ODAC Won’t Make Guilford Forfeit BC Win (Daily News-Record)

Daily News-Record - by Jeremy Cothran

BRIDGEWATER — Guilford College used an ineligible player in its victory over Bridgewater on Oct. 14, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference said Monday, but Eagles fans shouldn’t get too excited: ODAC Commissioner Brad Bankston said the league has decided not to penalize the Quakers, meaning they won’t have to forfeit any wins unless the NCAA decides otherwise.

Had BC been awarded the victory, the Eagles would have been back in the championship race.

"The [ODAC] committee reviewed all the materials," Bankston said from Salem. "We will take no action against Guilford. We are proceeding with a secondary violation process and we’ll submit papers with Guilford to a representative with the NCAA."

An NCAA decision, however, is not expected to be handed down until after the regular season ends.

Last week, Emory & Henry football coach Don Montgomery said, he informed the ODAC that the Quakers were using a transfer, cornerback Dion Rich, who had been declared academically ineligible after the 2005 season at E&H.

Montgomery said Rich flunked out of Emory & Henry in the middle of October, and then enrolled at Guilford this fall. Bankston said because Rich was ineligible when he left E&H, he also was ineligible when he enrolled at Guilford.

The league decided against disciplining Guilford, Bankston said, because it determined that the Greensboro, N.C., school did not know Rich was ineligible. But, he said, the ODAC plans to report the incident to the NCAA’s enforcement committee, which could opt to punish the Quakers.

That process, however, would probably take about a month – which would be too late for Bridgewater to be considered for the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Fifth-place Bridgewater (6-2 overall, 2-2 in the league) lost to Guilford 33-28, the first of two consecutive defeats that likely cost the five-time defending champion a realistic shot at the ODAC title. Rich had six tackles in the Quakers’ win.

"I had a pep talk with my players and I told them that you learn lessons," Clark said. "We talk all the time, and you can’t count on committees. It’s all about managing your business. We didn’t, so it doesn’t matter who was on the field. That’s kind of where it stands."

Bankston said the ODAC considered three options: 1) forfeiture for all the games Rich participated in this fall, 2) vacating the games – meaning they would be stricken from Guilford’s record but would not affect the records of any teams the Quakers played, and 3) doing nothing.

In the end, the ODAC decided Guilford was not at fault for Rich’s enrollment and participation in football games.

Clark said his players were disappointed when he informed them that the Quakers would not be forced to forfeit.

"That was another pin I put in their balloons," he said.

Montgomery said he agreed with the league’s ruling, but he said coaches need to be more aware of the eligibility issues concerning incoming players.

"It’s the first time in my 30 years of coaching that I’ve seen something like this," Montgomery said, referring to Rich’s ability to re-enroll at a competitor’s school after flunking. "I think it’s all of our responsibilities. You have got to be eligible from the school that you’re leaving from. Got to find out."

Montgomery said he learned of Rich’s participation in games this year while viewing tape in preparation for the Wasps’ game against Bridgewater on Oct. 21. Rich, a sophomore from Martinsville, played in four games this season for the Quakers.

"Somebody on our staff pointed it out," Montgomery said. "I saw his name when he made a tackle on [Eagles tailback] Winston Young. He’s on their roster. That’s against NCAA and ODAC rules. If you’re going to have rules, then people have to abide by them."

Emory & Henry plays Guilford on Nov. 11.

Guilford officials could not be reached for comment.

BC Beats First-Place W&L

Daily News-Record - by Jeremy Cothran

BRIDGEWATER — The opening salvo came just seven seconds after kickoff.

Setting the tone for a game that restored a sense of normalcy after two unsettling losses, Bridgewater College freshman David Argaud plastered Washington & Lee receiver Colton Ward on the initial kickoff Saturday, and the Eagles went on to manhandle the first-place Generals 27-8 at Jopson Field.

Only several ill-timed penalties in the red zone kept the Old Dominion Athletic Conference contest from turning into a laugher.

“We should have won this game, like, 60-8,” BC senior tailback Winston Young said. “We blew them out. That’s how badly we outplayed them.”

The Eagles (6-2 overall, 2-2 in the league) piled up 266 yards rushing, including a game-high 94 by Young in his final home game. Junior quarterback Jeff Highfill added 90 rushing yards, and his ability to read defenses out of the spread option sparked the running game.

“We talked all week about how we would attack them like that,” Highfill said. “It helped to space them out, and it gave me opportunities to run with a lead blocker. It worked out real well.”

In a symbolic nod to prolific ex-offensive coordinator Bob Colbert – who was in attendance – the Eagles had no problems moving the ball against the ODAC’s No. 1 defense, gaining 367 yards. Afterward, the Generals sounded like they’d been run over by a Mack truck.

