By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The 2024 Bridgewater State University football season has begun the same way last season did -- with a double-digit loss to MIT.

The Engineers limited the Bears to 187 yards of total offense, including 69 passing yards, and pinned a 37-17 loss on BSU Saturday before a crowd of 1,328 at Mazzaferro Field.

BSU's offense, which lost its all-time leading passer, James Cahoon, to graduation had just a touchdown and a field goal in the final three quarters.

The defense also struggled as sophomore Carson Phelps (Witchita, Kan.) rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns while junior quarterback Thomas Stueber (West Islip, N.Y.) went 12-for-17 for 148 yards and a pair of scores. Stueber got the start in place of the injured Chase Harmon (West Linn, Ore).

The Bears made costly mistakes, including a tipped pass that led to an interception deep in BSU territory and allowing a kickoff to be recovered near the goal line when it went untouched.

"They're a good football team. They were a good football team last year," said BSU coach Joe Verria. "It's the same thing.

"I just think we didn't play well offensively or defensively. It was probably more defensively than offensively. We're not pleased with anything.

"Obviously we need to look at the film, figure out what was wrong, what was broken and get it fixed for next week. We're going into MASCAC games now."

Senior Trevor Nunes (Falmouth, Mass.) led the BSU rushing attack with  63 yards on 20 carries and senior Isaiah Wright (Worcester, Mass.) had 51 yards on nine carries.

Junior Andrew Cloutman (Hanson, Mass.) was the only receiver with more than one catch, making two for 15 yards.

Senior SP Pragano (Northford, Conn.) made his first collegiate start at quarterback and was 7-for-18 for 54 yards. Sophomore Jack Renaud (Waltham, Mass.) was 1-for-8 for 15 yards in the fourth quarter.

Cahoon, a three-year starter, passed for a school-record 7,065 yards and now the Bears are learning on the fly at the position. Verria said the quarterback play was not the reason why BSU struggled in the opener.

"I don't think it was the quarterback," he said. "I just think we didn't play well. Simple as that."

BSU opened a 7-0 lead with 3:55 to go in the first quarter when senior Jack McCarthy (Braintree, Mass.) caught a 2-yard TD pass from Pragono and junior Joey Naso (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) added the point after.

The Bears went 65 yards in 11 plays with a 14-yard pass from Pragano to junior Mohale Mitchell (Lakewood, Col.) setting up the score.

MIT scored its first TD with 28 seconds to go in the opening quarter, going 75 yards in seven plays. A 3-yard run by freshman Brendan Spellman (Bay Village, Ohio) produced the TD, but the point after was blocked.

The Engineers took their first lead with 13:10 to go in the half on a 1-yard run by Phelps, going in front, 13-7.

MIT was set up by a tipped pass that turned into an interception in the backfield by junior Chase Williams (Missoula, Mt.), who returned it from the Bears' 26 to the 22.

Phelps ran three straight times, scoring on second and goal, and freshman Luke Pelletier (WIlliamsburg, Va.) made the kick after.

BSU drove to the MIT 3-yard line, going 72 yards in 17 plays over 8:05. But the drive stalled and they had to settle for a Naso field goal from 20 yards out to make it 13-10 with 4:57 left in the half.

The Engineers then scored nine points in the final 59 seconds for a 22-10 lead at the break.

MIT went 76 yards in nine plays, the drive ending in a 41-yard TD pass from Stueber to Phelps down the right sideline. After the PAT was missed, the Bears were behind, 19-10.

A BSU special teams mistake cost them three points in the closing seconds. The kickoff went untouched, and MIT recovered at the Bears' 2.

A personal foul penalty and two pass interference penalties were whistled against BSU, but MIT was held to an 18-yard field goal by Pelletier as time expired in the half.

"We had the pass knocked down for an interception and they scored the touchdown and then the poor decision on the kick return,'' said Verria. "That hurt.''

BSU closed within 22-17 with 12:49 remaining in the third quarter, taking advantage of a fumbled punt it recovered at the MIT 20.

A pass interference call brought the ball to the 12, and Nunes scored two plays later on a 5-yard run.

But MIT needed just over three minutes to answer, going 75 yards in six plays to take a 29-17 lead with 9:30 left in the third quarter.

A 35-yard run by Phelps was the key play of the drive, and Stueber connected with sophomore Michael Dennison (Beaufort, S.C.) for a 21-yard TD pass.

The Engineers moved ahead, 37-17, with 10 minutes left in the game after a short punt by BSU set them up at the Bears' 32.

MIT took time off the clock while going eight plays, Phelps taking a pitch and scoring on a 7-yard run. Stueber threw to freshman Parker McClain (Germantown, Md.) for the two point conversion.

The Engineers finished with 287 yards of total offense with a balanced attack.

The Bears were unable to get on the board again after moving within five points early in the second half.

"I liked the fact that we didn't quit,'' said Verria. "That's the one thing. We kept trying, we kept working, which is what you have to have to learn and to improve."

BSU plays its next two games on the road, traveling to Westfield State on Saturday to open the conference, then going to Plymouth State the following week.

"Next week's important,'' said Verria. "They're a triple option team, something we haven't played against."