By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University football team is off to a 0-3 start, already matching its loss total from a year ago.
The Bears suffered a frustrating defeat on Saturday, falling to Western Connecticut State University, 42-33, at Swenson Field despite outgaining the Colonials, 436-369, and having a 31-18 edge in first downs.
While the offense was clicking, for the most part, the defense struggled and BSU has now allowed an average of 38.7 points in the three losses.
“We score 33 points, we should win a football game,″ said coach Joe Verria. “That’s all I can say. They’re a good football team, but we scored 33 points and we should win.″
Nick Santavicca rushed for a 200 yards (tying a career high) on 31 carries and scored three touchdowns for BSU, quarterback Stefano D’Emilia of Bridgewater went 20 for 30 for 200 yards and two TDs and sophomore Colin O’Brien of Middleboro caught the first two TD passes of his career in the loss.
“I saw great things in the offense,″ said Verria after the MASCAC opener. “Our offense starting really going. The offense played awesome, the defense didn’t play well. It’s as simple as that.″
Bridgewater State held a 33-28 lead early in the fourth quarter when O’Brien caught a 12-yard TD pass from D’Emilia, but the attempt for two points failed with 14:54 remaining.
Western Connecticut (3-0) needed little time to go back on top, going 71 yards in six plays in a drive that lasted 2:43.
David James threw a 28-yard TD pass to a wide-open Nick Kimball with 12:06 remaining to make it 35-33 with the fourth lead change of the second half.
The Bears had the ball four more times after that but could get no closer than the Colonials’ 32 with D’Emilia getting sacked twice on fourth down plays.
Western Connecticut sealed the win with 1:02 left, getting a 14-yard TD pass from James to Will Daniels after the Bears failed to convert on fourth down deep in Colonials’ territory.
James was 18 for 23 for 283 yards and four TDs while Daniels made eight catches for 162 yards. The Bears’ secondary was shorthanded after cornerback Jaren Alves left with an injury.
After never holding the lead in the first half, BSU went in front with 10:12 left in the third quarter when Santavicca scored on a 4-yard run to finish an eight-play, 70-yard drive to make 27-21.
Devon Smith put Western Connecticut back in front, 28-27, on a 2-yard with 3:59 left in the quarter, but O’Brien’s second TD reception gave the Bears their final lead, only to have the Colonials rally again.
“We stopped them here and there, but not enough,″ said Verria. “We’ve got to fix our mistakes.″
The teams exchanged three touchdowns in the first half, which ended with Western Connecticut in front, 21-20, thanks to a blocked extra point attempt.
The Colonials turned an interception into the first score of the day, going 86 yards on seven plays to take a 7-0 lead with 6:22 to go in the opening quarter.
BSU had driven to the Western Connecticut 14 before stopped by the interception, and the Colonials put together a drive that lasted just over four minutes. Daniels caught a 27-yard TD pass from James.
The Bears responded with a 20-yard TD pass from D’Emilia to O’Brien with five seconds to go in the first quarter, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive.
Western Connecticut went back in front, 14-7, with 11:58 to go in the half on a 25-yard TD pass from James to Smith, but BSU came right back with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that finished with a 2-yard Santavicca scoring run with7:14 left in the half.
The Colonials went up, 21-14, with 5:33 to go before the break on a 5-yard run by James, only to have BSU go 75 yards in eight plays, getting a 6-yard TD run by Santavicca. The point after was blocked, leaving Western Connecticut with the lead at halftime.