“It’s a different type of offense than what we’re used to seeing,” W&L coach Frank Miriello said. “It’s a two-back, in-your-face type of offense. We did a nice job on [Hampden-Sydney’s] Josh Simpson, that’s an example of the running backs we’ve shut out. This is power, in-your-face.”

Junior tailback Phillip Carter added 77 yards rushing for BC.

The Eagles’ decision to run the football – they carried a season-high 60 times – was based on strong wind gusts Saturday afternoon that limited both teams’ ability to move the ball through the air.

“It was definitely a factor,” Generals quarterback R.J. Varner said, adding that he’s never before played in such conditions.

The 40 mph gusts also wreaked havoc on special teams, most notably when Eagles place-kicker Luke Taylor – who missed two field goals – tried to convert an extra point in the second quarter, and the ball landed on the right side of the end zone.

BC received a stellar performance from its defense, holding the Generals (6-2, 4-1) to 148 yards of offense, intercepting two passes and sacking Varner four times. Senior defensive lineman Tony Burt called it the most complete effort he’s seen this season.

“It was just dominating,” said Burt, who finished with four tackles, a forced fumble and a half sack.

The Eagles opened the game with a nine-play, 52-yard drive for a touchdown, capped by a 5-yard run by Young, who leaped over a diving linebacker for the score. Young said the leap was intended to combat the W&L players who were diving at his ankles.

“I told Phil on the sideline to watch his legs,” the 218-pound back said. “They were just going at them blindly. That’s why I kept jumping. Nobody wants to hit me square up. You hit me square up, I can bet that I’m going forward.”

BC pushed the lead to 14-0 on a 7-yard dash by Highfill in the second quarter, his ninth rushing TD of the season. Following a three-and-out by W&L, Carter made it 20-0 with a 5-yard run just before halftime.

Clark said earlier in the week that his game plan was to force the Generals and Varner to play from behind, something he had yet to do this year after taking command in W&L’s second game.

Miriello agreed that the early deficit was a hindrance to his rookie.

“He’s a freshman, a work in progress,” Miriello said.

Varner cut the lead after halftime with an 8-yard pass to receiver Jack Martin, a touchdown set up by a 63-yard bomb to Martin just two plays earlier. The Generals botched the extra point with a low snap, but holder Garret LeRose ran the ball over the right side for the conversion.

BC added the coup de grace with an Austin Icaza fumble recovery in the end zone late in the fourth period.

The Generals tried to motivate themselves after reading comments made by Eagles cornerback Josh Knight, who questioned the talent level at W&L.

“Well, I think everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Ward said.

“Whatever gets you ready for the game. Coach used that as a little bit of fire to get us ready to play our game.”

Knight, a former Harrisonburg High School star, said afterward that he stands by his comments, and added he never really worries about providing bulletin-board material.

“Nah, man,” Knight said, gold caps gleaming in his mouth. “I was just telling the truth. Three [players] can’t beat 11. [Ward] was a little salty about it. He had a few words for me after the game.”

But Knight said he couldn’t elaborate on their post-game chat.

“I don’t think you can print that.”

Washington & Lee still controls its ODAC destiny and can clinch the conference title with a win next week against Emory & Henry. Bridgewater’s stunning back-to-back losses to Guildford and Emory & Henry all but destroyed the Eagles’ hopes for a sixth straight league championship.

Jackson Named ODAC Defensive POTW

Bridgewater's Michael Jackson, a defensive tackle from Ashland, Va., was named the ODAC's defensive player of the week for his performance against Washington and Lee.

The sophmore made his presence felt in the W&L backfield as the Eagles unseated the Generals from sole possession of the league’s top position. Jackson finished with eight total tackles for the game, three of which came behind the line of scrimmage that sent W&L’s offense back a total of 22 yards. He made the going difficult for W&L freshman quarterback R.J. Varner, sacking the speedy signal-caller twice for a total loss of 18 yards.

Jackson is only the second Eagle to be named conference player of the week. Senior defensive back Desmond Jalloh earned the honor on September 17.

Statistically Speaking - Week Eight

Forget the statistics for this week. One thing and one thing only is on the minds of coaches, players and fans; our two-game skid. But I'm a glass-is-half-full type of guy, so let me attempt to lift the spirits and shed some hope on the remainder of the season.

Believe it or not, we can still be ODAC champions and/or play in the NCAA playoffs.

Let me examine the ODAC champs part first.

