By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The 2015 season ended on a sour note for the Bridgewater State University football team.
After going 7-3 to earn a trip to the ECAC Legacy Bowl, the Bears were handed a 48-13 loss to Carnegie Mellon University in their postseason appearance last Nov. 22 in Connecticut.
BSU, which returns a number of key players from that team, is looking for a better ending to its 2016 season that opens Friday night with a non-conference game against Curry College in Milton.
“This group is on a mission,’’ said interim head coach Joe Verria. “They’ve all been working hard since we lost that game to Carnegie Mellon. They’ve been doing everything they needed to do, the 6 a.m. workouts, getting ready, and came into camp in tremendous shape.
“They’re hungry. They’re focused. They’ve all been doing what needs to be done since that game.’’
Verria, a BSU assistant coach for 28 seasons, has taken over the program after Chuck Denune resigned earlier this month.
The Bears finished tied for second place with Fitchburg State University at 6-2 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference last season, two games behind Framingham State. BSU received one first-place vote in the preseason coaches poll this summer and is picked to finish fourth.
“They’ve already formed a team bond,’’ said Verria of his squad. “They all practice well together. There’s tremendous leadership. I see a lot of kids willing to step up and do and say the right thing.’’
The Bears averaged 32.3 points per game a year ago, and there is plenty of experience on offense this season.
“I think the strength of this team,’’ said Verria, “is definitely in the offense. We do not lack skill position players. We’re very, very versatile offensively with a tremendous amount of experience there.’’
Quarterback Danny Higgins threw for 1,569 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 362 yards and five TDs.
“He’s become more athletic and he’s a tremendous quarterback,’’ said Verria. “He can run, throw, makes great decisions.’’
Alex McLaughlin had a team-leading 936 rushing yards with 16 touchdowns. He also threw for 496 yards and three scores. Anthony Fogarty, who missed most of last season with an injury, returns at running back.
Travis Bassett (40 catches, eight TDs), who made the all-conference team, Dukens Leon (30 catches) and Malik Garrett (12 ctaches) are back at wide receiver and are joined by Jack Levanchy, a transfer from Merrimack College.
“That’s a tremendous group of receivers we have,’’ said Verria.
The offensive line is led by tackles Colton Schilling, who made the All-MASCAC second team a year ago, and Zachary Tillson of Plymouth.
They will be joined by James Crosby, a transfer student, Bridgewater-Raynham graduate Niccolas Falconeiri, Matt Adams of Brockton and freshman Zachary Stocking.
The defense features experience up front with a line that includes tackle Elvis Romero, an All-East, All-New England and All-MASCAC selection who had six sacks; end Emmanuel Omere, who made the all-conference first team after getting eight sacks; tackle Joseph Francois (three sacks) and end Stephen Jacobs, who returns after being injured last season.
“The front four is probably one of the best front fours we’ve had here since I’ve been coaching,’’ said Verria.
The linebackers will be Logan Lamoureux, Rico Battibulli and A.J. Pascuzzo, who have experience. Safety Cameron Williamson of Easton, who picked off two passes, is a leader in the secondary and is joined by Jean Sylvain, Reda Laftih, Christian Rivera and newcomers Juan Gonzalez and Nicholas Lopes.
The Bears’ home opener is Sept. 10 when Kean University of New Jersey visits Swenson Field. This year’s captains are Higgins, McLaughlin, Romero and Jacobs.