BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University junior linebackers Brendan Albert and Steven Silvia, and junior running back Adam Couch have been selected to the 2021 All-Noontime Division III New England Football Team by Noontime Sports.

Albert tallied a team-best 110 tackles (70 solo) with 14 ½ for loss, four sacks, five forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles in ten games this season. The Canton, Massachusetts product also returned two fumbles for touchdowns.

Albert led the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) in both tackles and forced fumbles. He also ranked second in solo tackles and tackles for loss, and tied for fifth in sacks.

On the national stage, Albert is currently tied for the NCAA Division III lead in forced fumbles, ranks sixth nationally in solo tackles and is tied for 12th in total tackles.

Silvia, who hails from Dighton, Massachusetts, notched 104 tackles in ten games, including a team-high 72 solo stops, to go along with eight tackles for loss, two sacks, a pair of  interceptions, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and one blocked kick. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown in the Bears’ Cranberry Bowl win over Mass. Maritime.

Silvia led the MASCAC in solo tackles and ranked second in both tackles and forced fumbles. He is currently tied for fourth in all of Division III in solo tackles and tied for 23rd in total tackles.

A native of Winchendon, Massachusetts, Couch started each of the Bears first nine games this fall before suffering a season-ending injury. He carried the ball 167 times for 1,020 yards and 13 touchdowns as he became the ninth different running back in BSU football history to crack the 1,000-yard rushing barrier for a season.

Couch led the MASCAC in rushing yards, ranked second in rushing touchdowns and tied for third among the conference leaders in scoring with 78 points. He is also currently ranked 20th in all of NCAA Division III in rushing yards per game (113.3) and is tied for 29th in rushing touchdowns.

The BSU football team finished the 2021 campaign with an overall record of 6-4 including a 6-2 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) mark. The Bears capped off the season with a 35-7 victory over Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the 42nd Annual Cranberry Bowl.

Earlier this month, Albert, Silvia and Couch were among 11 Bears named to the All-MASCAC Team as they each garnered first team honors. Albert was also selected to the New England Football Writers Division II/III All-New England Team.

2021 All-Noontime Division III New England Football Team (PDF)  |  About Noontime Sports