Bridgewater State Pitches 42-0 Homecoming Shutout of Fitchburg State
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Sophomore quarterback Mike McCarthy (Edgartown, Mass.) rushed for three touchdowns and passed for a score, and the Bridgewater State defense limited Fitchburg State to just 44 yards of total offense, as the Bears blanked the Falcons, 42-0, on Homecoming Day at Swenson Field.
The Bears, winners of three straight games, improves to 5-2 on the season and 3-2 in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division. The visiting Falcons slip to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the Bogan.
McCarthy, who rushed for touchdowns of one, eight and six yards, opened the scoring on the Bears' first possession of the game as he hooked up with junior wideout Jake Scott (Somerset, Mass.) on a 36-yard touchdown pass. Bridgewater made it a 14-0 game later in the quarter as McCarthy capped off a nine-play, 51-yard drive with a one-yard QB sneak. The teams would head into the intermission with BSU holding the 14-point lead.
Bridgewater also scored on the first possession of the second half as McCarthy pounded it in from eight yards out to complete a nine-play, 63-yard drive. Senior defensive tackle Mike Nazzaro (Boxford, Mass.) made it 28-0 in favor of the Bears later in the third quarter as he returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown.
McCarthy's six-yard run in the fourth quarter and a five-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jon Criscuolo (Guilford, Conn.) to sophomore receiver Tim Nutter (Haverhill, Mass.) capped off the scoring for BSU.
McCarthy completed 6 of 11 passes for 98 yards and added another 48 on the ground. Bridgewater passers combined to throw for 237 yards, while the Bears rushed for 211 for a total of 448 yards of offense.
Scott led all players with five receptions for 96 yards. Freshman running back Blaise Branch (Brockton, Mass.) was the leading ball-carrier as he rushed for 66 yards on 15 attempts.
The BSU defense was dominating throughout led by sophomore defensive end Tate Doehler (Lakeville, Mass.) who notched seven tackles including a pair of sacks and 4 ½ tackles for loss. As a team, Bridgewater recorded five sacks in the contest as well 13 tackles for loss. Junior linebacker Alex Monteiro (Portsmouth, R.I.) made seven solo stops with three of those for loss. Senior defensive end Jacob Curren (North Attleboro, Mass.) registered a pair of sacks and senior safety Tyler Trainor (Saugus, Mass.) added one.
Fitchburg senior linebacker Anthony Bizzotto (Leominster, Mass.) led all players with ten tackles. Junior defensive lineman Jesus Moore (Lawrence, Mass.) tallied six tackles including 3 ½ for loss.
Senior punter Lenny Masciangioli (Leominster, Mass.) had a busy day for the Falcons as he averaged 35.3 yards on 11 punts with a long of 56.
Next week, Bridgewater travels to Maine Maritime Academy for a noontime game with the Mariners while Fitchburg hosts Worcester State University at 1:30 PM.
