Courtesy Bridgewater State Sports Information

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University football team has been selected to host the 2011 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast Bowl on Saturday at noon as the Bears will take on Alfred University at Swenson Field.

Bridgewater will be making the program’s eighth trip to the postseason and sixth ECAC appearance (1989, 1992, 2005-2007).  The Bears are 2-3 all-time in ECAC championship games, including a 30-27 loss at Alfred in the 1989 ECAC North Championship.  Bridgewater also advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament in 1999 and 2000.

Under the guidance of seventh year head coach Chuck Denune, the Bears are currently 7-2 on the season and head into the ECAC Northeast Bowl having won each of their last five games.  Bridgewater finished tied for the second in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division standings with a 5-2 divisional mark.

Sophomore quarterback Mike McCarthy (Edgartown, MA) threw for 948 yards with nine touchdowns and just four interceptions during the regular season while adding 560 yards on the ground and eight scores.  He ranks sixth in the NEFC in both total offense (1,508 yards) and pass efficiency rating (124.3). The Bears’ running back tandem of senior Justin Fuller (Berkley, Mass.) and freshman Blaise Branch (Brockton, Mass.) have combined to rush for 1,033 yards and nine touchdowns.

Junior Jake Scott (Somerset, Mass.) and sophomore Chris Constantine (Hingham, Mass.) have been the main receiving targets this season. Scott has 24 catches for 401 yards and eight total touchdowns including one rushing.  Constantine has hauled in 27 passes for 372 yards and a score to go along with 147 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown.

As a team, the Bears are tied for the NEFC lead in sacks allowed giving up just nine thanks to a solid offensive line anchored by junior tackle Mike D'Attilio (North Attleboro, Mass.) and junior guard Kurt Merrick (Mashpee, Mass.).  Bridgewater also ranks third in rushing offense (213.4 ypg), fourth in both total offense (362.6 ypg) and third-down conversions (52-for-126, 41.3%) and fifth in pass efficiency rating (120.4) and scoring (26.6 ppg).

Junior linebacker Alex Monteiro (Portsmouth, R.I.) leads the Bears with 57 tackles (41 solo) on defense and has added four pass breakups and a forced fumble.  Junior defensive tackle Paul Melicharek (Glen Rock, N.J.) has 42 tackles including 9.5 for loss, while sophomore defensive end Tate Doehler (Lakeville, Mass.) checks in with 38 tackles (30 solo) with team-high totals of 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks to go along with three pass breakups, two recovered fumbles and one forced.  Junior linebacker Justin Cruz (Dartmouth, Mass.) added 33 tackles (19 solo) including 5.5 for loss as well as a pair of sacks, two recovered and one forced fumble. He tied for the team lead with five pass breakups.

The BSU defense has intercepted 11 passes on the season with junior defensive backs Vincent Henry (Middleboro, Mass.) and Eddie Jewel (Amherst, Mass.) leading the way with three apiece.  The Bears have registered four touchdowns on the defensive side of the ball with senior safety Kevin Laudano (Wallingford, Conn.), senior defensive tackle Mike Nazzaro (Boxford, Mass.) and sophomore linebacker Dillon Huber-Parker (Longmont, Colo.) returning interceptions for scores and Jewel taking a fumble all the way back for a touchdown.

On special teams, senior Mike Pettus (Concord, Mass.) is seventh in the NEFC with 35.8 yards per punt.  He has placed ten of his 34 punts inside the 20-yard line.  Freshman placekicker Jarred Diorio (Kingston, N.H.) is 18-for-20 in extra point conversion, while Constantine is averaging 24.6 yards on nine kickoff returns.

Alfred (7-3 overall, 4-3 Empire Eight) is heading to postseason play for the seventh straight year under the direction of 14-year head coach, Dave Murray. The Saxons competed in ECAC bowl games from 2005 to 2008 and are coming off back-to back NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010.  Alfred advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals a year ago before losing to national runner-up Mount Union.

Senior linebacker Nick Clark (Canisteo, N.Y.) leads the way defensively for the Saxons with 103 tackles (54 solo), nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, five pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles.  On offensive, sophomore tailback Austin Dwyer (Arkport, N.Y.) has rushed for 933 yards and nine touchdowns, while the senior quarterback tandem of Tom Secky (Bemus Point, N.Y.) and T.J. Kilcarr (Nanuet, N.Y.) have combined to throw for 1,876 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions.  Senior placekicker Erick Rockwood (Allegany, N.Y.) is an impressive 12-for-13 in field goal attempts and has converted 30 of 35 PATs.

Alfred has scored 28.8 points a contest but has also given up an average of 26.9 points through ten games. The Saxons, who have amassed 3,727 yards of total offense (1,802 rushing, 1,925 passing), have outgained their opponents by a margin of 75.1 yards per game.