|
Game #6 Preview - Bears Look to Bounce Back vs. Bogan Power Bridgewater |
|
|
 Linebacker Ben Barrett leads the Bears with 39 tackles this season. The defense will have to contain the potent Bridgewater ground attack this week. (photo by Paul Duddy)
THE SERIES: The series is tied 2-2.
LAST YEAR: Bridgewater State had 440 yards of total offense and beat Coast Guard 38-7 in an NEFC Bogan Division game.
Bridgewater (4-3, 3-1 NEFC Bogan) racked up 305 yards on the ground and 440 yards of total offense on Homecoming.
Senior running back Bruce Burley led the offense as he rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Jessy Resende added 116 yards on the ground to go along with a touchdown.
The BSC defense held Coast Guard to just 49 yards rushing and 135 yards of total offense.
Bridgewater would score on four of its first five possessions. Burley would cap off the first half scoring with a five-yard touchdown run as the Bears led 24-0 at the intermission.
Burley added his second TD run of game as he found the end zone from six yard out to put the Bears up 31-0 with 4:33 left in the third quarter.
Coast Guard (2-4, 2-2) ended BSC’s shutout bid later in the quarter as freshman quarterback Jarrod Owens threw his first career touchdown pass, a 33-yard strike to junior wideout Sam England on a 33-yard scoring strike to cut the deficit to 31-7.
D’Ambra rounded out the scoring with a six-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter as he capped off a six-play, 58-yard drive. D’Ambra finished 4-of-10 passing for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Along with stopping the Coast Guard running game, the BSC defense also limited Coast Guard to just 86 yards in the air on 7 of 26 passing.
Sophomore linebacker Kyle Ennis led the way defensively for Coast Guard as he registered ten tackles (seven solo), broke up a pass and forced a fumble. Senior linebacker Brian Field also added ten tackles (eight solo).
LAST WEEK: Junior running back Justin Fuller rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns and also threw for one, to lead Bridgewater State to a 26-20 New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division victory over Framingham State.
Junior quarterback Jordan Cannava’s 28-yard touchdown pass to classmate Carlos De La Rosa in double overtime capped a wild come-from-behind win as the Falcons knocked off Coast Guard 37-34 in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division game to spoil the Bears Homecoming Weekend. Fitchburg forced the overtime as Cannava threw a two-yard touchdown pass to senior Devon Jennings (11 catches, 138 yards) on 4th and goal before senior Steve Austin (17 carries, 71 yards) ran in the two-point conversion with just 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter capping a 13 play, 75-yard drive which tied the game 24-24. Coast Guard had a chance to win the game, but the Bears missed a 46-yard field goal, wide left on the final play of regulation. Junior quarterback Jesse Karr was 23 of 42 for 335 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
KARR MAKES HISTORY IN LOSS: Jesse Karr, who had not taken a collegiate snap before this season, threw for 335 yards in the loss on Saturday to become the first Coast Guard quarterback to ever throw for over 300 yards twice in his career. Karr threw for 338 yards in his first collegiate appearance, the season opener this year. Only eight quarterbacks have thrown for over 300 yards in the 86-year history of the Coast Guard football program.
ENGLAND IS SECOND TO ONE: Senior wide receiver Sam England, who had season-high seven receptions and a career-high 133 yards on Saturday moved into second place on the Bears’ all-time list for receiving yards. England has 1,827 yards and he is also second all-time at the Academy with 141 receptions. Christian Lee (1993-’96) is the Bears all-time leader with 149 receptions and 2,356 yards. England passed Al Thompson (‘94-’97), who was second all-time with 1,717 yards.
IT’S NOT HOW YOU START THE FOURTH, IT’S HOW YOU FINISH: Coast Guard has kept fans on the edge of their seats this season as all five games have been decided in the fourth quarter and overtime. In fact the last eight games, including the final three of 2008, have featured lead changes in the fourth quarter. The details are below.
10/25/08 vs. Worcester State
Worcester State led 14-10 entering the 4th, Coast Guard scored a TD with 5:30 left to win 17-14.
11/1/08 @ Maine Maritime
CGA led 31-26 entering the 4th quarter, Maine scored at TD with 1:32 left to win 42-34.
11/8/08 vs. Framingham State
CGA led 23-13 entering the 4th, Framingham scored with 10 seconds left to win 25-23.
