Beyer, Drake Named to D3football.com All-Region One Team

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior left guard Matt Beyer and senior punter Shane Drake have been selected to the 2023 D3football.com All-Region One Team.

Beyer and Drake, who are both making their first appearance on the D3football.com All-Region One Team, each garnered third team accolades. They are among 14 student-athletes from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) to earn the honor.

The D3football.com All-Region One Team, selected in balloting by Region One sports information directors and D3football.com staff, was chosen from 210 nominations by full Division III member schools. A total of 78 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 December 15, in D3football.com’s pregame coverage for Stagg Bowl 50.

NCAA Division III realigned Division III football into six regions in 2021. Region One 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).

Beyer helped pave the way for 3,534 yards of total offense in ten games during the 2023 campaign, including 2,105 yards through the air and 1,429 on the ground. The Bears' averaged 30.1 points a game thanks in part to the outstanding play of the offensive line led by the stellar left guard.

Beyer has been a stalwart at left guard for the Bears over the past three seasons as he played and started 30 of 31 games. The BSU football team averaged 380.3 yards of total offense (147.7 rushing, 232.6 passing) as well as 30.5 points a game during that span.

In ten games this season, Drake averaged 41.2 yards on 43 punts with 13 inside the 20 and a long of 60. Five of his punts went for over 50 yards. Drake also averaged 58.2 yards on 54 kickoffs with 19 touchbacks.

Drake led the MASCAC in 2023 in punting yards (1,772), punting average, punts inside the 20 and fair catches (14). He is also currently 12th in all of Division III in punting average.

Drake averaged 41.8 yards on 82 punts over the last two seasons after taking over the punting duties following his rookie campaign of 2021. All told, he has placed 23 punts inside the 20 and has 13 punts over 50 yards. The Bears' all-time leader in punting average, Drake also averaged 57.5 yards on 159 kickoffs in 31 career games and connected on 11 of 16 points after tries as well as 7 of 14 field goal attempts. 

The BSU football team wrapped up the 2023 season with an overall record of 7-3 and captured a share of the MASCAC title with a 7-1 conference mark. The Bears capped off the season with a 48-6 win over Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the 44th Annual Cranberry Bowl.

Last month, Beyer and Drake were among ten Bears named to the All-MASCAC Team as they each garnered first team honors. Drake was also selected to the New England Football Writers Division II/III All-New England Team.

2023 D3football.com All-Region One Team (PDF) | BSU All-Time D3football.com All-Region Honorees (PDF)

Notes: Beyer is the Bears' first offensive lineman to earn D3football.com all-region honors since Jeff Smith in 2009...Drake joins former teammate Thomas Fay as the only two punters in program history to garner the accolade...19 different Bears have been named to the D3football.com all-region team since 2005 with eight two-time recipients.