Bridgewater State To Host Alfred In ECAC Northeast Bowl Saturday
Bridgewater State will host Alfred in the 2011 ECAC Northeast Bowl on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field in Bridgewater, Mass. beginning at Noon EST, as the Bears bring a five-game winning streak and a 7-2 mark into the contest
Courtesy Bridgewater State Sports Information
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The
Bridgewater State University football team has been selected to
host the 2011 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast
Bowl on Saturday at noon as the Bears will take on Alfred
University at Swenson Field.
Bridgewater will be making the program’s eighth trip to the
postseason and sixth ECAC appearance (1989, 1992, 2005-2007).
The Bears are 2-3 all-time in ECAC championship games,
including a 30-27 loss at Alfred in the 1989 ECAC North
Championship. Bridgewater also advanced to the NCAA Division
III Tournament in 1999 and 2000.
Under the guidance of seventh year head coach Chuck Denune, the
Bears are currently 7-2 on the season and head into the ECAC
Northeast Bowl having won each of their last five games.
Bridgewater finished tied for the second in the New England
Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division standings with a 5-2
divisional mark.
Sophomore quarterback Mike McCarthy (Edgartown, MA) threw for 948
yards with nine touchdowns and just four interceptions during the
regular season while adding 560 yards on the ground and eight
scores. He ranks sixth in the NEFC in both total offense
(1,508 yards) and pass efficiency rating (124.3). The Bears’
running back tandem of senior Justin Fuller (Berkley, Mass.) and
freshman Blaise Branch (Brockton, Mass.) have combined to rush for
1,033 yards and nine touchdowns.
Junior Jake Scott (Somerset, Mass.) and sophomore Chris Constantine
(Hingham, Mass.) have been the main receiving targets this season.
Scott has 24 catches for 401 yards and eight total touchdowns
including one rushing. Constantine has hauled in 27 passes
for 372 yards and a score to go along with 147 yards on the ground
and a rushing touchdown.
As a team, the Bears are tied for the NEFC lead in sacks allowed
giving up just nine thanks to a solid offensive line anchored by
junior tackle Mike D'Attilio (North Attleboro, Mass.) and junior
guard Kurt Merrick (Mashpee, Mass.). Bridgewater also ranks
third in rushing offense (213.4 ypg), fourth in both total offense
(362.6 ypg) and third-down conversions (52-for-126, 41.3%) and
fifth in pass efficiency rating (120.4) and scoring (26.6 ppg).
Junior linebacker Alex Monteiro (Portsmouth, R.I.) leads the Bears
with 57 tackles (41 solo) on defense and has added four pass
breakups and a forced fumble. Junior defensive tackle Paul
Melicharek (Glen Rock, N.J.) has 42 tackles including 9.5 for loss,
while sophomore defensive end Tate Doehler (Lakeville, Mass.)
checks in with 38 tackles (30 solo) with team-high totals of 11.5
tackles for loss and four sacks to go along with three pass
breakups, two recovered fumbles and one forced. Junior
linebacker Justin Cruz (Dartmouth, Mass.) added 33 tackles (19
solo) including 5.5 for loss as well as a pair of sacks, two
recovered and one forced fumble. He tied for the team lead with
five pass breakups.
The BSU defense has intercepted 11 passes on the season with junior
defensive backs Vincent Henry (Middleboro, Mass.) and Eddie Jewel
(Amherst, Mass.) leading the way with three apiece. The Bears
have registered four touchdowns on the defensive side of the ball
with senior safety Kevin Laudano (Wallingford, Conn.), senior
defensive tackle Mike Nazzaro (Boxford, Mass.) and sophomore
linebacker Dillon Huber-Parker (Longmont, Colo.) returning
interceptions for scores and Jewel taking a fumble all the way back
for a touchdown.
On special teams, senior Mike Pettus (Concord, Mass.) is seventh in
the NEFC with 35.8 yards per punt. He has placed ten of his
34 punts inside the 20-yard line. Freshman placekicker Jarred
Diorio (Kingston, N.H.) is 18-for-20 in extra point conversion,
while Constantine is averaging 24.6 yards on nine kickoff
returns.
Alfred (7-3 overall, 4-3 Empire Eight) is heading to postseason
play for the seventh straight year under the direction of 14-year
head coach, Dave Murray. The Saxons competed in ECAC bowl games
from 2005 to 2008 and are coming off back-to back NCAA Division III
Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010. Alfred advanced to
the NCAA quarterfinals a year ago before losing to national
runner-up Mount Union.
Senior linebacker Nick Clark (Canisteo, N.Y.) leads the way
defensively for the Saxons with 103 tackles (54 solo), nine tackles
for loss, two interceptions, five pass breakups and a pair of
forced fumbles. On offensive, sophomore tailback Austin Dwyer
(Arkport, N.Y.) has rushed for 933 yards and nine touchdowns, while
the senior quarterback tandem of Tom Secky (Bemus Point, N.Y.) and
T.J. Kilcarr (Nanuet, N.Y.) have combined to throw for 1,876 yards,
15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Senior placekicker
Erick Rockwood (Allegany, N.Y.) is an impressive 12-for-13 in field
goal attempts and has converted 30 of 35 PATs.
Alfred has scored 28.8 points a contest but has also given up an
average of 26.9 points through ten games. The Saxons, who have
amassed 3,727 yards of total offense (1,802 rushing, 1,925
passing), have outgained their opponents by a margin of 75.1 yards
per game.