To be the outright ODAC champions, we would of course have to win our three remaining games to finish 4-2 in the conference. That would include a win over current undefeated and ODAC front-runner Washington & Lee. We would then need Emory & Henry to beat W&L on November 4 to give the Generals a 4-2 ODAC record as well. Then we need E&H to lose to both Catholic (Oct. 28) and Guilford (Nov. 11) to give the Wasps a 3-3 ODAC record. And finally, Guilford would need to lose to either Randolph-Macon (Oct. 28) or Catholic (Nov. 4) which would leave them at 3-3 in the ODAC. So for us to be the outright ODAC champs, a ton of things have to happen.

We can also share the ODAC title any number of ways. Again, we would have to win the rest of our games to finish 4-2. After that, E&H would still have to defeat W&L to force them to 4-2. And then if one or more of H-SC, E&H, Guilford and Catholic finish 4-2, there is a chance there will be a three- (or four-) way tie for the conference championship.

Now let's take a look at the playoff possibilities.

Slim, yes, but as shown above, if we win the ODAC title outright, that will be our ticket to the postseason. If we share the conference championship with two or more teams, then one of the other teams would most likely get the automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs as the ODAC representative seeing that this conference uses what is called the "Rose Bowl" rule. If the tie-breaking goes all the way to the so-called Rose Bowl rule, then the automatic bid is awarded to the team who has not appeared in the NCAA Division III playoffs most recently. Which means Bridgewater would be at the end of the list;

W&L - has never gone to D3 playoffs
Guilford - has never gone to D3 playoffs
HSC - last went in 1977
RMC - last went in 1984
Catholic - last went in 1999
E&H - last went in 2000
Bridgewater - last went in 2005

Don't worry. Our only chance at the NCAA playoffs isn't through winning the conference, seeing a lot has to happen for that to occur.

We can also get in by what's called an at-large bid. Using D3football.com's FAQs, let me briefly explain the Division III playoff selection criteria;

There are 32 spots in the tournament field. Automatic bids (known as "Pool A" bids) go to the champions of 21 conferences. There are four bids set aside solely for "Pool B" teams, that is, teams who are independents or in conferences without automatic bids. The leftover "Pool B" teams get dumped into "Pool C," and those teams get considered for the remaining seven bids.

In other words, if Bridgewater were to finish 8-2 and not win the ODAC, then they will be considered for one of the seven "Pool C" bids.

Even though it seems like a long shot to earn an at-large "Pool C" bid to the playoffs with an 8-2 record, keep in mind that last year there were two teams (Wilkes at 8-2 and Cortland State at 7-2) that earned "Pool C" bids with two losses.

Sure, we've made it much harder on ourselves than in years past with our two losses the last two weeks. But one thing we can't do is think this season is all for not at this point. Forget for a moment at there even being a chance at being ODAC champs and/or making the playoffs. How about the chance to say (if W&L ends up winning the ODAC outright) that we were the only team to defeat the ODAC champs in 2006? What about sending our 19 seniors out on a three-game winning streak and a 39-7 career record? How about reinstating our ODAC dominance we've shown the last five years into next season?

If we can do all that, then we might have an opportunity to play deep into November. Sure, the chances are close to none. But close to none is better than none. And if we don't win the next three games, then we don't allow for the chance at all.

Eagles' Hopes Take Near-Fatal Hit

Daily News-Record - By Jeremy Cothran

BRIDGEWATER — It was nearly impossible for Emory & Henry coach Don Montgomery to field a questions from a reporter as Wasps fans streamed onto the field, offering congratulations, back slaps and jubilant hand shakes, just minutes after E&H had sealed a 21-17 upset of Bridgewater College.

"I’ll tell you what," Montgomery said, trying to raise his voice over the crowd, "this is as big a win as they come. Last year at this point, we’re 0-7. Now we’re 4-3 and we just beat Bridgewater."

Emory & Henry not only notched the most significant win of the Montgomery era but also likely buried any chance the Eagles (5-2 overall, 2-2 in the league) had of an Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship and a seventh straight NCAA Division III playoff berth.

Although BC is not mathematically eliminated from the ODAC crown, it must depend on a long, improbable list of variables to secure the title.

Washington & Lee added salt to the wound by beating Guilford 34-13 in Lexington, which meant the Eagles would have regained control of their ODAC and playoff destinies had they won Saturday at Jopson Field.

Sophomore tailback Caleb Moore dived over the pile on fourth-and-one with just 1:36 remaining in the fourth quarter to seal the win, which also capped an impressive 14-point second-half rally by the Wasps – whose defense shut out the Eagles in the second half.

On the ensuing drive, BC marched to the E&H 32, but Highfill’s fourth-down pass was tipped and fell just short of the diving hands of senior receiver Michael Oakes.

