College Football: Stefano D’Emilia Has Bridgewater Football In His Blood

By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- His football career began as a youngster playing for the Bridgewater Badgers at Legion Field nearly a decade and a half ago.

From there, Stefano D’Emilia moved on to Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, where he was the starting quarterback as a senior in 2015.

That was followed by a short trip to Bridgewater State University, where D’Emilia became the starting quarterback during his sophomore season in 2017.

“It’s the best feeling in the world to be able to go from the Bridgewater Badgers then go to B-R and then come here,” D’Emilia said prior to a practice this week. “To be able to play at all levels in Bridgewater, I’m a townie. This is everything I could have dreamed of for me.”

On Saturday afternoon, D’Emilia begins his final season playing in his hometown. The senior captain and the Bears play their opener at noon against Morrisville State, of New York, at Swenson Field.

D’Emilia took over as the starting quarterback in the fourth game of the ’17 season after splitting time in the opening three games, and he was in that spot last season when BSU went 8-3.

At B-R, D’Emilia started three games as a sophomore and had the job as a senior, but he received little interest from college programs and walked on at Bridgewater State in 2016.

From that beginning, D’Emilia has climbed up the charts in the school’s record book with 3,758 career passing yards, 30 touchdown passes and 295 completions.

“If you told me my senior year in high school this was how it was going to turn out four years later, I would have said, ‘No way,’” said D’Emilia. “I couldn’t be more thankful and appreciative to be playing in this town, with my family and my friends and all my previous coaches and the coaches now.

“Honestly, I had no idea what was going to happen. I came in as a walk-on. I wasn’t recruited by anyone. I just came in with an open mind and hoped for the best. I fell in love with the sport all over again. I learned what it’s like to have to really work in the offseason and what it takes to be good at the next level. It’s all history from there.”

D’Emilia completed 140 passes for 1,694 yards with 13 touchdowns as a sophomore after sitting behind Danny Higgins in 2016. Last season, he was 174 for 290 for 2,046 yards (the fourth-highest total in school history) and 17 TDs and went 19 for 26 for 232 yards and three TDs in the New England Bowl.

It was another step forward for D’Emilia, who comes off the field at times with Brad Thiltgen getting some snaps.

“He’s come a long way,” said coach Joe Verria of his two-year captain. “He’s worked very, very hard. He’s put himself in a good position. It’s been a 100 percent turnaround.

“He’s always been a hard-working kid, a dedicated kid. He studies hard. He loves football.”

D’Emilia, who set the school record with a completion percentage of 60 last season, should become just the second BSU quarterback to throw for more than 5,000 yards. The record is held by Higgins (6,091) and D’Emilia is just 1,242 away from 5,000.

Higgins has the school mark of 474 completions, while D’Emilia is at 295 going into his final season. The Bears’ offense will have to adapt this season with the departure of two of the program’s best receivers ever in Jack Lavanchy and Travis Bassett.

D’Emilia is ready for the challenge that awaits after putting in the work in the offseason.

He spent time at the M2 QB Academy, which is run by former BSU quarterback and current Plymouth North assistant coach Mike McCarthy.

“Working with him, I can’t thank him enough. He’s shaped me into the quarterback I am today,” said D’Emilia of the four-year Bears’ starters. “I’ve been trying to get bigger, faster, stronger, getting better with my reads, being able to recognizing defenses. He’s helped me with all that, him and (BSU assistant) coach (Pat) Callahan and the coaches here.”

Three more months is what remains in D’Emilia’s football ride through the town of Bridgewater, and he’s ready to make the most of it.

“Obviously, it’s a ton of fun being out there with this group of guys,” said D’Emilia. “We have a great relationship, but at the same time, it’s my last year of Bridgewater football, which has been a crazy ride.

“It’s my 14th season, all in Bridgewater. It’s bittersweet. I don’t want to stop playing, but at the same time, if I could have my last season with any group of guys, this would definitely be it.”