Bridgewater State Captures 41-22 Victory

NEW LONDON, CONN.--Sophomore Bruce Burley carried 22 times for 127 yards and four touchdowns earning MVP honors as Bridgewater State won its second consecutive ECAC Bowl game beating Coast Guard 41-22 in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl.

The ECAC North Atlantic Bowl was a rematch of regular season game between the two New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division teams. This time however, Coast Guard was playing without its two major offensive weapons NEFC Bogan Division Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Christian George and first-team All-division running back senior Josh Williams, who were out with injuries.

Coast Guard won at Bridgewater State 21-17 on Oct. 14th. Coast Guard won the NEFC Bogan Division with a perfect 7-0 mark while Bridgewater State was second in the division with a 6-1 record.

Burley had 164 yards of total offense as he also had two receptions for 37 yards. Burley had touchdown runs of 3, 9, 11 and 5 yards.

Bridgewater State (8-2) took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter as Burley scored a three-yard run and sophomore quarterback Steven Clark ran in from 23 yards out with 7:06 left in the first quarter. Clark had a solid game as he carried 16 times for 103 yards.

Coast Guard got on the board as Bridgewater State's other quarterback in their two quaterback system, junior Greg Borsari (9 of 13, 99 yards) was sacked by freshman Doug Piper and junior Chris Hunt in the end zone for a safety with 4:59 left in the first quarter.

Bridgewater defensive lineman Mike Sirignano returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown with 10:54 left in the first half and Burley scored on a nine-yard run, the extra point was blocked and the score was 27-2 with 3:06 left in the firt half.

Coast Guard took just three plays and 39 seconds to score as sophomore Niles Pierson (10 of 24, 175 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to freshman Sam England (3 catches, 79 yards) with 2:19 left in the first half. Bridgewater State led 27-9 at halftime.

Burley scored on an 11-yard run to cap the opening drive of the second half increasing the lead to 34-9 with 8:25 left in the third quarter.

Junior Lance Lynch, who led Coast Guard with 14 carries for 67 yards, scored on a three-yard touchdown run 2:09 left in the third quarter. The point after was blocked making the score 34-15.

Burley scored his fourth and final touchdown on a five-yard run with 11:53 left extending the lead to 41-15.

Pierson threw a six-yard touchdown pass to freshman Tom Campbell, the first touchdown reception of his career, with 4:05 left to close the scoring.

Bridgewater State had 467 yards of total offense, 368 yards on the ground while Coast Guard had 269 total yards, just 94 rushing.
Junior Chris Joyce led Bridgewater State with six receptions for 56 yards.

Coast Guard sophomore David Sauls had a sensational day on special teams as he had six kickoff returns for 139 yards.

Freshman defensive lineman Chris Dijak led Bridgewater with seven tackles, all solo with two sacks and a blocked extra point.

Freshman Steve Arguelles, who tied the Coast Guard single-season record with 11 interceptions, led Coast Guard with 10 tackles, seven solo.