Shane Drake Named MASCAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior punter Shane Drake has been selected as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Football Special Teams Player of the Week.

Drake averaged 44.6 yards on seven punts with a long of 59 yards in the Bears’ 34-14 MASCAC setback to UMass Dartmouth. The Franklin, Massachusetts product also averaged 61.7 yards on three kickoffs with one touchback.

Through eight games this season, Drave is averaging 40.9 yards on 37 punts with a long of 60 yards, 11 punts inside the 20 and 12 fair catches. He presently leads the MASCAC in punting yards (1,515), punting average and fair catches, and is tied for conference lead in punts inside the 20.

On a national level, Drake is 11th in all of Division III in punting average. 

In 29 games over three seasons with the Bears, Drake is averaging 41.7 yards on 76 career punts with 21 inside the 20 and 12 punts of 50-plus yards. He is currently the Bears' all-time leader in punting average.

Last year, Drake set the Bears' single-season punting record as he averaged 42.5 yards on 39 punts.

The BSU football team is currently 5-3 on the season and 5-1 in the MASCAC. The Bears travel to MASCAC rival Framingham State University next Saturday to take on the Rams at noon.