The 2-3-1 Bridgewater Badgers visited Barnstable October 19, and, although the Bullet defense was strong, the offense struggled, running only nine plays in the first half and fourteen in the second. Bridgewater was held to only two touchdowns, despite plenty of opportunities.
The Bullets received the opening kick at their 27-yard line as Jordan "Juice" Galvin-Jutras secured possession. Ryan Leonovich (7) started things off with a short run up the middle, then Charlie DiSimone (32) ran for four yards. Brendan Bindig (2) took third down a yard forward and DiSimone fell just short of the first down and Bridgewater took over at Barnstable’s 36-yard line. Tavian Miranda (25) DiSimone and Colton Bergal (11) handled the first three plays, allowing short yardage, but the Badgers called a quarterback keep on fourth down and he swept it around the end for a first down before Bindig drove him out of bounds. DiSimone, Miranda, and nose-tackle Sean Ford (65) stopped the next three Bridgewater runs, but a pass to Connor Regan (14) gave Bridgewater another first down. DiSimone stopped John Anderson (22) on first down, and Bindig and Nick Passalugo (77) combined for a crushing stop on second down. The Badgers tried another pass to Regan on third, but he was well covered. Bridgewater was forced to a convert on fourth down again and they ran another sweep with the quarterback keeping the ball again and he gained just enough yardage. Bridgewater’s Anderson broke through the line and Charlie DiSimone almost stopped him short of the goal line, but momentum carried him in. The two-point conversion was successful for the visiting Badgers, giving them an 8-0 lead.
Barnstable's Justin Marcantonio (18) ran the kick back five yards, but the offensive drive was short lived as a pass attempt was knocked down at the line and fell into the hands of a Bridgewater lineman who was lying on his back. Bo Delaney tracked Regan down but only after a Bridgewater first down on a sweep around the right side. Donny Mach (55), Joel Bess (60), and Sean Ford held Bridgewater to short gains, but they called a sweep and Miranda caught up with Regan before he could break into open field. Bridgewater was held to virtually no yards on the next three plays and was again forced to convert on fourth down; this time they threw to the end zone and into the hands of Connor Regan who managed to beat the secondary. Delaney stopped the extra point attempt with a great tackle, holding the score to 14-0.
The offense couldn’t wait to try to gain some ground but watched helplessly as the kick bounced off one receiver’s hand and through the legs of another. As Barnstable tried to capture the kick a Badger slid in and smothered it. The defense didn’t look tired and went back to work stopping Bridgewater on first down with a mob of tacklers smothering John Anderson. Colby Putnam (70) took care of second down and Passalugo stepped into a gap, slamming a Badger back to the ground, which brought up another fourth down. Brendan Bindig read the play perfectly and with little time remaining in the first half Barnstable’s offense took the field.
Quarterback Bo Delaney attempted a pass but was pressured and scrambled out of the pocket, then ran up field for eight yards. The crowd gasped, when on second down the ball slipped out of Delaney’s hands and was covered up by an alert Bindig. Leonovich got the call on third down and broke through the line for four yards and a first down. Coach Schultz sent in Quarterback Ethan Chasson (9) with one last play, but the Bullets fell short of the end zone as time expired in the half.
The second half started with a surprise onsides kick but Bridgewater hung on as Jasiah Owens (50) rushed in to the play. Barnstable's defense again showed its strength as Ford stopped a first down run up the middle. Then Jack Papatti (44) tackled a Badger back, who was trying to break through the line. On what proved to be Bridgewater’s last play of the drive Joel Bess and Bobby Higgins (22) combined for a tackle and forced fourth down; the Badgers went off sides and Coach Schultz declined. The offense was only out for four plays though as Leonovich, DiSimone and Bindig could not find much room to carry the ball up field.
Bridgewater took over on downs, but Barnstable’s defense held strong with more great stops by Ford, Bess, Miranda and Colton Bergal. Justin Marcantonio (18) also made a fantastic stop, allowing a first down but holding back a potential touchdown run on a sweep. The Bullet Red One offense sprinted on the field and Tristan Blaisdell (12) carried the ball gaining ground for Charlie DiSimone's 8-yard run to give the Bullets a first down. Bridgewater held the offense there though and took over on downs after what seemed to be a promising drive. Barnstable was determined to get the ball back, and did thanks to an amazing sack from DiSimone on fourth down.
The Bullet offense took the field with nearly a minute left and Matt Cortices (6) carried on first down for a short gain. Colton’s brother Keaton Bergal (33) ran on second, but time ran out on the clock and any last minute hopes for the Silver Bullet offense. Bridgewater was held to only two scores in the first half and the final score was 14-0.
