College Football: Bridgewater State Bids for MASCAC Title Saturday

By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University football team has arrived at the most important week of the regular season.

With a road victory over Framingham State University on Saturday afternoon, the Bears will clinch the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division 3 tournament.

A Bridgewater State loss shifts the advantage in the Rams' facing heading into next week's season finale.

The teams square off at Bowditch Field beginning at noon. The Bears, who are coming off their bye week, have lost six straight games to Framingham State.

Bridgewater State has not won a conference title since 2000 when it defeated Salve Regina, 27-24, for the New England Football Conference crown.

"The kids are excited,'' said BSU coach Joe Verria. "They're focused, the best we've seen them all year. They're ready to play. They've had some time off and it couldn't have come at a better time.

"We got as healthy as possible. We were pretty banged up coming out of the last game. And it gives us some extra time to watch more tape.''

The Bears (6-2 with six straight wins) are atop the MASCAC standings with a 6-0 record, one game ahead of Framingham State (5-1 and 6-2 overall).

The Rams won the NEFC title in 2012 and have been the MASCAC champions in the three years since moving to that conference.

Framingham State had won 34 straight conference games dating to Nov. 5, 2011, before losing in overtime, 35-34, at UMass-Dartmouth on Oct. 1.

Since that rare defeat, the Rams have won three in a row to stay right behind the Bears.

"They're the best team in the league,'' said Verria. "They've got great backs, a great receiver. Defensively, they've got some playmakers and they seem to always come up and make big plays. They can score three ways, including special teams. There's a lot of speed.

"They are kind of putting the pedal to the metal right now. They're the team to beat.''

Bridgewater State once dominated the series with Framingham State, going 25-1 from 1984-2009. But since a 26-20 victory in '09, the Bears have dropped six in a row, including a 27-17 decision last season when the Rams scored 17 third-quarter points.

After dropping two non-conference games, BSU has been perfect in the MASCAC.

"The kids are confident about winning like we have been, they feel good about themselves,'' said Verria. "But they know they haven't accomplished anything yet.

"The thing is we haven't played a complete game this year. Every single game, we have had either a bad quarter, a bad half. All we want to see is a complete game.''

Framingham State's roster includes running backs Trevon Offley (344 yards in five games) and Jalen Green (305 yards in five games), both of Brockton, and all-conference left tackle Joe Wilder of Stoughton.

Offley had 104 yards on 17 carries in last week's win over Mass. Maritime Academy.

If BSU loses to Framingham State, it would need a win over Mass. Maritime coupled with a Rams' loss to Worcester State next week to win the title.

Stonehill on road: Stonehill College (3-6, 3-5 Northeast-10 Conference) plays its final regular-season game against Pace University (0-9, 0-8) in Pleasantville, N.Y., Saturday at noon.

The Skyhawks, who have dropped two straight games, could host a game a week from Saturday as part of the conference's championship weekend.

The Predictions:

• Louisville 42, Boston College 17: After breaking the ACC drought, the Eagles are no match for the Cardinals.
• Alabama 34, LSU 21: The Crimson Tide remain perfect.
• Ohio State 31, Nebraska 20: Two straight losses for the Cornhuskers.
• Stonehill 35, Pace 17: The Skyhawks pick up a road win.
• Bridgewater State 28, Framingham State 21: The Bears bring the title home to Bridgewater.

LAST WEEK: 3-2 (SEASON TOTAL: 31-14)