By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University football team faces a difficult challenge in its final road game of the regular season this weekend.

The Bears travel to Framingham State University on Saturday for a noon game against the top team in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The Rams (7-1, 6-0 in the conference) are ranked third in the New England Division 3 poll and are 42-11 with two trips to the NCAA tournament since the start of the 2010 season.

BSU (4-4, 3-3) is riding a two-game winning streak and had a bye last weekend, giving it more time to get ready for the defending MASCAC champions.

“The fact that we had an extra week to kind of heal up a little bit after a very physical Westfield game is nice,’’ said coach Chuck Denune. “The extra time to prepare for Framingham will hopefully pay dividends.

“We’ve been working on game prep for two weeks as opposed to one, and we know exactly what they’re going to do. It’s just whether or not we can stop it.

They’re very good. Based on their record, based on the film, it’s fair to call them the best team in the conference.’’

The Rams have won six straight games and have allowed only 21 points in the last four wins. They average 34.6 points and 413.6 yards of total offense.

“I think they’re very sound everywhere,’’ said Denune. “They have a very balanced attack between the quarterback (Matthew Silva) and three or four running backs. They probably have the best secondary in the league and have a strong defensive line.’’

BSU needs a win over either Framingham State or the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in next week’s Cranberry Bowl to avoid the program’s first losing season since 2002.

The Bears, with a number of young players on the depth chart, have improved with each week this fall.

“I said in August we’re going to be good. I just don’t know when,’’ said Denune. “I think we’re pretty good now. I think we’re playing at the highest level.

“I think we have the ability to do more things than we were able to do at the beginning of the season with our personnel. I think we’re a very dangerous football team right now.’’