"Bridgewater State's Bruce Burley and Jessy Resende earns honors from New England Football Conference" - by Jim Fenton (The Enterprise)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- They were two of the key components in the high-powered Bridgewater State College offense this football season.
Running back Bruce Burley of Mansfield and quarterback Jessy Resende of Brockton combined to rush for 2,021 yards and 25 touchdowns in 10 games.
The former Enterprise All-Scholastics have been rewarded for their performances by the New England Football Conference.
Burley, a senior, was named the Bogan Division offensive player of the year while Resende, a sophomore, was chosen as the division's offensive rookie of the year.
A Mansfield High graduate, Burley gained 1,288 yards on 160 carries, averaging 8.1 yards per attempt and 128.8 yards per game.
Burley ranks fourth on the school's all-time list for rushing yards in a season and likely would have finished second if not for an injury early in the final game against the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
In a win over Worcester State College, Burley set the school record by rushing for 292 yards and earned the Gold Helmet Award from the New England College Football Writers.
He scored 18 rushing touchdowns and caught one pass for a score, making six receptions for 141 yards.
Burley, who missed more than half of the 2007 season with an injury, had 2,646 career yards, finishing behind Seto Berry and Brenden Kavey. His 33 career rushing TDs ranks fourth at BSC.
Resende, a former Brockton High standout, made a favorable first impression in his first collegiate season.
Splitting time at quarterback with senior Tyler D'Ambra of Mansfield, Resende ran for 733 yards, averaging 8.1 yards a carry and 73.3 yards per game.
Resende scored seven rushing TDs and threw for two, helping the Bears average 34.8 points and 416.6 yards of total offense in their 7-3 season.
The Bears, who tied for first place in the division with Maine Maritime Academy, placed 10 players on the All-Bogan Division first team.
Joining Burley on offense are junior wide receiver Jesse Teixeira of Taunton, junior tight end Tony Cina of Hanson, senior center Joseph Morency (West Falmouth), junior guard Jeff Smith (Danvers) and senior tackle Justin Lima (M ashpee).
Teixeira made 20 catches for 534 yards and eight touchdowns while Cina had one TD reception and was a key blocker.
Chosen to the All-Bogan Division first team on defense from BSC are senior back John Bascon and junior linebacker Casey Florence, both of Bridgewater; junior back Andrae Murphy (Pembroke Pines, FL) and junior lineman Chris Dijak (Lunenburg).
Florence led the Bears with 56 tackles and forced a fumble while Dijak was second with 55 tackles, including 111/2 for a loss and seven sacks. Murphy had 21 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown while Bascon had a pair of interceptions and 11 pass breakups. Bascon wrapped up a four-year career at BSC with 13 career interceptions.
BSC placed three players on the All-Bogan Division Second Team, including junior linebacker Jason Flannery of Bridgewater (52 tackles, five for a loss, six pass breakups); junior defensive lineman Sean Larkin of Pembroke (49 tackles, 81/2 for a loss, five fumble recoveries); and sophomore kicker David Leombruno (three field goals, 45 extra points) of Lakeville.
Leombruno set the school record for consecutive made extra point s with 53. He converted all 13 of his attempts last season after taking over the place kicking duties in midseason, and then proceeded to make 40 straight this year before missing in the second to last game of the season.