After the game, the Eagles couldn’t explain why the conference’s most potent offense failed to muster a single point in the second half.

"It’s still a question to me," junior receiver Brandon Copeland said. "I thought we were prepared. We just lost our focus."

The loss was the second consecutive game in which the Eagles failed to display their trademark big-play offense, a staple during the five-year conference championship streak. BC scored only one offensive touchdown, a beautiful 57-yard rainbow from Highfill to Copeland.

In the second half, the Eagles mustered only four first downs.

"They made great adjustments at halftime," Highfill said, sporting a bruise on his lower lip. "They changed up their fronts, which made the running game hard. It gave us different looks."

Highfill struggled, completing just 11 of 23 passes for 145 yards. He was also hit repeatedly and pressured by a Wasps defense that teed off on him in the second half.

Bridgewater tailback Winston Young said E&H’s 10-man fronts made it impossible to find running space.

"There was always two safeties flying down," the senior said. "You try to break one tackle and they were on you. They played 6 yards off the ball, just like linebackers."

Bridgewater opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 25-yard field goal by Luke Taylor. Emory & Henry answered in the second quarter with a 37-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Brennan Stewart, who beat Eagles cornerback Earl Chaptman with a shifty double move to free space.

BC responded with a 14-point outburst, starting with the 57-yard play-action TD pass to Copeland. On Emory & Henry’s next drive, senior quarterback Todd Woods was picked off by Chaptman, who raced 35 yards untouched to the end zone to push the lead to 17-7.

From that moment, it looked like a typical BC rout was on, but the Eagles’ offense fell completely out of sync, which allowed the Wasps to hang around within a two-score range.

"I don’t like to analyze it too much after a game," Eagles coach Michael Clark said. "I can’t point at just one individual. Bluntly, we used a watered-down game plan. And it seemed to me, Emory was able to get control."

The Wasps cut the deficit to three in the third quarter with a 65-yard scamper by Moore, who took the handoff on a designed draw and outraced every BC defender to the end zone. The combined tandem of Moore and Matt Gillespie gashed the Eagles for a combined 171 yards.

E&H would put the finishing touches on the comeback with a 10-play, 70-yard drive late in the fourth. BC had a chance to seal the win, but the Wasps converted on a fourth-and-14 with Woods floating a long fade pass to Brennan Stewart, who beat senior cornerback Josh Knight on the play. Knight was also tagged with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing with the referee.

Emory & Henry scored the game-winning TD four plays later with Moore’s 1-yard dive.

Clark said he’s going to view the rest of the regular season as a character litmus test for the team’s players.

"I told the kids in the locker room," he said, "championships are not necessarily about rings, playoffs and banners. It can be about the energy, effort and character you show in difficult situations.

"We’re at point B right now."

Statistically Speaking - Week Seven

Still Streaking...
As we all know, the 33-28 loss to the Guilford Quakers this past Saturday ended an ODAC record and Division III leading conference winning streak of 36 games. The streak began after the Eagles lost to Emory & Henry on Sept. 16, 2000, by two points. Last season, we had a 24-game regular season home winning streak snapped when McDaniel defeated us by one point. But we still have one impressive streak going, which is an 18-game conference home winning streak. Our last ODAC loss at Jopson was against Catholic on Nov. 13, 1999, when we lost 35-14.

Home Dominance...
Since 2000, the Eagles are 37-2 on their home soil, which includes a 6-1 record in the NCAA playoffs. The only two losses at Jopson Field the last seven years are the aforementioned McDaniel game in 2005, and a 38-32 defeat to Trinity (Texas) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA playoffs.

ODAC Winning Stretch (Still) Impressive...
After our 36-game ODAC win streak came to a halt, I was interested in finding out how impressive our winning stretch of 36 wins out of 37 conference games is when compared to all of Division III. So yes, I researched the current active top 10 conference winning stretches in Division III with only one loss. Keep in mind there are 26 D3 conferences.

1. Mount Union, 108 OAC games since 1994
2. Bridgewater, 37 ODAC games since 2000
3. Trinity (Conn.), 34 NESCAC games since 2002
4. St. Norbert, 33 MWC games since 2003
5. Trinity (Texas), 31 SCAC games since 2001
5. Linfield, 31 NWC games since 2000
7. Delaware Valley, 26 MAC games since 2003
8. Curry, 24 NEFC games since 2002
9. Lakeland, 22 IBC games since 2003
10. Occidental, 19 SCIAC games since 2003

So as you can see, still very impressive - especially if we continue our winning ways.

