BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Powered by a solid effort on both ends of the ball in the later quarters, Bridgewater State University defeated UMass Dartmouth, 35-15 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Saturday. The Bears move to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in conference play, while the Corsairs are now also 3-4 and 3-3 in the MASCAC.
First quarter action saw the visiting Corsairs take the lead as sophomore kicker
Connor McManus connected on a 42-yard field goal for the 3-0 advantage at 7:07 of the opening frame. UMass Dartmouth found the endzone to open the second quarter as senior linebacker
Lamar Beaton intercepted rookie quarterback Joseph Dube-Garrett, taking it in 17-yards for the score and a 9-0 lead.
The homestanding Bears came roaring back later in the third quarter as Dube-Garrett connected with Colton Johnson on a three-yard pass to make it a 9-7 score. BSU then took the lead as Isaiah Wright rushed the ball in from 37-yards out, giving the home team a 14-9 lead at 6:17.
Bridgewater State opened the fourth quarter with another Wright touchdown as the running back punched this one in from 15-yards out for a 21-9 lead. At the 9:26 mark, Johnson added another score to his total, this one a 10-yard reception as the Bears took the 28-9 lead.
A one-yard run by Andrew Cloutman saw the Bears open a 35-9 margin, but a three-yard touchdown run by junior rusher
Mekhi Wilson helped close the gap (35-15) with 4:40 remaining.
The Corsairs were unable to get the ball back on the final drive, but the Bears held steady on the possession to close out the game.
Sophomore
Daunte Melton went 5-for-14 on the afternoon with 71 yards, while junior
JC Petrongolo was 3-for-5 with 55 yards. Wilson finished with a touchdown on 18 attempts for 42 yards. He also had seven receiving yards on two catches. Senior wide receiver
Jael Cabrera finished with three catches for 94 yards.
Defensively, the Corsairs saw junior defensive edge
Owen Dunker and sophomore defensive back
Matteo Pina lead the way as both had 10 tackles apiece, including five solo.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action next Saturday, traveling to Dean College for a 1pm MASCAC tilt against the Bulldogs.
