Bruce Burley Named NEFC Offensive Player of the Week

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- For the second time this season, Bridgewater State College senior running back Bruce Burley was named the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Offensive Player of the Week. Burley earned the honor for his performance in the Bears' 47-14 win on Saturday over NEFC Bogan Division rival Worcester State College.

A native of Mansfield, Massachusetts, Burley set the Bears' single-game rushing record as he ran for 292 yards and four touchdowns on just 18 carries in BSC's win over the Lancers.  He scored on runs of 5, 56, 82 and 15 yards despite not playing at all in the fourth quarter.

Burley, who broke Seto Berry's 1998 school mark of 283 yards, also moved into third place on the Bears' career rushing list (2,623 yards) and seventh place on BSC's all-time scoring list (212 points). His 1,275 rushing yards this season is the fifth highest total in Bridgewater football history, and his 18 rushing touchdowns is second only to Brendan Kavey's 2005 mark of 20.

Through nine games this season, Burley ranks fifth in the NEFC in rushing yards, sixth in all-purpose yards (1,458), third in scoring (114 points) and tied for third in rushing touchdowns (18).

Burley was also selected as the NEFC Co-Offensive Player of the Week back on October 13th.

Bridgewater is currently 6-3 on the season as the Bears' head into Saturday's Cranberry Bowl matchup with Mass. Maritime Academy having won five straight games.  BSC needs a win over the Buccaneers coupled with a Maine Maritime loss against Fitchburg State to advance to the NEFC Championship Game on November 15th.

The Bears are 21-7-1 versus Mass. Maritime since the inception of the Cranberry Bowl in 1979.  BSC has won the prestigious "Cranberry Scoop" eleven straight years and 19 of the last 20.  The Bears also lead the all-time series against the Buccaneers, 24-9-1, as the two teams met five times prior to the arrival of the Cranberry Bowl beginning in 1974.