9/12/09 @ Merchant Marine
Merchant Marine led 17-16 entering the fourth, the Bears lost 33-27 in overtime.
9/19/09 @ Plymouth State
CGA led 17-14 with 9:47 left, but lost 28-17.
9/26/09 vs. Westfield State
Westfield State led 5-0 until Coast Guard scored with 32.9 seconds left to win 8-5.
10/3/09 @ Mass. Maritime
Mass. Maritime led 22-21 before Coast Guard scored with 6:14 left to win 29-22.
10/10/09 vs. Fitchburg State
CGA led 24-16 until Fitchburg scored with 28 seconds left. The Falcons won 37-34 in double overtime.
BEARS LOOK FOR #300: Coast Guard will be trying to win the 300th game in program history on Saturday. The Bears are 299-400-19 all-time.
BABY GERKEN ON A ROLL: Freshman Eric Gerken had six receptions for 76 yards and his first two career touchdowns earning himself a spot on the NEFC’s weekly honor roll. Gerken caught a five-yard touchdown which forced a second overtime.
NO PASSING ZONE: Coast Guard is second in the NEFC in pass defense allowing 139 yards per game. The Bears lead the NEFC in opponent first downs, as the Bears have allowed just 78 on the season.
FIVE WAY LOG JAM IN THE BOGAN: Coast Guard and Framingham State, the last two unbeatens in division play were both beaten on Saturday creating a five way tie for first at 2-1 in the Bogan Division. Coast Guard, Framingham State, Fitchburg State, Maine Maritime and this week’s opponent Bridgewater State are all tied at 2-1. Coast Guard is still in great shape as the Bears have three of the four teams it is tied with left to play.
SCOUTING COAST GUARD: The Bears, who feature the top passing offense in the NEFC, look to bounce back from last week’s loss and keep pace in the Bogan Division.
Coast Guard features the second best passing defense in the NEFC allowing 139 passing yards per game and the defense is allowing 353.6 yards per game. The Bears stingy defense is also leading the league in first downs allowed (78) and is third in opponent’s third down conversions (27.3%) as the opponents have converted on just 21 of 77 attempts this season.
Junior linebacker Ben Barrett leads the team with 39 tackles, 32 solo and a team-high 3.5 for loss while junior defensive lineman Ryan Schmidt is second with 31 stops, 26 solo and three for loss. Sophomore Chris Izurieta, despite missing two games, and junior Chris Costello lead the team with two interceptions each.
Junior quarterback Jesse Karr leads the NEFC is passing yards per game (252) and total offense per game (287) and his 12 touchdown passes are tied for the league lead. He is 102 of 190 for 1,260 yards with the 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Senior wide receiver Sam England, who had a season-high seven receptions for a career-high 133 yards on Saturday and senior running back Steve Arguelles lead the team with 22 receptions each. England leads the team with 374 yards while Arguelles has 165 yards. Arguelles also leads the team with 414 rushing yards on 97 carries.
Coast Guard is averaging 23 points and 382.8 yards per game (252 passing).
SCOUTING BRIDGEWATER STATE: The Bears, the preseason favorite to win the Bogan Division, look to remain in a first place tie with a win here this afternoon.
Bridgewater is second in the division in both scoring offense (31.5) and scoring defense (20.2) while allowing a league-low 303.8 yards per game. They are the best in the division, allowing just 139.2 rushing yards per game.
The Bears like to run the football, they are second in the NEFC with 330.5 rushing yards per game and last in the conference with just 61.3 passing yards per game.
Junior Justin Fuller leads the NEFC with 904 yards rushing and 13 rushing touchdowns. Fuller and senior quarterback Steven Clark (98 carries, 642 yards, 4 TD) leads the conference with 6.6 rushing yards per carry. Clark is 23 of 62 for 348 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions on the season. Senior Jesse Teixeira leads the team with 15 receptions for 277 yards and all five of the team’s touchdown receptions.
Senior linebacker John Ferbert leads the team with 53 tackles, 34 solo while senior linebackers Casey Florence and Jason Flannery are second with 43 tackles each. Flannery leads the team with seven tackles for loss.
NEXT WEEK: The Bears travel to Worcester State to take on the Lancers with kickoff set for noon. |
|
