BUZZARDS BAY - Peter Mazzaferro, the retired Bridgewater State coach and founder of the Cranberry Bowl between the Bears and Mass. Maritime Academy, recalled the venerable event’s start in 1979.

“I went up to the Edaville Railroad where they have a cranberry festival and went down there to talk to George Bartholomew. They had a $200 antique (cranberry) scoop, and they had a Cranberry Festival queen,” Mazzaferro said. “She presented the first cranberry scoop to Mass. Maritime (8-3 winners). I don’t know whatever happened to that cranberry queen. I think she’s a grandmother today!”

Mazzaferro and fellow retiree Don Ruggeri, the Mass. Maritime coaching legend, will serve as honorary captains of today’s game at Clean Harbor Stadium (noon).

There are plenty of college trophy games nationwide, but when it comes to New England the 31-year-old Cranberry Bowl stands alone. The Bears hold a 22-7-1 edge, including 12 straight.

“We’re definitely due,” said Joe St. Pierre, a Mass. Maritime senior co-captain from Beverly. “We’re big about tradition here at the Academy and it’s one of those things that you really feel special about. This is the game you really look forward to every year.”

Bridgewater senior co-captain Casey Florence, a homegrown linebacker and the fourth member of his family to play in the Cranberry Bowl series, wants to continue the Bears’ hex over the Bucs.

“The last three years have been close games every time, so we do know that we have to defend it,” Florence said. “It’s not just a birthright to have it.”

Bridgewater enters at 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the NEFC. The host Buccaneers are 3-6 and 2-4 in NEFC. Both Bears coach Chuck Denune and Bucs coach Jeremy Cameron are in their fifth seasons.

“I came here from (Sunbury) Ohio where we had cornfields separated by football fields,” said Denune. “It took awhile for me to realize we were playing for a scoop!”

Said Admiral Rick Gurnon, the MMA president: “It truly doesn’t matter that in my time here I have rarely seen the Buccaneers walk away with the scoop. I can tell you that it is a hard-fought game that is punctuated by great sportsmanship.”