BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University football team held off a second half comeback as the Bears downed Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Plymouth State University, 27-24, on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field. The game marked the MASCAC opener for both teams.
The Bears, who led 27-3 late in the third quarter, improve to 1-2 (1-0 MASCAC) on the season, while the visiting Panthers fall to 0-3 (0-1). Bridgewater has won eight of the last nine meetings of the two teams, while Plymouth holds an 18-16-1 lead in the all-time series which dates back to 1974.
Junior linebacker Brendan Albert (Canton, Mass.) had an outstanding day on the defensive side of the ball for the Bears as he recorded a team-high 11 tackles (eight solo) including a sack and two tackles for loss to go along with two forced fumbles and a fumble return for a touchdown.
Junior running back Adam Couch (Winchendon, Mass.) paced the BSU offensive attack as he carried the ball 26 times for a season-high 150 yards and a touchdown. Junior quarterback James Cahoon (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) completed 24 of 33 pass attempts for 237 yards and a score, while senior wide receiver Wyatt Shisler (Hanover, Mass.) hauled in seven receptions for 90 yards.
The Bears scored on the opening possession of the game as they moved the ball 61 yards on nine plays culminating in a three-yard touchdown pass on fourth down from Cahoon to graduate receiver T.J. Hairston (Watertown, Mass.).
The Bears then strung together a long 11-play, 99-yard drive with Cahoon punching it in from two yards out to extend the lead to 13-0.
The Panthers got on the board with a late 36-yard field goal from senior kicker Dan Carey (Plymouth, N.H.) with just 17 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
After forcing a punt to open the second half, the Bears marched 70 yards on just four plays with Couch rumbling into the end zone from 17 yards out to extend the lead to 20-3.
Following an exchange of possessions, Albert scooped up a fumble at the Plymouth 12-yard line and raced into the end zone to make it a 27-3 game with just 40 seconds left in the third quarter.
Senior Ryan Milliken (Lebanon, N.H.), however, returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown to jumpstart the Panther comeback bid and cut the deficit to 27-10.
Plymouth then forced a three-and-out and took over at the BSU 41. Six plays later on fourth-and-goal, senior running back Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.) rushed for a three-yard touchdown to close the gap to 27-17 with 10:17 left to play in the final period.
After converting two first downs on the ensuing drive, the Bears coughed up the ball with sophomore defensive tackle Emmanuel Ughu (Milford, N.H.) recovering the fumble for the Panthers at the PSU 46.
Plymouth State capitalized on the miscue as the visitors ran off nine plays and converted twice on third down including a three-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Christian Paillet (Nashua, N.H.) to junior tight end Bryan Warren (Pine Bush, N.Y.) with 3:04 showing on the fourth quarter clock. Carey converted his third PAT of the game to pull the Panthers to within a field goal at 27-24.
Plymouth was forced to use its timeouts on defense and the Bears were able to convert one first down before punting the ball away.
Starting at their own 28 with just 53 seconds remaining, the Panthers threw back-to-back incompletions before Paillet connected with senior wide receiver Jake Donahue (Hudson, N.H.) on a 15-yard pass to move the ball to the PSU 43 with 34 seconds showing on the scoreboard. Plymouth then caught a break as Paillet got sacked by Albert, but fumbled the ball out of bounds to stop the clock. Following two more incomplete passes, a deep Hail Mary pass to senior receiver Colby Moore (Ashland, N.H.) was complete at the BSU 26-yard line, but time had expired.
Paillet came on in relief of senior quarterback Brett Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.) and completed 7 of 13 pass attempts for 112 yards and a touchdown. Lavanchy finished 5-for-10 passing for 121 yards. The two PSU signal callers were sacked six times. Senior wide receiver Gavin Moody (Concord, N.H.) paced the Panthers' receiver with four receptions for 88 yards.
Sanchez, junior running back Jack Glanville (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) and sophomore running back Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) combined for 109 yards rushing on 32 carries including the TD run by Sanchez.
Along with Albert's solid performance, junior linebacker Steven Silvia (Dighton, Mass.) added eight tackles (six solo) a sack and forced fumble for the Bears, while senior defensive tackle Louis Casey (Rockland ) notched six tackles (three solo) with two for loss. BSU cornerbacks Andre Domond (Cambridge, Mass.) and Jaren Alves (East Providence, R.I.) combined for seven tackles (five solo) and four pass breakups.
Senior linebacker David Salazar (Waltham, Mass.) paced the Panthers' defense with a game-high 13 tackles (ten solo) including one for loss. Graduate defensive end Rowan Drew (Plymouth, N.H.) added seven stops (three solo) with three for loss and a sack, while senior cornerback Terrell Lewis (New Boston, N.H.) recorded five solo tackles and broke up two passes.
BSU senior punter and kicker Thomas Fay (Raynham, Mass.) averaged 36.2 yards on five punts and converted both of his point after tries. Lavanchy averaged 36.3 yards on three punts for the Panthers with two inside the 20, while Carey booted a field goal and converted all three extra points. The Panthers totaled 183 kickoff return yards highlighted by Milliken's 81-yard touchdown.
Bridgewater State racked up 407 yards of total offense with 237 coming through the air and 170 on the ground. Plymouth State amassed 303 yards of offense including 233 passing yards. Each team turned the ball over once and converted the fumbles into touchdowns.
In upcoming action, the Bears entertain MASCAC rival Western Connecticut State University next Friday night at six. The Panthers have a bye week and will host conference foe Framingham State University on Saturday, October 2nd at one o'clock.