Bridgewater State Has Bounced Back From Rough Loss

By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The September portion of the schedule ended on down note for the Bridgewater State University football team.

The Bears fell to the .500 mark with a thud, dropping to 2-2 as they turned the ball over five times in a 35-3 loss at Fitchburg State University on Sept. 26.

Since that lopsided loss, however, BSU has gotten back on track with a pair of impressive victories.

The Bears stopped Western Connecticut State, 34-27, on Oct. 3, then handled UMass-Dartmouth, 34-13, in a game that was delayed nearly two hours due to lightning last Friday night.

The turnaround has put BSU in a second-place tie with Fitchburg State at 3-1, a game behind Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference leader Framingham State University (4-0).

“I think right now, we’re playing real well,’’ said coach Chuck Denune, whose team will be in New Hampshire on Saturday for a 1 p.m. game against Plymouth State University. “All of a sudden, we’ve got control of our own destiny.

“We’ve said from the get-go that we know we are young, but if we come together soon, we could arrive early.

“We’ve given ourselves an opportunity to arrive early. We’re one game behind the first-place team and we have them left on our schedule (at home on Nov. 7).’’

BSU (4-2) survived a long night in Dartmouth for a second straight win. The game was stopped in the first quarter and didn’t end until after 11:30 p.m.

“I wasn’t too happy with how we came out after the lightning delay,’’ said Denune, “but at halftime, we did a good job of getting the right mind-set and having some normalcy.’’

Plymouth State is off to a 2-3 start, including 1-2 in the MASCAC. The Panthers have been outscored, 127-52, in five games.

“They are definitely an improved football team and they’re physical, especially inside the box,’’ said Denune. “We’re playing on natural grass for the first time this season, and it will be a little bit different for us.’’

BSU sophomore defensive back Cameron Williamson of Easton made the MASCAC weekly honor roll after making four tackles with one for a loss and returning an interception 34 yards.