By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University football team allowed 21 points in each half and was handed its first Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference setback.
The Bears were defeated by Plymouth State University, 42-21, at Mazzaferro Field on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers eclipsed the 40-point mark for the third straight game this season.
BSU (1-2) is 1-1 in the MASCAC while Plymouth State is 3-0, including 2-0 in the MASCAC.
The Panthers held a wide margin in time of possession (40:57-19:03) and were efficient in third and fourth-down chances, going 8-for-12 and 2-for-3, respectively.
The Bears held a 7-0 lead early, but Plymouth State scored the next 28 points on the way to the victory.
Panthers graduate student quarterback Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) was 12-for-12 through the air for 194 yards and a touchdown.
Plymouth State graduate student Gregory Walker (Boxford, Mass.) gained 112 yards on 30 carries and scored three TDs in the first half.
BSU freshman Joseph Dube-Garrett (Fort Myers, Fla.) came off the bench and completed 12 of 16 passes for 184 yards and two TDs.
Sophomore Shamus Whiting (Plymouth, Mass.) started his third game at quarterback and was 5-for-10 for 75 yards and one TD.
Senior Mohale Mitchell (Lakewood, Col.) caught five passes for 126 yards for the Bears.
Plymouth State outgained BSU, 373-326, and had a 179-67 advantage in rushing yards.
The Bears scored on the game's opening drive, going 65 yards in 13 plays with Whiting throwing an 11-yard TD pass to junior Owen Salvatore (Pittsfield, Mass.).
Senior Joey Naso (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) added the point after with 8:44 to go in the first quarter.
Plymouth State made it 7-7 with 1:24 to go in the quarter on a 6-yard TD run by Walker with sophomore Seamus Ross (Windham, N.H.) adding the point after.
The Panthers went 54 yards in seven plays after getting a punt at their own 46.
Plymouth State then took advantage of two BSU miscues and scored a pair of TDs within 3:12 for a 21-7 halftime lead.
The Panthers recovered a fumble at their 36 and went 64 yards in 12 plays.
Walker scored on a 2-yard run to finish a drive that lasted 8:11.
A bad snap on a punt attempt set Plymouth State up at the BSU 16, and it took just four plays for the next TD, a 6-yard run by Walker with 2:33 to go in the half.
BSU fumbled in the third quarter, leading to a 10-play, 53-yard Plymouth State TD drive.
Senior Shawn Harrington (Weymouth, Mass.) scored on a 6-yard run with just 42 seconds to go for a 28-7 lead.
The Bears struck on their next possession with Dube-Garrett and Mitchell connecting on a 52-yard TD pass just 15 seconds into the fourth quarter.
The Panthers moved the lead to 35-14 with 9:55 remaining on a 6-yard pass from Lynn to junior Jacob Morris (Kennebunk, Maine).
Dube-Garrett threw his second TD pass to freshman Sean Brown (Port Richey, Fla.) for 19 yards with 7:53 left to end a five-play, 69-yard drive. Naso converted his 42nd straight PAT to cut the deficit to 35-21.
The scoring ended with Lynn running in from 22 yards out with 1:09 left, finishing a 12-play, 65-yard drive that took 6:44 off the clock.
Plymouth State owns a 21-17-1 lead in the series.
The Bears are on the road Saturday, playing Framingham State at noon.
The Panthers bid for a fourth straight win Saturday when they host the Massachusetts Maritime Academy at noon.