The Bridgewater College defense absolutely smothered an offensive system that had given them fits a year ago, kicking off the 2016 campaign with an impressive 38-22 win at Gettysburg.
After last year’s struggles against Gettysburg’s spread wing option attack (the Bullets set a conference record for rushing yards in a 49-10 game), the Bridgewater defense was disciplined in their tackling throughout. The Eagles repeatedly covered all wing pitch options while still having a spy on Gettysburg’s Justin Davidov, keeping the new starting quarterback in check despite several impressive scrambles. All three scores came in the fourth quarter after the Eagles had gone up 31-0.
Senior Davey Hardesty had six tackles, a sack and a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown to give BC that 31-0 lead. Sophomore Tyler Miller had a team-high nine tackles and JP Utz recorded two tackles for loss.
On the offensive side quarterback Brendon Maturey was solid in his first collegiate start, completing 13-of-19 passes for 193 yards and three scores, while rushing for 101 more on 16 carries. Senior tight end Keith Jennings caught five passes for 135 yards and two first half scores.
Bridgewater got on the board with 3:19 left in the first as Jennings slipped free right up the middle and Maturey found him in stride for a 65-yard score.
Jennings would add his second score in the second quarter, as Maturey took a huge hit but still got the ball to his tight end in the back of the end zone. Maturey had put the Eagles in the red zone with a 30-yard run to his left, down to the Gettysburg 17-yard line.
The Eagles had a two-score halftime lead despite turning the ball over twice inside the five.
Davonta Womack returned the opening kickoff 44 yards to get the game off to a good start for Bridgewater. Maturey completed a tough fourth down pass to Jennings but the ball was knocked loose by Mike McKnight at the three-yard line.
Late in the first half with the Eagles driving and looking to go up three scores, Maturey again tried to find Jennings but put too much on the pass, resulting in an interception by John Gutowski at the Bullets’ five-yard line.
JT Henderson was in the Bullets’ backfield on every punt attempt and finally blocked one on the first drive of the third quarter. Maturey ran down to the six but was banged up on the play, and the Eagles settled for an Anthony Rossi field goal.
Gettysburg’s Tyler Frazee made a nice catch for 44 yards down inside the Eagles’ red zone but was called for a push-off, erasing a rare big play for the Bullets.
Jennings made another nice catch and bowled over a defender down to the 15-yard line on the final play of the third quarter. On the opening play of the fourth, Maturey found Malivai Barker for the touchdown and a 24-0 score.
22 seconds later and it was 31-0 as the Eagles’ defense put up points of their own on Hardesty’s pick-six.
The Eagles capped their scoring with 4:13 remaining as Jay Scroggins found Terrell Mickens on a slant right at the goal line, making it 38-6.
Bridgewater (1-0) will have a tough test in its home opener next weekend, as the Eagles host #11 Thomas More.
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