BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University football team held off Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Western Connecticut State University, 35-28, on Saturday afternoon at rain-soaked Mazzaferro Field.
The Bears improve to 2-2 on the season and 2-0 in the MASCAC while the Wolves fall to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Bridgewater now holds a 15-11 lead (7-6 at home) in the all-time series as the two teams first met back in 1971.
Bridgewater made a critical defensive stand in the closing seconds of the game to thwart a West Conn comeback bid.
BSU senior quarterback James Cahoon (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) became the Bears' all-time leader in passing yards (6,148) and pass receptions (494). He surpassed Danny Higgins passing yardage mark of 6,091 yards set in 2016 and Stefano D'Emelia's completions record of 490 set in 2019.
The game started with six straight punts before Western Connecticut opened the scoring early in the second quarter with an eight-play, 76-yard drive punctuated by a John Giller (Jr., Massapequa Park, N.Y.) 12-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Dae'Shawn Allen (White Plains, N.Y.).
BSU junior return specialist Isaiah Wright (Worcester, Mass.) answered for the Bears with a school record-tying 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Wright tied Jim Pirello's mark for longest kickoff return set in 1971 against Maine Maritime Academy. The return for a TD marked Wright's second of the season as he tied the Bears' single-season mark set by John Comeau in 1990 and equaled by Chris Constantine in 2010.
Both teams were stopped on fourth down on their ensuing possessions.
Giller then hooked up with junior wide receiver Julian Ferguson (Enfield, Conn.) on a 74-yard touchdown pass to put the Wolves up 14-7 with 9:35 remaining in the second quarter.
Bridgewater answered again as the Bears strung together a 14-play, 73-yard drive capped off by an Adam Couch (Gr., Winchendon, Mass.) two-yard TD run to knot the score at 14-14.
After Allen returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yard down to the BSU 41, junior safety Zachary Souza (Tyngsboro, Mass.) produced a clutch interception at the Bears' 16 with 4:14 remaining until halftime. Bridgewater then moved the ball down to the Western ten and had a first-and-goal with just six seconds showing on the scoreboard. Instead of attempting a field goal, the Bears decided to run a play. The snap was fumbled, and the Wolves recovered as the two teams headed to the intermission with the game all tied up.
The two teams exchanged punts to open the second half. The Bear then scored on each of their next two possessions to take a 28-14 lead. Couch finished off an eight-play, 71-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run. Then a five-play, 80-yard drive, highlight by a 30-yard Cahoon pass to sophomore wide receiver Ryan Coonan (Worcester, Mass.) and a 34-yard completion to Couch, resulted in a one-yard Mack Drive (Jr., Mastic Beach, N.Y.) TD run.
A 33-yard kickoff return by senior Kevin Franceschini (Yonkers, N.Y. gave the Wolves great field position at the BSU 47. Four plays later, Giller connected with senior tight end Alexandre Gonzalez (Waterbury, Conn.) on an 11-yard touchdown reception to pull the visitors to within a score at 28-21.
The teams again exchanged punts as the game moved to the fourth quarter. The Bears then strung together a 14-play, 75-yard drive which took nearly six minutes off the clock. Bridgewater converted three times on third down during the key drive including a 17-yard pass from Cahoon to junior wide receiver Dan Akinsheye (Pawtucket, R.I.) on third and nine from the Western 19. Two plays later, Cahoon punched it in from a yard out to give the hosts a 35-21 advantage with 7:05 left to play.
The Wolves quickly answered with Giller hooking up with Allen on a 15-yard TD pass on third-and-ten to cap off a seven-play, 75-yard drive that took just 2:44 off the clock.
WCSU junior cornerback Tyon Grimes (Hempstead, N.Y.) then came up with a clutch interception on an ill-advised long pass down the middle of the field just two plays into the Bears' ensuing drive.
Taking over at their own 28 with 3:31 showing on the fourth quarter scoreboard, the Wolves move the ball 66 yards on eight plays down to the Bridgewater six-yard line with just 25 seconds remaining in the game. After West Conn called its second timeout, Giller was flushed out of the pocket by freshman defensive end Jorge Aquino Debes (Bergenfield, N.J.) and ran out of bounds for a sack and loss of four. Facing third-and-seven, the Wolves were forced to call their final timeout. BSU sophomore cornerback Howard Allen (Decatur, Ga.) broke up a short pass to the running back Chad Blaszky (Gr., Selden, N.Y.,) on third down. Then on fourth down, Giller's throw into the end zone fell incomplete as Bridgewater hung on for the win.
Couch rushed for 79 yards and a pair of touchdowns and added four receptions for 55 yards to pace the BSU offense. Cahoon completed 20 of 33 pass attempts for 309 yards and an interception to go along with his rushing touchdown. Coonan was the Bears' leading receiver with five receptions for a career-high 100 yards. Driver carried the ball nine time for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Bridgewater amassed 431 yards of total offense (309 passing, 122 rushing) and 21 first down. The Bears went 10-for-18 on third down conversion as well as 2-for-3 on fourth down.
Souza finished with eight tackles (five solo) to go along with his interception to pace the BSU defense. Senior linebacker Brendan Albert (Canton, Mass.) recorded a game-high 11 tackles (six solo) with one for loss. Junior defensive tackle Nicholas Canales (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) notched six tackles (four solo) including a pair of sacks. Sophomore defensive tackle Thomas Rocha (Barrington, R.I.) checked in with four tackles (two solo), a sack and two QB hurries.
Senior punter Shane Drake (Franklin, Mass.) averaged 42.6 yards on five punts with a long of 48 and one inside the 20. Sophomore kicker Joey Naso (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra point attempts.
Giller completed 20 of 28 pass attempts for 277 yards and four touchdowns with the one interception. Allen hauled in seven receptions for 83 yards and two scores, while Ferguson caught three passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. Blaszky rushed for 101 yards on 21 carries and added two receptions for 22 yards.
West Conn notched 400 yards of total offense (277 passing, 123 rushing) and 19 first down. The Wolves went just 4-for-12 on third down conversion and 0-for-2 on fourth down.
Grimes led the Western defensive effort with six tackles (five solo), two tackles for loss, and interception and three pass breakups. Graduate linebacker Nosa Uzamere (Hempstead, N.Y.) checked in with nine tackles (five solo) including one for loss.
Senior Anthony Weidtman (Nesconset, N.Y.) averaged 47.0 yards on six punts with a long of 62 and two inside the 20. He was also a perfect 5-for-5 on extra point attempts.
The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams next Saturday afternoon. The Bears travel to Fitchburg State University to take on the Falcons at noon while the Wolves host defending conference champion UMass Dartmouth at five.
Notes: Couch increased his career rushing total to 2,341 yards as he moved into eighth place on the Bears' all-time rushing list. He leapfrogged Clint Cabral who rushed for 2,284 yards from 1989 to 1992..Cahoon hit the 300-yard passing mark for the second time this season and sixth time in his career.