WAYNE, N.J. -- Senior wide receiver Matt Green (Stoughton, Mass.) caught ten passes for 172 yards and a touchdown while setting an all-time program mark for receptions to lead the Bridgewater State University football team to a 29-20 non-conference win over William Paterson University on Saturday afternoon at Wightman Stadium in Wayne, New Jersey.
Both teams are now 1-1 on the young season.
With his ten catches, Green increased his career total to 125 as he eclipsed BSU Hall of Famer Andy Macaione's (1997-2000) previous program mark of 120 receptions. Green also went over the 2,000-yard receiving yard mark joining Macaione (2,642 yds) as the only two players in BSU football history to reach the milestone. He now has 2,110 yards in four seasons at Bridgewater State.
Sophomore quarterback Danny Higgins (Manahawkin, N.J.) completed 13 of 20 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown. Higgins hooked up with Green on a 35-yard scoring strike to give the Bears a 7-3 lead in the first quarter. He would add a 49-yard touchdown run later in the period to increase the BSU advantage to 14-3.
William Paterson had taken an early 3-0 lead at the 11:10 mark of the first quarter on a Robert Sinegra (Wharton, N.J.) 18-yard field goal. The field goal was set up by a 59-yard interception return by sophomore defensive back Jason Montalvo (Hoboken, N.J.).
The two teams exchanged rushing touchdowns in the second quarter. Junior running back Dwaine Dabney (Summit, N.J.) scored on an eight-yard run for the Pioneers. BSU freshman quarterback Malik Garrett (Dorchester, Mass.) capped off a nine-play, 81-yard drive with a ten yard TD scamper (his first collegiate touchdown) with 1:58 left in the half. The extra point snap was botched as the Bears would take a 20-10 lead into the locker room.
The Pioneers marched 61 yards on ten plays to open the third quarter capped off by junior running back Matt Deiana's (Somers, N.Y.) seven-yard touchdown run. The Bears answered with a 38-yard field goal off the foot of senior kicker Colin Neri (Upton, Mass.). Neri's first collegiate field goal upped the Bears' lead to 23-17.
Sinegra booted his second field goal of the afternoon, this time from 33 yards out, to pull William Paterson to within three, 23-20, with 40 seconds left in the third quarter. Sophomore Kell'E Gallimore(Plainfield, N.J.) then blocked Neri's 26-yard attempt on the Bears' ensuing possession. The Pioneers, however, could not take advantage of the big play on special teams as they went three and out and were forced to punt.
Bridgewater responded with a ten-play, 85-yard drive with senior running back Blaise Branch (Brockton, Mass.) punching it in from a yard out. A Higgins 33-yard pass to Green down to the one-yard line set up Branch's touchdown. The PAT snap was botched again as the visitors held a 29-20 advantage with 7:32 remaining in the fourth quarter.
After a pair of first downs on the Pioneers next possession, BSU senior defensive end Marty Voorhis (Nashua, N.H.) came up with a big sack and forced fumble to put a damper on a potential comeback bid. Senior defensive tackle Adam Toman (Barrington, R.I.) recovered the big fumble for the Bears. William Paterson would have the ball just one more time, but that drive stalled at midfield and the Pioneers turned it over on downs.
Branch finished with a game-best 97 yards on 21 carries to lead the Bears' rushing attack. Higgins added 67 yards on four attempts. Bridgewater amassed 490 yard of total offense including 304 though the air. Garrett threw for 86 yards and also rushed for 26. Freshman wideout Travis Bassett (Littleton, Mass.) caught three passes for 81 yards.
Junior linebacker Nicholas Salois (Warwick, R.I.) paced the BSU defense with a team-high 12 tackles, including six solo stops and one for loss. Senior safety Mathieu Araujo (East Freetown, Mass.) added seven tackles (five solo).
William Paterson amassed 173 yards on the ground, but just 139 in the air. Junior running back Darius Kersey (Dover, N.J.) led the Pioneers' rushing attack with 67 yards on ten carries. He also hauled in a team-best five receptions for 35 yards. Dabney and Deiana rushed for 55 and 50 yards, respectively. Freshman quarterback Austin Flowers (Pennington, N.J.) completed 14 of 31 passes for 139 yards.
Next Saturday afternoon, the Bears travel to Worcester State University to open up MASCAC play against the Lancers. The opening kickoff is slated for one o'clock.
Notes: Green moved past Clint Cabral (144 pts, 1989-92) and Ben Bascon (146 pts, 2004-05) into 14th place on the Bears' all-time scoring list as he now has 150 career points....Branch increased his career rushing total to 1,453 yards (16th all-time at BSU).