FITCHBURG, Mass. – The visiting Bridgewater State University football team cruised to a 42-0 shutout victory over Fitchburg State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup on Saturday afternoon at Elliot Field.
The Bears improve to 3-2 on the season and 3-0 in the MASCAC with their third straight win, while the Falcons fall to 0-5 overall and 0-3 in conference play. Bridgewater State has won each of the last three meetings of the two teams and four of the last five. The Bears also hold a 28-8 advantage in the all-time series which dates back to 1986.
The shutout marked the Bears' first since 2014, a 24-0 homecoming win over Plymouth State University on October 18th. The last time Bridgewater State blanked Fitchburg State was October 22, 2011, a 42-0 victory at Swenson Field.
The BSU defense limited the Falcons to 207 yards of total offense (29 passing) on 74 plays for an average of just 2.8 yards per play. The Bears also forced a fumble, registered two sacks and ten tackles for loss, broke up three passed and stopped 14 of 18 (78%) third down conversion attempts.
Offensive for the Bears, junior quarterback James Cahoon (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) completed 13 of 23 pass attempts for 173 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Junior running back Adam Couch (Winchendon, Mass.) rushed for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 15 carries, while senior wideout Kyle Torres (Waltham, Mass.) caught two passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns and graduate receiver T.J. Hairston (Watertown, Mass.) added 45 receiving yards and a touchdown on four receptions.
The Bears amassed 313 yards of total offense on 55 plays with 173 coming through the air and 140 on the ground.
Bridgewater State's outstanding defensive effort led to four short touchdown drives in the first half.
The Bears converted a Fitchburg fumble on the opening possession of the game into a four-play, 22-yard drive which resulted in a 11-yard TD pass from Cahoon to Hairston.
That would be the only score of the first quarter.
After punting on their first possession of the second quarter, the Bears found the end zone on each of the next three. Cahoon connected with Torres on a 20-yard TD pass with 10:57 remaining in the period to cap off a four-play, 34-yard drive. The Bears then marched 46 yards on seven plays with senior running back William Pointer (Milford, Mass.) punching it in from four yards out. Following another Fitchburg punt, the Falcons' sixth of the first half, Torres hauled in a 46-yard touchdown pass from Cahoon to extend the BSU lead to 28-0 with 3:47 remaining until halftime.
The Falcons recovered an onside kick to open the second half, but then botched a rugby-style punt on fourth down to turn the ball over at the Fitchburg 34. Five plays later, Couch scored on a14-yard TD run to give the visitors a 35-0 lead.
After stopping the Falcons on fourth down, the Bears strung together an 11-play, 61-yard drive resulting in a Couch one-yard touchdown run just 19 seconds into the final quarter to cap off the scoring.
Senior kicker and punter Thomas Fay (Raynham, Mass.) had a terrific day on special teams for the Bears as he converted all six of his extra point attempts, and averaged 43 yards on four punts with two inside the 20.
Junior linebacker Brendan Albert (Canton, Mass.) led the BSU defense with eight tackles (six solo) including two for loss. Junior defensive end Brian Campagna (Canton, Mass.) added seven tackles with a sack, while senior defensive end Dan Cataldo (Wakefield, Mass.) recorded four solo tackles with a sack and three for loss. Junior linebacker Steven Silvia (Dighton, Mass.) and linebacker Kodi Saotome (Warren, R.I.) checked in with six tackles apiece.
The MASCAC schedule continues next Saturday for the Bears as they travel to Worcester State University for a noontime game with the Lancers.
Notes: With his four receptions, Hairston increased his career total to 106 as he moved past Rich Roath (1968-71) into sixth place among the Bears' all-time receiving leaders.