By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Jack Lavanchy is putting together one of the top seasons for a wide receiver at Bridgewater State University.

The junior is ranked eighth nationally in Division 3 with 953 receiving yards and is tied for ninth with eight catches per game.

Lavanchy, who has 64 receptions with seven touchdowns, leads the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference by wide margins in three categories.

He is first with 119.1 yards per game, 27 yards ahead of the next receiver; leads the way by 18 in receptions; and is on top by 290 receiving yards.

Lavanchy and the Bears (2-6, 2-4 MASCAC) close out their home schedule Saturday at noon against Worcester State University (5-3, 4-2).

“He’s certainly been a bright spot in a tough season,” said BSU coach Joe Verria.

Lavanchy set school records for catches (14) and receiving yards (254) in a 27-20 loss to Western Connecticut in the Bears’ last game before having a bye week.

He is six catches away from breaking the program’s single-season mark of 69, held by Matt Green of Stoughton. Lavanchy is fourth in career receptions with 112 and seventh with 1,506 yards.

Lavanchy is on the verge of joining Green and Ben Bascon of Bridgewater with at least 1,000 receiving yards in a season at BSU.

After appearing in three games at Merrimack College in 2015, Lavanchy transferred to BSU and was third on the team with 48 catches for 553 yards last season.

“We knew he was a good receiver,” said Verria. “He’s definitely turned into one of the best receivers in the league.

“He’s big. He doesn’t drop many balls. He knows how to get open. He’s very savvy. He’s pretty fast for a big kid, too.

“He runs great routes. He gets open and he catches the ball. He’s gotten better and better every year. We were fortunate to get him. He’s been as billed.″

The Bears began the season short-handed when Travis Bassett, who has 132 catches for 1,951 yards in his career, was lost with an injury.

But Lavanchy has stepped up and developed into the leading threat in the MASCAC.

BSU has lost its six games by a total of 27 points.

“We’re just not making plays,″ said Verria. “We’re making mistakes. It’s kind of been the story of the year.″

Stonehill at home: After perhaps the worst loss in program history, Stonehill College plays the final two games of the regular season at W.B. Mason Stadium in Easton.

The Skyhawks (4-4, 3-4 Northeast-10 Conferece) host Pace University (3-5, 2-5) Saturday at 1 p.m. and American International College next week.

Stonehill is coming off a 68-0 loss to Assumption, now ranked 10th in the national Division 2 poll.

The Skyhawks have won six straight and nine of 10 against Pace, which went 0-3 in October after a 3-2 start.

The Predictions:

• Notre Dame 31, Wake Forest 17: The Irish keep rolling along.
• Alabama 35, LSU 17: No problem for the Crimson Tide.
• Harvard 21, Columbia 10: The Crimson make it 14 in a row over the improved Lions.
• Bridgewater State 27, Worcester State 21: The Bears end the home schedule with a win.
• Stonehill 28, Pace 17: The Skyhawks bounce back.

LAST WEEK: 3-2 | SEASON TOTAL: 26-19