia, could emerge as key pass-catching threats. Maybe the biggest boost, however, isn’t a player. It’s the new Navigant Credit Union Field House, a gleaming collection of seats, suites, and team amenities right behind the home sideline at Beirne Stadium. Merritt can’t stop talking about it, noting a “big difference between my first six years here and last year.” He describes going “from me trying to protect or shield the eyes of the recruits from half the stadium to me smiling as they open up their big eyes and see the locker room and the team meeting room.” He calls it “a big punch in the arm for us,” and you can bet that’s translating to better recruiting.
The Bulldogs are traveling just up the road to Massachusetts to face Stonehill, a team they hammered 42-7 fifteen years ago. Stonehill was picked seventh in the preseason Northeast Conference poll, so this is a chance to start strong. After Stonehill, they’ve got a road trip to Army for a guarantee game next week, then open CAA play at Hampton on Sept. 12. Fans won’t get to see that awesome new field house in action until their home opener on Sept. 19 against Princeton. Coach Merritt is clearly pumped, stating, “I am excited.” He finished by saying, “I really do like this group of kids.” Let’s see if this group can translate that excitement into Ws.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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