Back-to-back Losses Not an Option...
Since 1999, Bridgewater is 8-0 following a regular season loss. Oddly enough, Emory & Henry - the school we face this weekend - was the last team to give us a two-game regular season skid when they beat us 24-21 at Jopson Field on Sept. 18, 1999.

Impressive All-Purpose Performances Leads to Losing...
It's tough to celebrate senior running back Winston Young's 294 all-purpose yards against Guilford, seeing we lost. But this is nothing new. The last time an Eagle had more all-purpose yards was All-American Marcus Washington in 2005 when he had 304 yards against McDaniel. We lost that game. The Bridgewater record for all-purpose yards is held by All-American Ronnie Howard who tallied 345 yards against Davidson on Nov. 13, 1993. We lost that game too. Young's 294-yard performance is the second-most all-purpose yardage gained in Division III, while Washington's 304 yards was 11th most last season.

Climbing the Charts...
A handful of Eagles continue to climb the statistical charts here at Bridgewater. To view the career top 10 lists in eight different categories, click here.

BC Remains in Top 25 After Loss

Following a 33-28 loss at the hands of Guilford this past weekend, which ended Bridgewater's ODAC record 36 consecutive conference wins, the Eagles are still ranked in the national polls.

Don Hansen's Football Gazette dropped BC from No. 6 to No. 21, while the Eagles fell from No. 8 to No. 21 in the D3football.com Top 25.

The Eagles are ranked the highest in the AFCA Coaches' Poll, dropping to No. 19 after being No. 7 a week ago.

Statistically Speaking - Week Six

I know, we were off this week.

But after looking through the ODAC statistical team rankings, I compared them to the nation by looking through all 26 Division III conference stat sheets. Yes, it took awhile - but I found some cool stuff.

* Bridgewater and Catholic opponents have yet to hit a field goal. There are only 16 Division III teams who can say that.

* The Eagles' secondary has held their first five opponents to only 7.6 pass completions a game, and a pass completion percentage of 39.6 (38-for-96 passing). Only North Park and Western New England have held their opponents to less pass completions per game (7.2), while only Texas Lutheran has held their opponents to a lower pass percentage (37.9%).

* No one in the ODAC has returned a punt or kick return for a touchdown. Of the 25 other D-III conferences, only the SCIAC can say the same.

* Bridgewater is averaging 5.9 yards per rush attempt. Only five schools have a better average; Mount Union (7.6), Springfield (6.9), Ferrum (6.5), St. John Fisher (6.2) and Millsaps (6.0).

* The Eagles have 16 rushing touchdowns compared to only two fumbles on 197 rushing attempts. Only three schools have a better rushing touchdown to fumble ratio on more attempts; Central (9-to-0), Mary Hardin-Baylor (15-to-1) and Worchester Poly (11-to-1).

* Guilford has only returned two punts this year. They are one of only two D-III schools in the country to return two or less through at least five games - the other being Heidelberg who is 0-5.

* Bridgewater has held opponents to 3-for-12 (25%) on 4th down conversions. Only four D-III schools have held their opponents to a lower percentage on at least 12 attempts; Wesley (3-for-15, 20%), UW-Oshkosh (4-for-18, 22.2%), King's (3-for-13, 23.1%) and UW-Eau Claire (3-for-13, 23.1%).

* The Eagles, as mentioned last week, are a perfect 23-for-23 in the red zone this season. Both Anderson (Ind.) and Hobart are 13-for-13, the closest to the Eagles perfection. Capital has the best red zone production with one hiccup (26-for-27), while both Wesley and Springfield have the best with two misses (18-for-20).

Football Team Donates Blood

The Bridgewater football team held its annual blood drive last Tuesday, Oct. 3, in Nininger Hall.

Virginia Blood Services was able to get 81 units (pints) of blood from over 90 football players, as well as a handful of women's basketball players and trainers.

BlooderCenters.org reports that just one pint of donated blood can help save as many as three people’s lives. So because of the blood drive, as many as 243 lives could be saved.

Eagles Ranked Consensus Top 8

Bridgewater - who was idle last week - stayed No. 6 in the Football Gazette Top 40, moved up to No. 7 in AFCA's Coaches' Poll and jumped one spot to No. 8 in D3football's poll.

The Eagles join Mount Union, UW-Whitewater, St. John's, Capital, Wesley and UW-La Crosse, ranked as a consensus top eight team.

JV Defeats Shenandoah, 7-6

The Bridgewater JV team traveled to Winchester on Thursday night and defeated Shenandoah's JV, 7-6. It was a cool 55 degrees with rain falling throughout most of the evening.

