BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior defensive tackle Nicolas Canales has been selected as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Football Defensive Player of the Week.

Canales notched eight tackles (five solo) including a career-high four sacks and 4 ½ tackles for loss to go along with a pair of quarterback hurries in the Bears’ 41-0 shutout victory over Framingham State University. The Ronkonkoma, New York native helped limit the Rams to just 129 yards of total offense (-14 rushing).

Through four games this season, Canales has recorded 32 tackles (13 solo) with 7 1/2 tackles for loss, four sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. He currently leads the MASCAC in tackles for loss and is tied for the league lead in sacks. Canales is also tied for fourth in total tackles and tied for fifth in assisted tackles.

On a national level, Canales is tied for 31st in all of Division III in tackles for loss per game (1.9) and tied for 33rd in sacks per game (1.00).

In 32 games over four seasons with the Bears, Canales has amassed 89 tackles (48 solo) with 21 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a blocked kick.

The MASCAC Defensive Player of the Week distinction marks the first of Canales' career.

The BSU football team is currently 1-3 on the season and 1-2 in the MASCAC. The Bears have a Homecoming Weekend game on Saturday at four o'clock when Worcester State University visits Mazzaferro Field.