By Jim Fenton

PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- The early season struggles of the Bridgewater State University football team continued on Saturday afternoon.

The Bears fell to 0-3 with a 17-14 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference loss to Plymouth State University at Panther Field.

For the second straight week, BSU built a 14-3 lead during the first half, only to be held scoreless in the second half when it was overtaken.

The Panthers (1-1) scored a touchdown in each of the final two quarters to turn that 14-3 deficit into a conference victory. The Bears had built that same lead early in the second quarter at Westfield State a week early, but managed no points in the second half.

The Bears (0-2 in the MASCAC) had 272 rushing yards against Plymouth State with senior Trevor Nunes (Falmouth, Mass.) and senior Isaiah Wright (Worcester, Mass.) leading the way, but they were limited to 80 yards through the air.

A third-quarter BSU fumble was converted into Plymouth State's first touchdown, and the Bears missed a field goal in each half.

Nunes rushed for a career-high 167 yards on 28 carries and scored both of BSU's TDs. Wright added a career-best 74 yards on 16 carries.

Sophomore Jack Renaud (Waltham, Mass.) made his first career start at quarterback and was 5-for-13 for 80 yards.

BSU took a 7-0 lead with 6:50 left in the first quarter on a 1-yard run by Nunes with junior Joey Naso (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) adding the point after.

A 32-yard punt return by freshman Jay Comeau (Hanson, Mass.) set the Bears up at the Plymouth State 18. Nunes ran the ball all four plays on the drive.

The Panthers got within 7-3 with 12:41 remaining in the half on a 22-yard field goal by Seth DiSalvo. Plymouth State had moved 61 yards to the BSU 4 before settling for the field goal.

The Bears went up, 14-3, with 2:12 left in the half on a 28-yard run by Nunes and Naso's kick.

After receiving a punt at its 22, BSU ran the ball nine times with Nunes, Wright and freshman Zy'Kie Askew (Middletown, Conn.) splitting the carries.

The Bears took the opening kickoff of the second half and went 54 yards in 11 plays, chewing up more than five minutes.

But Robbie Engel recovered a BSU fumble at the Panthers' 36 to end the threat.

Plymouth State then converted, moving 64 yards in seven plays with Willie Lombard scoring on a 23-yard run and DiSalvo adding the point after, making it 14-10 with 5:14 left in the third quarter.

The Bears also fumbled at the Plymouth State 42 in that quarter and were held on downs on the next possession.

The Panthers' winning TD came with 12:48 to go in the game on a 5-yard run by Lombard. Plymouth State had a short field to work with and Lombard gained 20 of the 24 yards on the drive.

BSU had the ball two more times in the fourth quarter.

The Bears went 59 yards in 12 plays, getting to the Panthers' 7, but a Naso 27-yard field goal bid was wide left with 7:27 left.

With less than four minutes remaining, BSU took over at its own 35 but was unable to convert a first down.

Lombard led Plymouth State with 111 yards on 24 carries while quarterback Braden Lynn was 8-for-14 for 70 yards.

Junior Mark DeGirolamo (Mansfield, Mass.) had a team-high 11 tackes for BSU while Daniel Oloyede (Norwood, Mass.), senior Marvelous Nicholson (Falmouth, Mass.) and Jorge Aquino (Bergenfield, N.J.) each recorded a sack.

The Panthers now hold a 20-17-1 lead in the series with BSU, which began in 1974.

This marks the second time in three years that the Bears have opened with three straight losses. They rebounded in 2022 to finish 7-4 and earn a trip to the New England Bowl.

BSU plays its next two games at Mazzaferro Field, starting Saturday at noon against Framingham State University.

Plymouth State is at Mass. Maritime Academy on Saturday at 1 p.m.