Bridgewater State Stops Fitchburg State, 38-14
Thornton leads Falcons with 114 yards and one TD
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (October 4, 2008) - The Fitchburg State football team suffered a tough 38-14 setback to Bridgewater State College in New England Football Conference action this afternoon at Swenson Field.
Senior running-back Marlon Thornton (Bromfield, Conn./Bromfield) led the Fitchburg State offense with 114 yards rushing on 28 carries and one touchdown. The veteran All-Conference selection also tallied 75 yards receiving on six receptions. Senior quarterback Jim Miller (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) collected 206 yards in the air with 15 completions and one rushing score.
Senior Bruce Burley (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) paced the Bridgewater State scoring attack with 202 yards rushing on 11 carries and two touchdowns. Burley also ignited the Bears receiving core, with 75 yards on one reception. Senior quarterback Tyler D'Ambra (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield) tossed only six times for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
Bridgewater State collected 38 unanswered points over the first three quarters to earn its second victory of the season. The Bears took an early 7-0 lead just 2:19 into the first quarter as Burley connected for his first score of the game on a 48-yard run.
The Bears took a 24-0 lead into halftime, scoring three times for 17 points in the second frame. Burley led the charge with a 75-yard touchdown reception, while senior wide out Jesse Teixeira (Taunton, Mass./Taunton) brought in a 40-yd TD pass. Sophomore kicker Dave Leombruno (Lakeville, Mass./Apponequet) tacked on a 26-yard field goal to close out the half.
In the third quarter, Bridgewater State kept rolling, registering two touchdowns to take a 38-0 lead. Burley sparked the scoring surge with a 41-yard touchdown run, while D'Ambra punched in a 3-yard run late in the quarter.
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Fitchburg State came out firing in the fourth quarter, cutting the Bridgewater State lead to 38-14. Thornton put the Falcons on the board with a 2-yard TD run to cap a 12 play, 69 yard drive, while Miller followed suit seven minutes with a 1-yard touchdown run to end a 13 play, 77 yard drive.
Junior captain Dale Whittredge, Jr. (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill) led the Fitchburg State defense with a team-high seven tackles and one forced fumble. Classmate Steve Witherell (Westerchesterfield, N.H./Brattleboro Union) was also solid with seven tackles, including 1.5 for a loss of three yards. Senior John Ferbert (East Bridgewater, Mass./East Bridgewater) led the Bears defense with a game-high eight tackles.
Fitchburg State (1-4, 1-1 NEFC) is back in action next Saturday as it host Coast Guard at 1:30 p.m. Bridgewater State (2-3, 1-1 NEFC) will travel to Framingham State College on Saturday at 1 p.m.
CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY
Bridgewater State 38, Fitchburg State 14
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Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
|
Bridgewater State (2-3, 1-1 NEFC) |
7 |
17 |
14 |
0 |
38 |
|
Fitchburg State (1-4, 1-1 NEFC) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
14 |
Scoring:
First Quarter: BSC: Bruce Burley (48 yd run), 12:41;
Second Quarter: BSC: Jesse Teixeira (40 yd
pass), 9:27; BSC: Burley (75 yd pass), 3:56; BSC: Dave Leombruno
(26 yd FG), 0:25;
Third Quarter: BSC: Burley (41 yd run), 13:30; BSC: Tyler
D'Ambra (3 yd run);
Fourth Quarter: FSC: Marlon Thornton (2 yd run), 8:03;
FSC: Jim Miller (1 yd run), 1:27;