By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The 2018 season was all about bouncing back for the Bridgewater State University football team.
After going 2-8 the previous year – when the Bears had the program’s lowest win total in more than three decades – there was a sense of urgency for a turnaround last fall.
Bridgewater State did just that, going 8-3, defeating Salve Regina University in the New England Bowl and finishing tied for second place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.
“I think it was so important,” said senior quarterback Stefano D’Emilia, a Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High graduate. “We had 40 guys (returning) and they started to change the culture around from that 2-8 season and get things back on the right track and re-establish what Bridgewater football was about.
“I think it built our confidence back up. Coming off a 2-8 year, it’s tough. It’s not the best position you want to be in going into a new season. But after turning it around and going 8-3 and getting the bowl game win, it really helped and it’s carrying over.
We’re very focused, high energy. Everyone’s grinding and doing their job. That’s really all you can ask for right now.”
The Bears reported for training camp last Friday with more than 100 players on hand as they prepare for a Sept. 6 opener at home against Morrisville State College of New York.
There is optimism that Bridgewater State, with a number of starters back, can put together another positive season.
“It’s going to be interesting,” said Joe Verria, now in his fourth season as head coach. “Exciting is the biggest way to describe it. I can see the potential in what we have. There’s a lot of work to be done. The kids are putting the time in. We have a long way to go but you can see it.”
The Bears have plenty of experience at quarterback where D’Emilia will be starting for the third year in a row. He completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,046 yards and 17 touchdowns last season.
Backup Brad Thiltgen also returns after rushing for 214 yards and throwing for 611 yards and five touchdowns.
“That’s fantastic having a senior quarterback plus Brad is back doing a great job,” said Verria. “They kind of play off each other. Stevie throws the ball more but can run and Brad runs the ball but can throw.”
Nick Santavicca, who rushed for 1,172 yards and scored 14 touchdowns, returns to lead the running backs.
“Nick had a heckuva year,” said Verria. “He’s the type of kid you just keep feeding him the ball and sooner or later he’s going to pop one.”
There is depth in the backfield with Jeremy Soule, of Middleboro, David Coakley and Kerwin Smith.
The offensive line might be the strength of the team, according to Verria, with veterans like Michael Casey at center, Daniel Flores Martinez at left tackle, Austin White at left guard, captain Nick Spinelli at right guard and Tyilin Landrum and Alexander Byron at tackle.
Bridgewater State has a large void to fill at wide receiver after losing All-East Region and All-New England player Jack Lavanchy and Travis Bassett to graduation. They combined to make 407 career catches for 5,538 yards for the Bears.
Lavanchy had 97 receptions for 1,236 yards and 13 TDs as a senior, finishing his three-year career with 225 catches for 2,982 yards and 29 TDs. He leads the program in receptions and receiving yards and is second in touchdowns.
Bassett had 50 catches for 605 yards last season and wound up second in career receptions (182) and fourth in receiving yards (2,556) and TDs (22).
“It’s definitely going to be different,” said D’Emilia, one of the four captains. “We don’t have Jack and Trav this year. They were obviously unbelievable to play with, two unbelievable players. They helped this team a ton. It’s going to be different, but guys are stepping up.”
The new top targets will include T.J. Hairston (38 catches, 443 yards last season), William Watts (10 catches, 145 yards), Nate Ellis and Anthony Adams.
“We’re going to be young and inexperienced at wide receiver,” said Verria. “It’s not going to be one or two. I think it’s going to be four, five or six kids who’ll be the wide receivers.”
The defense has plenty of experience as well, with leading tackler Mark Wilson (71 tackles, nine pass breakups), a captain and cornerback, linebacker Steven Silvia (58 tackles, three interceptions), captain and lineman Chris Gemayel (42 tackles), linebacker and Bridgewater-Raynham graduate John MacDermott (42 tackles), cornerback Jaren Alves (41 tackles, two interceptions, eight pass breakups), sophomore lineman Dimitri Dorinvill of Brockton (40 tackles, six sacks for 37 yards and an interception), lineman Maxwell Kroll (seven tackles for a loss) and cornerback Chris Easter (three interceptions) all back.
The kicking duties will be handled by freshman Jake O’Brien of Whitman and sophomore Thomas Fay of Raynham, a transfer from Saint Anselm College.
After opening the season with a first-ever meeting with Morrisville State, Bridgewater State travels to western New York to play St. John Fisher for the first time before starting the MASCAC season at home against Western Connecticut State.
“We probably have the toughest schedule in history of the school,” said Verria, whose team scrimmages Anna Maria next week. “The first two teams we’ve never played and Western Connecticut is a team we lost to in four overtimes last year. Those are three tough teams right out of the block. We will know a lot in the first month, absolutely.″