BC Getting Defensive (Daily News-Record)

The Eagles have shut out their first two football opponents.

Daily News-Record - By Jeremy Cothran

BRIDGEWATER — After two games last season, the Bridgewater College football team had allowed 56 points, including 19 in the second half of a shocking 36-35 comeback victory by McDaniel.

This year, against the same two opponents, the overall points total has been substantially reduced. To zero.

Zip. None. Nada.

And it’s not like the Eagles are doing anything different.

"Scheme-wise," BC defensive coordinator Grant Higgison said after practice Thursday, "we haven’t changed anything."

The Eagles (2-0) do have linebacker Craig Smith back from an Achilles heel injury, but BC still had to replace nine impact players on defense, including both starting safeties, two injured linebackers, two defensive tackles, one defensive end and two nickelbacks who could almost be considered starters because of all the four- and five-receiver sets the Eagles see in the pass-happy Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Given that, coach Michael Clark had been pleasantly surprised with his defense. He’s just curious to see how the Eagles respond when they allow a point.

"I think the real test comes when somebody does score," Clark said. "It’s not the fact that they scored, but how do we respond? How do we handle ourselves in a 14-14 game in the fourth quarter? We welcome the test, because it’s going to define us."

The key for Bridgewater in 2006 has been the dominant play of its defensive line and linebackers. The Eagles have allowed only 307 yards of total defense, an average of 153.5 per game – including just 78.5 per game on the ground.

Hence the reason that two run-heavy teams – Shenandoah and McDaniel – have seen bagels next to their score lines.

"Tim Keating and Paul Barnes told me after our games," Higgison said, referring to the Green Terror and Hornets coaches, "‘Your kids really play hard.’ To me, that’s a big compliment. Now, we’ve made mistakes, but when the kids are playing fast, then you can cover up for them."

In the Eagles’ defensive schemes, it all starts with the line. It is the only unit on defense that can go two-deep at almost every position, which allows Higgison to rapidly rotate players in and out to keep them fresh. The catalyst has been senior defensive end Tony Burt, who leads the squad in tackles for losses (five) and is tied for the team lead in sacks (two). The Western Branch High School graduate and proud "757" representative has recovered from what he and Higgison both classified as subpar sophomore and junior seasons.

"I told him in the offseason," Burt said, "that I wanted him to get on me for every mistake or if he saw me slacking. This is my last year, and I want to make a name for myself. And he said he would. He’s definitely lived up to his part of the bargain."

BC also can look to outside linebacker Brandon Borst as another key playmaker this season. The senior leads the team in tackles with 12 and is second in stops behind the line with three. He plays the wild-card role in Higgison’s schemes, lining up all over the field.

"He’s our wild man," Burt said. "Always hustling, always in the weight room. He just gives that 101 percent. Always flying to the ball."

What Burt takes pleasure in is how the Eagles’ defense has sucked the life out of their opponents as the games progressed. He pointed to the McDaniel game on Sept. 2 – a 41-0 victory – as the defining point of his thesis. On the first kickoff after halftime, Green Terror running back Matt Buschman took the ball on a short kickoff and, before he could really even start running, was obliterated on a helmet-to-helmet, fumble-causing shot by reserve freshman safety Aubrey Dicks.

"It kind of deflated them," Burt said. "When other teams watch film of our defense, we want them to say, ‘Man, they don’t slack up. We’re going to have to stay on our blocks. We’re really going to have to bring our A games.’"

Clark conceded that the Eagles’ two previous opponents – with a combined record of 0-4 – are not a true litmus test. That test might come Saturday, when BC – ranked No. 10 in Division III -- travels to defending USA South champion Ferrum (0-1).

But for now, Clark will allow the players and the staff to enjoy a little bit of the spoils.

"I have a Bill Parcells quote hanging in my office," Clark said, referring to the Dallas Cowboys’ skipper, "that says, ‘Be proud of your work, but don’t admire it.’

"I’m pleased with two goose eggs."

NOTES: Eagles tailback Winston Young will dress for Saturday’s game against Ferrum, but will not start, according to Clark. Young is still recovering from a rib injury sustained in BC’s season-opening win over McDaniel. Junior tailback Phillip Carter has been named the starter. The Eagles will also be without freshman cornerback Seth Little, who Clark said he wants to rest because of two sprained ankles.