The first half was dominated by the Eagles, as the offense totaled 128 yards on 17 plays. BC gained 75 yards on 4-of-5 passing, while adding 53 yards on 12 carries. The Eagles defense held the Hornets to only 13 yards on 14 plays. Shenandoah was 0-for-3 passing, with the 13 yards being gained on 11 runs.

On the first possession of the game, Bridgewater took the ball 60 yards on nine plays before sophomore Jared Miller missed a 28-yard field goal attempt. The Eagles defense forced a Hornet punt on their first possession after a total of negative three yards on three rushes.

After getting the ball back near the 50-yard line, the Eagles offense would find the end zone in only four plays. On the first play, freshman quarterback Patrick Smoot handed off to wide receiver Chet Landes - a QB in high school - who then threw it 36 yards to freshman WR Corey Johnson. After an offsides penalty that backed them up five yards and a sack for another eight, Smoot found Johnson who ran it in for the 30-yard score. Miller's extra point made it 7-0 with two minutes left in the first quarter.

On Shenandoah's next possession, Eagles sophomore defensive linemen Patrick Lowery and freshman Willis Vann tackled the Shenandoah QB for a loss of two yards on first down. On second-and-12, Lowery hurried the QB which led to an incomplete pass. On third-and-12, a deep pass was broken up by sophomore defensive back Mark Brenneman.

The rest of the first half would be a game of field position as the Eagles took their 7-0 lead into the break.

The Hornets scored on their first possession of the second half thanks to a 48-yard touchdown run by freshman running back BJ Smoot. A missed extra point would be the difference in the game, with the Eagles still leading 7-6.

After the Eagles were forced to punt, the Hornets look poised to score again. They rushed four times for 21 yards, but on a third-and-nine from Bridgewater's two-yard line, freshman quarterback Ernest Brown fumbled the ball which was recovered by BC's freshman defensive back Tee Anderson.

With eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Hornets were on the move again. Starting on their own 40-yard line, they would move it to Bridgewater's 43-yard line on five runs. On fourth-and-five with just under four minutes to go, Brown dropped back to pass only to be hurried by freshman defensive lineman Emanuel Hoffman, leading to an incomplete pass.

After BC ran three minutes off the clock, sophomore Matt Husbands punted the ball out at Shenandoah's four-yard line. With only 10 seconds remaining, the Hornets were forced to heave it. Anderson broke up the pass to secure the Eagle victory.

Smoot played the whole first half and much of the third quarter, finishing 3-of-5 passing for 39 yards. He also ran 10 times for 16 yards. Freshman Robbie Lawrence came in and completed one pass for eight yards.

Freshman tailback Warner Williams led the ground attack with five carries for 49 yards. Freshman Brad Jones rushed for nine yards on five attempts, while freshman Will Osborne carried it three times for nine yards.

Sophomore fullback Bret Mottice gained four yards on one carry while freshman Darryl Forbes had three yards on one rush.

Johnson tallied 66 yards on two receptions, while Mottice caught two passes for 11 yards and freshman wide out Dave Hewitt hauled in a pass for six yards.

Freshman linebacker Jason Jones led the Bridgewater defense with five tackles, while Anderson added four. Junior linebacker Nolan Chase, freshman defensive lineman Layne Sheppard and freshman defensive back Jerome Butler each added three tackles.

JV (2-1) will play their final game on Nov. 5 when they host Gallaudet University at Jopson Field. Kickoff is set for 1 pm.

Statistically Speaking - Week Five

Perfectly spreading the wealth while in the zone
As pointed out in my D3football.com's Around the Region this week, the Eagles' offense is a perfect 23-for-23 in the red zone so far this season, scoring 19 touchdowns and hitting on field goals of 19, 22, 22 and 41 yards. What's even more impressive is that 11 different players have either rushed for or caught the 19 touchdowns.

The next most perfect while in the red zone is No. 1 Mount Union who is 16-for-16. The team having the most with converting all but one is No. 3 Capital at 19-for-20. St. Olaf is the closest to the Eagles with conversions having 21, but did so on 24 attempts.

Movin' on up
Following his 105-yard performance against Hampden-Sydney last Saturday, Winston Young is now only 80 rushing yards from tying all-american Jason Lutz (1998-01) for No. 7 on Bridgewater's all-time rushing list.

Jeff Highfill's 168 passing yards against the Tigers moved him to No. 9 on the career passing list past Mike Arnette (1970-73). He's now only 61 yards from passing Jacob Lewis (2004-05) for No. 8.

Josh Knight recorded another pass deflection this past Saturday, moving him into a tie for sixth all-time with 15 for his career.

David Clements tallied the lone sack of the day for the Eagles against H-SC, giving him 11.5 for his career and moving him into a tie for No. 9 all-time.

