Statistically Speaking - Week One

Each week, I'll attempt to give you something statistically interesting to chew on. Tall order, but here goes nothing...

* We all know that Bridgewater currently has a 35-game ODAC win streak, but what you probably didn't know was that the Eagles ended a different 35-game streak this past Saturday. Prior to our defense holding the Green Terror to zero points to start the 2006 season, Bridgewater hadn't shut out a Division III opponent since September 13, 2003, when the Eagles defeated Shenandoah 42-0 nearly three years ago.

*Jeff Highfill became Bridgewater's fourth starting quarterback out of the last five to pass for more than 150 yards and rush for another 100 in a game. His 178-yard passing and 105-yard rushing performance against McDaniel this past weekend joins Jacob Lewis, Brandon Wakefield and Jason Lutz. Lewis recorded 226 and 124 against Hanover in 2005, Wakefield had 202 and 109 versus Emory & Henry in 2003, and Lutz did it multiple times, with the last coming in the 2001 playoffs against Widener when he put up 227 and 142. The Eagles won all four games.

*Tony Burt, a senior defensive end, was in on five tackles for loss and three sacks against the Green Terror. His performance is so impressive that with 153 other Division III teams in action this past week, only one player would be in on more tackles for loss and sacks. Beloit's Joe Goldufsky tallied six tackles for loss, while Puget Sound's Jake Parks recorded four sacks.

*Last year, I took it upon myself to compile Bridgewater's career top 10 lists for scoring, rushing, passing and receiving. I updated them throughout last season and have done so through the McDaniel game this year. I'm sure you've seen it before, found under 'Record Book' on BridgewaterFootball.com. Senior Winston Young (RB) has been climbing the top 10 charts for scoring and rushing since 2005, but what you probably don't know are the current players who are on the outside looking in. Let me introduce...

-For scoring, junior Kyle Beach (K) added two extra points against McDaniel to bring his career scoring total to 121. He has hit 79-of-87 extra points and 14-of-22 field goals. Beach is only 11 points from cracking the top 10.

-For rushing, senior Robbie Matthews (FB) added 22 yards this past weekend to bring his career total to 1,118. He has a bit of work to do, needing 546 more yards to enter the top 10 rushing list.

-For passing, junior Jeff Highfill (QB) threw for 178 yards against the Green Terror, pushing his career passing mark to 984 yards. He needs only 391 to join the top 10 list.

-For receiving, junior Brandon Copeland (WR) came into the season with 577 yards through the air. This past Saturday, he added another 66, bumping his career total to 643. He will need 385 more to jump into the top 10 for receiving yardage.

Well, that's all I have for this week. I don't expect to have this much each time, but you never know what will happen. No individual or team game records were broken against McDaniel, but you better be certain I'll keep my eye out on them.

Until next time...