College Football: Bridgewater State Hopes for Revenge in Rematch of Four-OT Loss

By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- They took part in best football game of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference season last fall.

Bridgewater State University and Western Connecticut State University played four overtimes and combined for 98 points and 1,042 yards.

The Bears were edged, 50-48, by the host Colonials, who improved to 7-0 with the victory that ended with a two-point conversion in the fourth OT.

“It was,” recalled BSU coach Joe Verria, “a heckuva game, back and forth.”

Eleven months later, the Bears and Colonials will meet again, this time to open the MASCAC schedule at Swenson Field at 3:30 p.m.

A year ago, BSU took a 28-14 lead into the fourth quarter before allowing a pair of touchdowns, including one with two minutes remaining. The Bears had a chance to win in OT, only to have a point-after attempt blocked.

BSU had 555 yards of total offense with Nick Santavicca setting a program record for carries (42) while gaining 182 yards. Quarterback Stefano D’Emilia threw for 312 yards and four TDs.

That loss at Western Connecticut State was the only one the Bears had in their final eight games.

Now, BSU is looking to break into the win column as the MASCAC season gets under way after going 0-2 against Morrisville State and St. John Fisher of the Empire 8 Conference.

“It’s a very important game,” said Verria. “It’s a conference game now. Obviously, we’re playing a little better than week one and we’ve got to play better than we did the first two weeks. We’re facing one of the better teams in the conference.”

After dropping the opener at home to Morrisville State, 39-7, the Bears fell behind, 14-0, in the opening minutes at St. John Fisher last Saturday. They were able to regroup, but fell, 35-28.

“It was a little bit encouraging,” said Verria. “The way we played in the second half, it was much better. I know we’re getting better. That’s what those two games are supposed to do.”

The offense turned the ball over six times with four interceptions and two fumbles and the running game was limited to seven net yards on 27 carries.

Western Connecticut State (2-0) defeated William Paterson, 12-9, in overtime and Dean College, 41-16, in its two non-conference games.

BSU has switched its next home game against Westfield State University because of the threat of EEE. The game was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 4 under the lights but will now be played Oct. 5 at noon.

Stonehill on road: Stonehill College (1-1) begins the Northeast-10 Conference schedule by traveling to New Hampshire to face Saint Anselm College on Saturday at 6 p.m.

The Skyhawks have won 15 straight games over Saint Anselm, including a thrilling 57-54 win in triple overtime last season. The teams combined for 986 yards of offense and 51 first downs.

Stonehill is coming off a 31-9 loss to New Haven in the home opener as it was limited to 145 yards of total offense, including 26 on the ground.

Saint Anselm (0-2) started the season with losses to California (Pa.), 59-13, and Assumption College, 54-23, allowing an average of 446.5 yards per game.

Ryan Sullivan of Stoughton is Saint Anselm’s top tackler with 20 and has broken up three passes from the safety spot. Wide receivers for the Hawks include Franklin Holgate of Easton (12 catches, 155 yards), Shawn Donovan of Abington (four catches, 32 yards) and Bobby Long of Bridgewater (four catches, 16 yards).

The winner of the Stonehill-Saint Anselm game receives the Ol’ Bronze Hawk.

The Predictions:

• Boston College 27, Rutgers 21: The Eagles bounce back with a win on the road.
• Georgia 31, Notre Dame 21: The Irish are stopped by the Bulldogs.
• Harvard 27, San Diego State 17: The Crimson travel to the West Coast for a win.
• Bridgewater State 28, Western Connecticut State 20: The Bears start the MASCAC season with a victory.
• Stonehill 34, Saint Anselm 20: The Skyhawks improve to 2-1.

LAST WEEK: 4-1 | SEASON TOTAL: 6-4