Four Bears Named to D3football.com All-Region One Team

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Four members of the Bridgewater State University football squad have been selected to the 2022 D3football.com All-Region One Team.

Senior linebacker Steven Silvia and sophomore tight end Jalen Kopecky were named to the D3football.com All-Region One Second Team, while senior linebacker Brendan Albert and senior cornerback Jaren Alves garnered third team honors.

The D3football.com All-Region One Team, selected in balloting by Region One sports information directors and D3football.com staff, was chosen from 199 nominations by full Division III member schools. A total of 79 players were chosen. Players nominated for all-region are eligible to be considered for D3football.com All-America honors, which will be announced the evening of Dec. 16, in D3football.com’s pregame coverage for Stagg Bowl XLIX.

NCAA Division III realigned Division III football into six regions in 2021. Region 1 includes the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC), Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).

The 2022 D3football.com All-Region teams are sponsored by Stevenson University, hosts of Stagg Bowl XLIX.

Silvia, Albert and Alves are making their second straight appearance on the D3football.com All-Region One Team, while Kopecky is making his first. All four players played and started all 11 games this season.

Silvia recorded 93 tackles (58 solo) with 13 tackles for loss, 2 1/2 sacks, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 2022. The Dighton, Massachusetts product ranked second in the MASCAC in both solo tackles and tackles for loss, and third in total tackles. He is also currently 41st in all of Division III in solo tackles per game (5.3).

In 42 games over four seasons with the Bears, Silvia amassed 327 tackles (211 solo) with 37 tackles for loss, 7 1/2 sacks, four forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. He also recorded 18 passes defended, including five interceptions, and returned a fumble for a touchdown (2021 Cranberry Bowl). Silvia never missed a game throughout his career and started all 42.

Kopecky hauled in 26 receptions for 390 yards and five touchdowns while also providing outstanding blocking from the tight end position. The Warren, Rhode Island native also rushed for a pair of touchdowns. He tied for sixth in the MASCAC in receiving touchdowns.

In 21 games over his first two seasons at Bridgewater State, Kopecky has 36 career receptions for 481 yards and six touchdowns as well as three rushing touchdowns.

Albert recorded a team-best 109 tackles (62 solo) with 5 ½ for loss, one sack and two forced fumbles to go along with a game-saving blocked field in a 20-19 win over Framingham State University. Albert led the MASCAC in solo tackles and ranked second in total tackles and forced fumbles. He is also currently 24th in all of Division III in solo tackles per game (5.6) and 27th in total tackles per game (9.9).

In 21 games over his first two seasons in a BSU uniform, Albert has amassed an impressive 219 tackles with 132 solo stops, 20 tackles for loss and 5 1/2 sacks to go along with two pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and a blocked kick. He has also returned two fumbles for touchdowns.

Alves notched three interceptions, broke up nine passes, recovered a fumble and notched 34 tackles (24 solo) with 2 1/2 tackles for loss during the 2022 campaign. He ranked third in the MASCAC in interceptions and fourth in both pass breakups and passes defended (12).

In 42 games over four seasons with the Bears, Alves recorded eight career interceptions and 38 pass breakups for a total of 46 passes defended. He also tallied 122 tackles (83 solo), seven tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble. Alves never missed a game in his career and started each of the last 39.

The BSU football team finished the 2022 campaign with an overall record of 7-4 including a 6-2 MASCAC mark. The Bears capped off the season with a 34-24 victory over Catholic University in the New England Bowl.

Last month, Silvia, Kopecky, Albert and Alves were among 12 Bears named to the All-MASCAC Team as they each garnered first team honors. Silvia, the MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year, was also selected to the New England Football Writers Division II/III All-New England Team as well as the All-Noontime Division III New England Football Team.

Notes: The Bears led the MASCAC with four players on the 2022 D3football.com All-Region One Team. UMass Dartmouth and Framingham State each have two representatives, while Western Connecticut State University and Massachusetts Maritime Academy check in with one apiece.

2022 D3football.com All-Region One Team (PDF) | BSU All-Time D3football.com All-Region Honorees (PDF)