Courtesy Bridgewater State Sports Information

Bridgewater State College senior football standout Justin Lima has been named as the 2008-09 MASCAC Howard C. Smith Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in a vote of the league's athletics directors.

A native of Mashpee, Mass., Lima achieved a 3.793 cumulative grade point average as a Criminal Justice major at Bridgewater State. He anchored an outstanding Bears' offensive line that ranked fourth in all of Division III in rushing offense (290.90 ypg), eighth in fourth down conversion percentage (68.8%), 26th in third down conversion percentage (45.8%) as well as scoring offense (34.8 ppg), and 27th in total offense (416.6 ypg).

Thanks in part to the solid play of the offensive line, the Bears rushed for 2,909 yards and 35 touchdowns as the team averaged an impressive 6.1 yards per carry.

Lima was named to the ECAC Division III Northeast All-Star Team and was also selected to the D3football.com All-East Region Third Team as well as the NEFC All-Bogan Division First Team. For the second time in his career, Lima was voted to the CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine All-District team, as he garnered first team honors.

Bridgewater State wrapped up the 2008 campaign with a record of 7-3. The Bears shared the NEFC Bogan Division crown along with Maine Maritime Academy.