Bridgewater, Mass --– In New England Football Conference
(NEFC) Bogan Division action, the Bridgewater State College Bears
downed the Rams of Framingham State College, 26-20, this afternoon
from Swenson Field.
Bridgewater State (4-1, 3-0 NEFC Bogan) has now won each of the
last six meetings of the two teams and are 23-1 versus the Rams
(2-3, 1-2 NEFC Bogan) since 1984.
Offensively for the Bears, freshman running back Chris
Russell (Stoughton, MA) rushed for a career-high 133 yards
and a touchdown, while junior quarterback Steven
Clark (East Falmouth, MA) completed 15 of 21 passes for
183 yards and a score. Clark also ran for an 11-yard touchdown. The
Bears racked up 227 yards on the ground and 418 yards of total
offense.
Bridgewater did a nice job defensively, allowing just 152 yards of
total offense and intercepting two Ram passes. Framingham, however,
returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the first quarter including
the game’s opening kickoff.
Freshman Shawn Miller (Tyngsboro, MA) brought the
opening kickoff back 82 yards to give FSC the quick 6-0 lead as the
point after conversion was missed. Bridgewater saw their opening
drive stall at the Framingham 17 yard line, and the Bears’
34-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright.
The Bears tied the game up on their third possession of the
quarter as they put together a 12-play, 90-yard drive capped off by
Clark’s 11-yard run. BSC, however, would miss the first of
three failed extra point attempts.
The Rams quickly reclaimed the lead on the ensuing kickoff as
sophomore Anthony Kewley (Rutland, MA) returned it
88 yards for a touchdown. Senior place-kicker Ashley
Baker (Mansfield, MA) knocked home the extra point to give
FSC the 13-6 advantage.
Bridgewater responded with scores on their next two possessions to
jump ahead for good, 20-13. First, junior running back
Jason Williams (East Falmouth, MA) punched it in
from two yards out to complete a 6-play, 61-yard drive. Then, after
taking over the ball on downs, the Bears strung together a 9-play,
75-yard drive resulting in an 11-yard touchdown run by Russell.
Bridgewater missed the extra point on the Williams touchdown, but
converted a two-point attempt after the Russell score on a pass
from senior holder James Yaitanes (Stoughton, MA)
to junior tight end Tony Cina (Hanson, MA).
Bridgewater capitalized on the opening possession of the second
half. After a short kickoff and a 28-yard return by junior
Bobby McCarthy (Marshfield, MA), BSC started the
drive on the Framingham 43-yard line. Seven plays later, Clark
connected with McCarthy on a 16-yard touchdown pass to increase the
Bears’ lead to 26-13. The big play on the drive was a pass
interference penalty against the Rams on third and 14 from the
34-yard line.
Framingham came right back on the ensuing possession as senior
quarterback Eian Bain (Stafford Springs, CT), who
did not play in the first half, ran for a six-yard touchdown to cut
the deficit to 26-20.
Neither team seriously threatened to score from that point on. The
Bears did put together one final big defensive stand late in the
fourth quarter. Starting on their own 18-yard line with 3:34 left
in the game, Framingham advanced the ball to their own 38 and were
faced with a fourth and one situation. After calling a timeout with
1:26 left on the clock, the Rams tried a quarterback sneak up the
middle which was stuffed by BSC tackles Chris
Dijak (Leominster, MA) and Mohammed Kanu
(Randolph, MA).
BSC’s receiving trio of McCarthy, senior Chris
Joyce (Bridgewater, MA) and freshman Patrick
McGrail (Braintree, MA) combined to make 15 receptions for
172 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore Sean Larkin (Pembroke, MA) led the way
defensively for the Bears as he registered 10 tackles (2 for loss)
and a sack. Sophomore linebackers Tim Powling
(Orange, MA) and Marcus Wells (Brockton, MA) each recorded their
first career interceptions. Wells, who also made 5 tackles in the
game, returned his pick 42 yards.
Senior safety Justin Paull (Taunton, MA) put
together a solid performance for the Rams on the defensive side of
the ball as he recorded 11 tackles, recovered a fumble and
intercepted a pass.
Offensively for the Rams, Miller carried the ball 18 times for 71
yards while senior wide receiver James Hanafin
(Burlington, MA) caught 4 passes for 53 yards. Ram quarterbacks,
however, completed just 8 of 23 pass attempts for 85 yards and 2
interceptions.
The Bears will try to make it four in a row next Saturday as they
take on divisional rival Coast Guard Academy at 1:30 in New London,
Connecticut. Framingham hosts Westfield State next Saturday at 1:30
in their “Homecoming Game”.
BSC Bears Edge Framingham State, 26-20
Posted: Oct 06, 2007