Bears Picked Second in MASCAC Football Preseason Poll

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University football team has been picked to finish in second place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) standings as the 2023 MASCAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll was released today by conference director of media relations, Emily Loux.

The Bears received 53 points in the poll. Defending MASCAC champion UMass Dartmouth is the preseason favorite to capture the conference title. The Corsairs paced the field with 63 points including seven first-place vote. Western Connecticut State University rounded out the top three teams in the poll with 47 points and one first-place votes. Framingham State University (46 pts) received the other first-place vote.

Under the guidance of head coach Joe Verria (7th Year), the Bridgewater State football team will look to build on a solid 2022 campaign. The Bears finished in second place in the 2022 MASCAC standings with a 6-2 conference mark (7-4 overall) and earned a spot in the New England Bowl. Bridgewater captured the New England Bowl title with a 34-24 win over Catholic University.

Returning All-MASCAC selections Brendan Albert (Sr., LB, Canton, Mass.), Matt Beyer (Sr., G, Cranston, R.I.), Brian Campagna (Gr., DE, Canton, Mass.), James Cahoon (Sr., QB, Buzzards Bay, Mass.), Adam Couch (Gr., RB, Winchendon, Mass.) and Shane Drake (Sr., P, Franklin, Mass.) will help lead the Bears in 2023. Albert, Couch and Drake each garnered All-MASCAC First Team accolades in 2022, while Beyer, Campagna and Cahoon were second team honorees a year ago.

The 2023 campaign gets underway on Saturday, September 2nd as the Bears travel to MIT for a noontime game with the Engineers. The two teams are meeting for the first time since....

The home opener is slated for Friday, September 8th at seven o'clock as the Bears welcome WPI to Mazzaferro Field. The two teams will be meeting for the first time. Prior to the start of the game, the turf field at the Swenson Athletic Complex will officially be named in honor of legendary coach Peter Mazzaferro.

The MASCAC schedule gets underway on Saturday, September 16th when the Bears host Plymouth State University at noon. Western Connecticut State University comes to Bridgewater State on Saturday, September 23rd (4:00) followed by back-to-back road contests against Fitchburg State University and Worcester State University on Saturday, September 30th (noon) and Friday, October 6th (7:00 PM), respectively.

After a bye week, the 2023 Homecoming Game on Saturday, October 21st (4:00 PM) will feature Westfield State University. The Bears entertain defending conference champion UMass Dartmouth on Saturday, October 28th (noon) and then head to Framingam State University on Saturday, November 4th (noon).

Once again, the season culminates with the annual Cranberry Bowl game versus MASCAC rival Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The 44th version of the Cranberry Bowl will take place at Clean Harbors Stadium on Saturday, November 11th at noon.

Please check the Bears' online schedule for Live Stats and Webcast links for all games. Please click here for ticket information for the Bears' five home contests.