PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Reece Davis (Livermore, Maine) ran for 92 yards and freshman
Josh Phillips (Clinton, Mass.) scored a touchdown for the third straight game, but Bridgewater State University overpowered Plymouth State University, 35-7, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Panther Field on Saturday.
Bridgewater State used a 12-play, 72-yard drive on its second possession to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Neither offense was able to sustain a drive through most of the second quarter. The Bears doubled the lead on a 41-yard touchdown run with 1:21 remaining in the half to make it 14-0 at halftime.
The visitors added a pair of third-quarter scores and scored again early in the fourth to extend the margin to 35-0. Plymouth State responded with its best drive of the afternoon, marching 88 yards in 14 plays while holding the ball for more than nine minutes before Phillips punched it in from one yard out to account for the final score.
Plymouth State falls to 1-2 (0-2 MASCAC), while the Bears stay unbeaten at 3-0 (2-0 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 7, Bridgewater State 35
- Plymouth State (1-2, 0-2 MASCAC)
- Bridgewater State (3-0, 2-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- The teams traded punts to open the game before Bridgewater State used a 12-play, 72-yard drive lasting 5:42 to take a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard run.
- Freshman quarterback Colton Lefebvre (Colchester, Vt.) connected on back-to-back passes on the ensuing drive, finding classmates Joey Donati (Pacifica, Calif.) and Drake Dumont (Scituate, R.I.) for 9- and 11-yard gains, but the drive stalled.
- Neither offense could sustain a drive for most of the second quarter. Junior Ben Brown (York, Maine) had a huge 20-yard sack to help end a Bridgewater State drive, but the offense couldn't capitalize.
- The Bears cashed in on back-to-back big plays – a 19-yard reception followed by a 41-yard run – to double the margin with 1:21 left before halftime.
- Senior lineman TJ Taveras (Rochester, N.H.) got pressure on the BSU quarterback multiple times on the Bears' next drive, and BSU was unable to convert a 41-yard field goal try as time expired, keeping it a 14-0 game at halftime.
- BSU pulled away with consecutive scoring drives in the third quarter, then snared an interception to end the Panthers' longest drive of the frame.
- The visitors extended the lead with a 19-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth.
- Davis ripped off a 37-yard run on the first play of the ensuing drive, jumpstarting PSU's best series of the day. Davis and sophomore Jayden Graham (Rutland, Vt.) combined for 85 yards on the ground before Phillips punched it in from a yard out to get the Panthers on the board, 35-7, with 4:25 remaining.
- Bridgewater State was able to chew up the remaining clock to thwart any thoughts of a late comeback.
By the Numbers:
- Davis finished with 15 carries for 92 yards – a 6.1 yards-per-carry average.
- Graham added 55 rushing yards and a nine-yard reception.
- Phillips has a rushing touchdown in all three games.
- Freshman Grady Pfefferkorn (Acton, Mass.) logged a game-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops, while Brown finished with five tackles (four solo), two tackles for a loss and a 20-yard sack.
- Taveras logged a sack, forced fumble and three QB hurries.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State travels to Massachusetts Maritime Academy next Saturday (Sept. 26) for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
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