To view all the career top 10 lists, visit BridgewaterFootball.com's record book.

NCAA statistical rankings
At the mid-way point of the regular season for Bridgewater, they find themselves in 14 NCAA top 50 rankings;

-Team, Total Offense (421.4) - 21st
-Team, Rushing Offense (234.0) - 12th
-Team, Pass Efficiency Defense (92.0) - 46th
-Team, Scoring Offense (38.0) - 13th
-Team, Scoring Defense (12.2) - 40th
-Team, Turnover Margin (+1.0) - 40th
-Team, Kickoff Returns (22.9) - 41st
-Team, Punt Returns (13.9) - 29th
-Team, Net Punting (33.1) - 46th
-Jeff Highfill, Passing Efficiency (147.9) - 31st
-Jeff Highfill, Scoring (8.4) - 48th
-Brandon Copeland, Punt Returns (14.9) - 19th
-David Argaud, Kickoff Returns (24.9) - 39th
-Luke Taylor, Field Goals Per Game (1.0) - 21st

BC Remains Consensus Top 10 Team

Following the Eagles' 31-13 win over Hampden-Sydney on Saturday, Bridgewater remained No. 9 in the D3football.com top 25 poll. The Football Gazette still ranks the Eagles No. 6, while the AFCA kept Bridgewater No. 8.

No TD No Prob For BC's Young (Daily News-Record)

Daily News-Record - By Dustin Dopirak

BRIDGEWATER — It was the perfect set-up for a workhorse-back appreciation play. Second-and-four from the Hampden-Sydney 5-yard line with Bridgewater College already leading 24-13 and preparing to put the game away.

Senior tailback Winston Young had taken a beating on each of his 20 carries and still managed to bang his way to 105 yards. He also hauled in two swing passes for 22 more yards, and was a crucial part of all of the Eagles’ scoring drives.

He hadn’t scored yet, though, so this seemed to be an opportunity to call a play that would finally end with the battle-scarred Young celebrating in the end zone instead of taking another hit or ending up under another pile of Tigers.

And that’s what BC coach Michael Clark called for. Sort of.

Quarterback Jeff Highfill had the choice of handing the ball to Young or keeping it himself, with the option based on his read of Hampden Sydney’s left defensive end.

Highfill misread it and kept the ball -- even though Young had a wide-open path to the end zone -- and scored on what had to be the most guilt-ridden touchdown run of his career.

“I apologized to [Young] so many times,” Highfill said after the Eagles’ 31-13 victory over H-SC on a homecoming Saturday at Jopson Field. “… I was reading the backside end and he gave me a slow read. He was just standing there and I thought he was going to take Winston, so I pulled, and he just came right at me, so I followed Winston. And I apologized over and over again to him.”

Not to worry, Young told Highfill.

“He grabbed me during the game and said, ‘Jeff, don’t worry about it. As long as we win, I’m happy.’ That’s the type of guy we need,” Highfill said.

Said Young, who has 335 yards but just one touchdown this season: “It doesn’t matter. We won and that’s all I really care about. Stats are just figurative things. To me it’s the win that matters.”

That’s as cliché as it gets, but the soft-spoken Young sounded honest-to-God sincere -- and if you ask his teammates, that’s because he is.

“He’s a true team guy,” fullback Tyler Thomas said. “He’s a captain, and that’s what a captain has to be. That’s one of his best characteristics.”

Of course, his size, strength, speed and ability to keep his legs moving after contact aren’t bad characteristics either.

Young is 5-foot-10 and a very thick 205 pounds. He’s got a low center of gravity, and that makes him extremely tough on Division III defenders.

The Tigers loaded up the box against the run Saturday, determined that Young wasn’t going to beat them. But Young continued to make something out of nothing.

His longest run of the day was just 17 yards, but he continually picked up chunks of 5 and 6 yards to better the Eagles’ field position.

“He was definitely a hard runner,” Hampden-Sydney linebacker Jason Smith said. “He definitely earned the yards he got.”

And that opened up things for the Eagles’ passing game. BC ran lots of play action and found receivers open across the middle of the field because the Tigers’ linebackers and safeties were coming up to try to stop Young.

“When you got that running game, those linebackers come flying on play action,” Highfill said. “That opens the middle wide open for our tight ends and crossing routes. It’s great to have him and [backup Phillip Carter] because both of them can wear you down. He’s solid muscle, and a lot of people don’t realize it, he’s got amazing moves.”

Even so, Young certainly felt like he earned his yards Saturday. He’s still feeling the effects of a rib injury he suffered just before the season that kept him out of the Eagles’ second game. He also has a minor groin injury and what he calls “a lot of nicks and nacks.” After a 20-carry afternoon, all of those start to hurt just a bit more.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” Young said. “OK, a lot of everything.”

