BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Bridgewater State University junior linebacker Steven Silvia has been selected as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Football Defensive Player of the Week.

Silvia, who hails from Dighton, Massachusetts, recorded six tackles, including a strip sack, intercepted a pass and returned a fumble for a touchdown in the Bears’ 35-7 victory over Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the 42nd Annual Cranberry Bowl. His strip sack and interception both set up BSU touchdowns.

With the Bears trailing 7-0 midway through the second quarter, Silvia recovered a fumble and rumbled 44 yards for a touchdown to get the Bears on the board. His strip sack on the ensuing drive thwarted a Maritime scoring threat and set up a BSU touchdown. With the Bears leading 21-7 late in the third quarter, Silvia intercepted a pass and returned the ball 12 yards down to the MMA 26 to set up another score.

In ten games this season, Silvia notched 104 tackles (72 solo), eight tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, two interceptions and three pass breakups as well as three forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and a blocked kick. He leads the MASCAC in solo tackles and ranks second in total tackles, forced fumbles and recovered fumbles.

Silvia entered Saturday's game at Mass. Maritime ranked second in all of Division III in solo tackes per game (7.4) and 15th in total tackles per games (10.8).

In 31 games over three seasons with the Bears, Silvia has amassed 234 tackles (153 solo), 24 tackles for loss, five sacks, five interceptions, four forced fumbles, five recovered fumbles and nine pass breakups.

The BSU football team wrapped up the 2021 season with an overall record of 6-4 including a 6-2 mark in the MASCAC. The Bears finished in a tie for second place in the conference standings.