BC Wins, Awaits NCAA Verdict (Daily News-Record)

Daily News-Record - By Jeremy Cothran

WASHINGTON – Now, all the Eagles can do is wait.

And cross their fingers.

Bridgewater College, its playoff hopes barely flickering, took care of business on its end with a gut-wrenching 20-13 victory over Catholic at DuFour Field in the nation’s capital and got the help it needed from one of its South Division rivals.

Senior tailback Winston Young scored on an 8-yard run with 15 seconds remaining to deliver the victory. But was it the last carry ever for the talented Eagles back?

To even be considered for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs, BC needed Millsaps to upset Trinity (Texas) in Clinton, Miss., which it did 34-12.

The progress of that game was the topic of choice among the Eagles as they tucked into plates of ribs after the game. Many planned to gather together to watch the D-III selection show on ESPNews today at 2 p.m.

Not that Bridgewater (8-2 overall, 4-2 in the ODAC) is thrilled to be relying on outside help and an NCAA committee.

“I definitely don’t want to be in this situation again,” BC coach Michael Clark said. “I never believed in buying lottery tickets.”

Back-to-back losses in mid-season to Guilford and Emory & Henry killed BC’s bid for a sixth straight ODAC championship.

“We lose two games by nine points,” Clark said. “If you change a few plays, then this is a great celebration.”

On Saturday, Catholic (3-7, 1-5) wanted no part of playing the role of walkover opponent, designing a defensive game plan that frustrated the Eagles’ offense and notching just enough big plays on offense to have fans at DuFour Field whispering upset.

The Eagles were almost undone by 10 penalties, many of the costly variety that wiped out first-down plays.

After an early field goal by BC sophomore Luke Taylor, the Cardinals responded early in the third quarter with an 8-yard touchdown run by tailback Reuben Simmons to go up 7-3. The drive was set up after junior quarterback Jeff Highfill was intercepted in the flat by CU linebacker Bill Gross, who almost scored on his own but was ruled out at the BC 8-yard line. Simmons punched it in one play later.

Highfill was 11-for-17 for 122 yards, the one interception a black mark on an otherwise effective outing. He had two touchdown passes to wide receiver Brandon Copeland called back because of penalties and an out-of-bounds call by the referee.

The Eagles rebounded two minutes after Catholic’s score to make it 10-7 with an efficient three-play, 45-yard drive, capped by a 23-yard touchdown scamper by Young. The senior performed another one of his now trademark leaps, diving over defensive back Kolla Achille and into the end zone.

Afterward, Young vented about the Cardinals’ trash-talking.

“They didn’t want anything to do with us,” Young said. “They were talking the talk, but couldn’t walk the walk.”

Eagles freshman cornerback Seth Little said he was also the target of some verbal abuse, and responded with his best-ever game.

“They kept saying to me from the sideline, ‘We’re coming for you 14. We’re coming from you,’” Little said. “I didn’t give [Catholic receiver Ryan Bowman] nothing.”

The former Turner Ashby High School star led Bridgewater with seven tackles – including one for a loss – and two pass breakups. Senior defensive tackle Tony Burt made his presence felt on the defensive line with two sacks.

CU swung back ahead 13-10 with a 5-yard scoring burst by Simmons (23 carries, 82 yards) at 14:57 in the fourth quarter. The 14-play drive featured several clutch third-down conversions, but the Cardinals missed the extra point as it sailed wide right.

Taylor punched through a 41-yard field goal with 7:41 to tie the game at 13. The Eagles’ defense forced the Cardinals into a three-and-out, giving BC the ball at its own 44 following a punt. BC methodically marched down the field, taking advantage of a tired CU defense with six straight running plays, capped by Young’s 8-yard score.

“We didn’t make tackles,” Cardinals coach Dave Dunn said. “We played as hard as we could.”

After the game, Highfill reminisced about his backfield work horse, hoping his last run wasn’t his final one.

“We talked a lot before the game,” the junior from Roanoke said, choking up at times. “He kept talking to us throughout the day. Keeping everybody calm. He’s just a great senior leader. I don’t know, it’s so tough…”