By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Three members of the Bridgewater State University football team were recently honored by the ECAC for their play this season.
Defensive lineman Rob Ruggiero and wide receiver Matthew Green of Stoughton were selected to the ECAC Division 3 North All-Star team.
Offensive guard Mike Duran of Bridgewater was chosen to the ECAC’s second team.
Earlier, Ruggiero, Green and Duran were named to the All-Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference first team. Ruggiero and Green were also on the New England Football Writers All-New England Divs. 2-3 team.
Ruggiero, who transferred to BSU from Springfield College last semester, had an impressive final college season as the leader of the Bears’ defense. He was chosen the MASCAC defensive player of the year.
In 10 games, Ruggiero had 12 sacks for 80 yards and 231/2 tackles for a loss of 138 yards. Ruggiero made 44 tackles, forced two fumbles and had four quarterback hurries, seven pass breakups and seven passes defended.
Picked to the Beyond Sports Network All-America second team, Ruggiero was tied for third nationally in Div. 3 in tackles for a loss and tied for sixth in sacks.
Ruggiero recently appeared in the American Bowl in Mexico City and the All American Bowl in Minneapolis, where he was selected the most valuable player. Ruggiero is also slated to play in an all-star game in Alabama later this month.
“It was almost like taking half the field away with Rob out there because people didn’t like to go to his side,’’ said BSU coach Chuck Denune. “They would go the other way and that was really evident in the second half of the season.
“He’s got all the intangibles. He’s big, strong and as fast as lightning. He’s really getting a lot of attention now.’’
Green, who was also named to the All-America second team, set BSU records with 69 receptions for 1,315 yards and 16 touchdowns.
He finished second nationally in Div. 3 in yards per game (131.5), fourth in TDs and fifth in receiving yards.
The Stoughton High graduate has 105 catches for 1,865 yards and 22 touchdowns in three seasons. The school records, held by Andy Macaione, are 120 catches, 2,642 yards and 37 TDs.
“The stats speak for themselves,’’ said Denune. “He made a lot of plays for us. His biggest thing, something (assistant coach) Pat Callahan says, is that he has the ability to adjust on a route.
“He worked out with (quarterback Mike) McCarthy during the summer and was out on the field every opportunity he had.’’
Duran, a Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High graduate, finished his career with his best season.
“I think he said that this was his last year playing football and he really got focused throughout the year,’’ said Denune. “He was outstanding for us. He’s really athletic for his size and that really helped.’’
The Bears had six other players joining Ruggiero, Green and Duran on the All-MASCAC squad.
McCarthy and running back Mike Gentili were named to the first team while safeties Dillon Huber-Parker and Eddie Jewel, defensive tackle Adam Toman and center Cameron Moitoza, a Coyle-Cassidy graduate, were selected to the second team.
McCarthy led the Bears with 850 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns and also threw for 2,000 yards and 18 TDs, going 137 for 229.
Gentili gained 361 yards and scored four TDs on the ground in addition to catching nine passes for 127 yards.
Huber-Parker led BSU with 58 tackles and picked off six passes while defending nine and breaking up three. Jewel had six pass breakups and six passes defended with 42 tackles and Toman was third with 50 tackles and had a pair of sacks.
Moitoza was one of the keys to the Bears’ offensive line throughout the season.