PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Plymouth State University football team opened Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play with a dramatic 41-34 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at Panther Field.
The Panthers improve to 3-0 (1-0) on the season, while the Bears fall to 0-3 (0-1 MASCAC). Plymouth now holds a 19-16-1 lead in the all-time series which dates back to 1974.
BSU senior quarterback James Cahoon (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) completed 28 of 37 pass attempts for a school-record 357 yards and a career-best four touchdowns. Cahoon eclipsed the Bears' previous single-game mark of 345 yards set by Stefano D'Emilia in 2019 against UMass Dartmouth.
Senior wide receiver Kyle Torres (Waltham, Mass.) hauled in six receptions for 140 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, while senior running back Adam Couch (Winchendon, Mass.) rushed for 111 yards and a score on 24 carries. Couch also grabbed four passes for 64 yards.
Sophomore quarterback Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) connected on 13 of 22 pass attempts for 213 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the way for Plymouth State. Graduate wide receiver Jake Donahue (Hudson, N.H.) caught four passes for 94 yards and a score, while senior running back Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.) rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries.
Bridgewater opened the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Cahoon to Torres with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. The drive took just 2:13 off the clock as the Bears moved the ball 66 yards on six plays. A 26-yard pass from Cahoon to Torres set up the scoring strike.
On the ensuing drive, Plymouth moved the ball 75 yards on 17 plays with the Panthers converting twice on fourth down. The lengthy nine-plus minute (9:41) drive, which culminated in a two-yard TD run by graduate running back Thanos Boulukos (Old Bethpage, N.Y.), evened the score at 7-7 with 7:12 remaining in the second quarter.
The Bears answered quickly with a 66-yard touchdown pass from Cahoon to Torres. After a forcing a very short punt, the Bears took over at the PSU 49. Six plays later, Couch broke off a 22-yard touchdown run to give the visitors a 21-7 lead with 3:20 left to play in the first half.
The Panthers capped off the first half scoring with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Lynn to junior wideout Kyle Baker (Pelham, N.H.). The key play of the five-play drive was a 53-yard pass from Lynn to Donahue.
The Bears forced a punt on the opening possession of the third quarter and promptly moved the ball 75 yards on five plays with Cahoon connecting with Torres on a 25-yard touchdown pass. The other key play of the drive was a 25-yard pass from Cahoon to Couch out of the backfield.
Junior back Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 28-21. The kickoff return for a touchdown was the second allowed by the Bears this season and would mark the turning point of the game.
The Panthers then made a big fourth down stop to get the ball back at their own 30-yard line with 7:41 showing on the third quarter scoreboard. A ten-play, 70-yard drive resulted in a Sanchez 18-yard touchdown run to knot the score at 28-28.
After forcing a punt, the Panthers marched 80 yards on 13 plays with Sanchez punching it in from a yard out to give the hosts their first lead of the game at 34-28. The extra point attempt, however, was blocked.
The Bears answered with a seven-play, 80-yard drive with Cahoon connecting with senior wide receiver Michael Nocera (Cumberland, R.I.) on a one-yard TD pass to tie the game at 34-34. A roughing the passer penalty on third and ten from the Plymouth 38 helped keep the drive alive. The point after try, however, was missed.
A 28-yard touchdown pass from Lynn to Donahue capped off a five-play, 64-yard drive as the Panthers quickly reclaimed the lead. The extra point from DiSalvo was true as Plymouth moved back on top, 41-34, with 3:55 left to play.
Taking over at their own 32 with 3:51 left to play, the Bears moved the ball into the red zone and had a first and goal from the six-yard line. After two unsuccessful running plays, a holding penalty and a big sack made it fourth and goal from the 26. Cahoon tried to connect with sophomore wideout Jack McCarthy (Braintree, Mass.) in the end zone on a desperation throw, but the pass was broken up.
The two teams combined for 885 yards of total offense with no turnovers. The Bears finished with over 500 yards (504) of offense.
Plymouth State senior linebacker Bryce Wronski (Middleton, Mass.), senior defensive back Quinn Girard (Glens Falls, N.Y.) and sophomore linebacker Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) notched ten tackles apiece to lead all players. Girard added a pass breakup, while senior defensive lineman Collin Crowe (Simsbury, Conn.) came up with the key sack on the final drive of the game.
Senior linebacker Steven Silvia (Dighton, Mass.) paced the BSU defensive effort with seven tackles (six solo) including three tackles for loss and a sack. Freshman linebacker Jake England (Blackwood, N.J.) made a team-best eight tackles (five solo) with a pass breakup, while sophomore safety Brandon Medeiros (Somerset, Mass.) tallied seven solo tackles.
On special teams, BSU junior Shane Drake (Franklin, Mass.) averaged 42 yards on two punts with a long of 47 and one inside the 20. Drake also averaged 59.5 yards on six kickoffs and converted 4 of 5 extra point attempts.
In upcoming action, the Bears travel to MASCAC rival Western Connecticut State University next Saturday for a five o'clock game with the Wolves. The Panthers have a bye week and will travel to conference foe Framingham State University on Saturday, October 1st to take on the Rams at noon.
Notes: Cahoon became just the seventh quarterback in BSU football history to reach the 3,000-yard passing milestone. He has thrown for 3,049 yards in three seasons with the Bears...Torres reached the 1,000-yard mark for receiving yards as he now has 1,010 in his career.