BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University football team celebrated Homecoming with a 24-0 shutout victory over visiting Plymouth State University on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.
Bridgewater improves to 3-4 on the season and 2-3 in the MASCAC as they snap a three-game losing streak. The win marked the Bears' first shutout since 2011 and first home victory over the Panthers since 1979. Plymouth slips to 1-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
In a game that took just two hours and 14 minutes to play, the Bears racked up 455 yards of total offense including 250 on the ground. The BSU defense limited the Panthers to just 121 total yards (84 passing, 37 rushing).
BSU freshman back Alex McLaughlin (Littleton, Mass.) rushed for a career high 103 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore quarterback Danny Higgins (Manahawkin, N.J.) was very efficient completing 16 of 21 pass attempts for 167 yards.
Senior defensive end Tate Doehler (Lakeville, Mass.) paced the Bridgewater defense with eight tackles including a sack and three tackles for loss. Senior defensive tackle Adam Toman (Barrington, R.I.) added seven tackles and a sack, while senior defensive end Marty Voorhis (Nashua, N.H.) notched five tackles with a sack and three tackles for loss.
BSU sophomore running back Cristian Rivera (Lawrence, Mass.) opened the scoring in the first quarter capping off ten-play, 64-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run.
A career-long 44-yard field goal by senior placekicker Colin Neri (Upton, Mass.) gave the hosts a 10-0 lead with 12:59 remaining in the second quarter.
Following a quick three-and-out, the Bears took advantage of good field position at the 50 with freshman quarterback Malik Garrett (Dorchester, Mass.) busting off a 27-yard touchdown run to make it a 17-0 game. Garrett accounted for 46 of the 50 yards on the quick four-play drive as he also completed two passes for 19 yards.
That would be all the scoring in the first half as the teams would go to the locker room with Bridgewater holding the 17-point advantage.
A McLaughlin 15-yard touchdown run with 3:16 left to play in the third quarter capped off the scoring as the Bears coasted to the 24-0 triumph. The 12-play, 80-yard drive consumed nearly six minutes off the clock.
Garrett finished with 61 rushing yards on eight carriers. He also completed 6 of 9 passes for 38 yards. Senior wide receiver Matt Green (Stoughton, Mass.) led all players with nine catches for 78 yards. Freshman wideout Travis Bassett (Littleton, Mass.) added five receptions for 56 yards.
Neri continues to shine on special teams for the Bears in 2014. In addition to his 44-yard field goal, he also was 3-for-3 in PAT conversions and averaged 66 yards on five kickoffs with four touchbacks. Neri also punted for the first time this season placing each of his two punts inside the twenty.
Junior receiver RJ Kasper (Killingworth, Conn) led the way offensively for the Panthers with seven catches for 71 yards.
Junior safety Sam Bellamy (Keyport, N.J.) paced the Plymouth State defense with nine tackles including eight solo stops. Senior defensive end Kyle Wilson (Dover, N.H.) added five solo tackles with two going for loss.
Bridgewater was flagged 13 times in the game for 121 yards. BSU penalty yardage equaled the Panthers' entire offensive output.
The MASCAC schedule resumes for both teams next Saturday afternoon. The Bears travel to Westfield State University for a two o'clock game with the Owls, while the Panthers entertain Framingham State University at noon.
Notes: The last time the Bears recorded a shutout was a 27-0 win at Maine Maritime on October 29, 2011…The last BSU shutout at home was a 42-0 victory over Fitchburg State on October 22nd of that same year…Neri's 44-yard field goal marked just the third BSU field goal from 40 yards or longer in the last dozen years. Joe Ferguson booted a 40-yarder against Worcester State in 2005, while Jarred Diorio converted a 40-yarder against Coast Guard in 2012…The Bears' all-time record for longest field goals is 49 yards by Gary Camarillo against Western Connecticut State in 1985.