But that’s the life of a running back.

“It’s the nature of the game,” he said. “Something’s going to hurt.”

Touchdown or no touchdown.

H-SC Gets Its Fill Of Highfill In 31-13 Loss (Daily News-Record)

Daily News-Record - By Jeremy Cothran

BRIDGEWATER — Marty Favret has pulled the puppet strings as the Hampden-Sydney College football coach for eight seasons against Bridgewater, so he’s no stranger to seeing a fleet-footed Eagles quarterback turn his stomach inside-out with scoring scrambles.

On Saturday, Jeff Highfill did the honors in the Eagles’ 31-13 victory over the Tigers in front of 3,420 fans at Jopson Field.

“In the red zone,” Favret said, “they run the quarterback. They’ve been doing it since [Jason] Lutz and [Robbie] Jenkins. That’s just what they do. We got hurt on the boot. We have young guys out there, freshmen on defense, and they just got fooled.”

Highfill rushed for three touchdowns – including two game-clinching fourth-quarter dashes – to lead the Eagles to their eighth straight win over their chief Old Dominion Athletic Conference rival and to their 36th consecutive ODAC victory.

Senior tailback Winston Young had his second straight 100-yard game (20 carries, 107 yards) as he continues to recover from the bruised ribs he suffered in the season opener.

Highfill completed 12 of 16 passes for 168 yards on a mild Saturday afternoon, but his feet have been just as effective as his arm. The junior from Roanoke has rushed for seven touchdowns, including at least one in every game, to help the ninth-ranked Eagles improve to 5-0 overall, 1-0 in the ODAC.

Michael Clark said Highfill has the talent to match the all-time greats at BC.

“I really do believe that as [Highfill] gets better, as he matures as a player, he will have all the qualities of our [past] quarterbacks combined …” the 11th-year Eagles coach said. “We’ve got to get him more involved in the option game, because with him on the edge, that’s a big body running.”

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Highfill tied the game Saturday after Hampden-Sydney stormed to a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. Two BC series later, Highfill capped a quick, four-play drive with a play-action QB boot, scurrying down the right side for the equalizer.

The Eagles pulled ahead 17-7 in the second quarter on a 41-yard field goal by Luke Taylor and a 3-yard touchdown run by junior tailback Phillip Carter, who was relegated to reserve duties – only nine carries, 33 yards – with Young starting to return to form.

Hampden-Sydney (1-3, 1-1) cut the lead to 17-13 in the third after senior receiver Drew Smith caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from freshman Craig Warnement, but it was the closest the Tigers would get as two Highfill scrambles in the fourth quarter (8 yards, 5 yards) iced the victory.

Just the sort of plays the BC coaching staff has been accustomed to seeing.

It might be too soon to break out a “Vanilla Vick” tag for the ex-William Byrd High School star, but Highfill succeeds with his scrambling because 1) he’s fast – timed around 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash – and 2) he’s absolutely fearless about taking a pounding.

“You’ll see,” Highfill said. “The faster I get up, that means the harder I was hit. But I’ve also been really lucky. I’ve never had a concussion. I mean, I do spend a lot of time in the weight room, as well.”

That much is evident.

With a prototype physique, Highfill certainly passes the eye-test when evaluating athletic quarterbacks. But he can also give an opposing defensive back or linebacker the slightest of shimmies — no ankle breaking stuff here — that allows him to pick up critical extra yardage.

“Oh, he’s got moves,” said junior wide receiver Brandon Copeland. “He’s got speed. Deceptive speed. He knows how to get guys to take bad angles on him. Plus he’s a big guy, you know, and nine times out of 10 he’ll just run you over.”

Hampden-Sydney had success with its own mobile quarterback Saturday, with freshman Bobby Owens (12 carries, 64 yards) spelling Warnement for certain series, giving the Tigers a tough fastball-changeup combination.

He certainly caused headaches for BC defenders.

“Oh man, No. 13,” senior defensive end Tony Burt said. “I don’t know his name, but he was tough. He was more mobile, while [Warnement] liked to drop back and throw.”

The Tigers never had a set rotation for the two QBs, with Favret calling his decision on when to alternate the pair a “feel thing.”

This game traditionally decides the league pecking order, and the Hampden-Sydney coach conceded that Bridgewater now had the inside track at an ODAC championship, but he suggested the road may be bumpier than usual.

“I think [Washington & Lee] and Guilford can play with the big boys now,” Favret said. “And, you know, those other teams got great defenses, so it’s not over. They’re going to have to play a great stretch of football.”