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  • Eagles defeat Averett, 34-13 - 09/06/2008

  • Bridgewater College opened the 2008 football season Saturday afternoon with a convincing 34-13 victory at Averett University.

    The Eagles took the lead in the first quarter when Patrick Smoot hauled in a 19-yard TD pass from Hagan Driskell with 3:58 left in the quarter. The PAT was blocked.

    Driskell hooked up with Tyler Beiler on a 43-yard scoring strike early in the second period, making the score 12-0. The extra-point kick was wide.

    The Eagles defense then got in on the scoring action with a pair of touchdowns. Travis Marks picked off a pass and returned it 23 yards for a score and T.J. Montague added a 36-yard interception return for a TD to lift the Eagles to a 24-0 lead.

    Jared Miller tacked on a 42-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, giving the Eagles a 27-0 halftime lead.

    After Averett scored on a 4-yard run by Brian Daniels early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles answered with a 10-scoring pass from Driskell to Will Osborne.

    Averett added its final points with just 1:12 left in the game when Anthony Squillini hauled in a 42-yard pass from Steven Oristian.

    Driskell completed 12-of-23 passes for 187 yards and the three touchdowns.

    Seth Little led the defense with eight tackles and tackle Austin Icaza added five. Icaza, Montague and Justin Bingham each recorded one QB sack for the Eagles. [Boxscore]
  • Today's game available on internet - 09/06/2008

  • Today's football game at Averett will be available via internet audio broadcast.

    The pregame show begins at 12:25 p.m.

    To access the broadcast click this link or go to the Future Media World website at www.futuremediaworld.com
  • Eagles picked third in preseason poll - 08/11/2008

  • Bridgewater College was picked to finish third in the ODAC coaches' preseason poll.

    Hampden-Sydney was picked first in the poll, followed by Randolph-Macon.

    Following BC were Washington & Lee, Guilford, Catholic and Emory & Henry.
  • 7th annual Pigskin Preview announced - 07/18/2008

  • Head Coach Michael Clark and the Bridgewater College football coaching staff would like to welcome fans, parents and former players to the annual open practice. The Pigskin Preview is set for Saturday, Aug. 23. There are a few changes from previous years “I think changing the Pigskin Preview,” says Coach Clark, “will both accommodate our fans and families of players who want to come back to visit.”

    The day will begin at noon with a lunch with the players and coaches in the Kline Campus Center (KCC) Dining Hall. Lunch price is $8 for adults and $5 for those 12-and-under. “I am asking my coaches to host tables for lunch and that would give fans and families a chance to interact with them as well as our players,” said Coach Clark. At 1 p.m., there will be an open session with Coach Clark in Cole Hall, which will include a question and answer period and a review of the afternoon schedule.

    Following the Q&A with Coach Clark, fans will be allowed to sit in on a position meeting of their choice, as position coaches meet and talk to their players. These meetings will begin at 2 p.m. “By opening up our practice preparation meetings to these groups, I think we will be able to show people an inside look as to what it takes to get a quality product to the field,” said Coach Clark.

    Finally, starting at 3:30 p.m., fans will be able to watch a two-hour practice on the practice football fields behind Nininger Hall where fans will be given a close look at the action.

    If you are interested in attending the lunch and/or practice, please email Steve Cox at scox@bridgewater.edu.

    Coach Clark hopes you will spend an afternoon with us in our 2008 football preparation!
  • Two former NFL starters join BC coaching staff - 07/09/2008

  • Larry Moore Ben TaylorBridgewater College has been selected to host an intern for the NFLPA/NCAA Internship Program for the 2008 football season. The Eagles intern will be Larry Moore (pictured right), who attended Brigham Young University and then played nine years in the NFL as an offensive lineman.

    Moore will help coach the offensive line and tight ends.

    "We are excited that our program was chosen. I know well over 50 schools at the Division II and Division III level applied for these grants and I think our selection speaks well of our reputation," said Coach Michael Clark. "This fall it will be important that a young team is well coached. We will not have a big margin for error. Unfortunately, Larry Moore and Ben Taylor, who bring 14 years of NFL experience to our program, can't play for us. I hope our players can benefit from their knowledge and experience."

    Moore started 73 of his 96 career NFL games. He played for the Indianapolis Colts (1998-2001), Washington Redskins (2002-2003), and the Cincinnati Bengals (2004-2006).

    Taylor, who starred at Virginia Tech and was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL draft in 2002, played for the Cleveland Browns (2002-2005) and Green Bay Packers (2006). For more on Taylor, who will coach the linebackers, click here.
  • Copeland signs Arena League contract - 06/19/2008

  • Brandon CopelandBridgewater College football wide receiver Brandon Copeland was signed to the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul on Wednesday, June 18. The AFL is the top arena football league in the country.

    Copeland, also an All-American track performer, finished his collegiate career with 127 receptions for 1,924 yards and 21 touchdowns. He ranks No. 2 all-time at Bridgewater in all three receiving categories. He was named All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference as a junior and senior.

    In May, Copeland was invited to and participated in a NFL rookie minicamp with the Cleveland Browns. He was named an honorable mention camper by ClevelandBrowns.com for "catching everything thrown his way."

    When asked about the opportunity, Copeland said "[There's] no rest for the weary. I only sleep on December the 32nd." He explained by saying "I have to stay on my goals at all times; you never know when your chance will come."

    Philadelphia is currently tied for the best record in the AFL at 12-3, and leads the league in scoring at 62.2 points per game. They lost their three games by a combined 20 points.

    The Soul will play the New York Dragons on June 22 to close out the regular season, and the divisional playoffs begin shortly thereafter. ArenaBowlXXII, the AFL championship game, is on July 27.

    The AFL is televised on ESPN 2, ESPN360.com, AFL Net, and local TV networks. Some games can be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio.

    There are 17 AFL teams and approximately 425 players on rosters. Copeland will be the fourteenth Division III player currently on an AFL roster.
  • Copeland invited to NFL rookie camp - 04/28/2008

  • Brandon CopelandBridgewater College senior wide receiver Brandon Copeland has been invited to the rookie minicamp of the NFL's Cleveland Browns.

    Copeland was invited as an undrafted free agent following the conclusion of the NFL Draft on Sunday. Copeland's agent received calls from the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns. Copeland decided to go with the Browns, and will fly out to Cleveland on Thursday.

    Copeland, also an All-American track performer for the Eagles, caught 53 passes for 675 yards and nine touchdowns. He finished his career with 127 receptions for 1,924 yards and 21 touchdowns. He ranks No. 2 all-time at BC in receiving yards.

    Copeland is the second BC player in recent years to be a part of NFL camps. Jermaine Taylor was in camp with both Green Bay and Tampa Bay and played one year in NFL Europe.

    Visit [BridgewaterFootball.com] for more information on BC receiver Brandon Copeland.
  • Highfill named to NFF Hampshire Honor Society - 04/23/2008

  • Jeff HighfillBridgewater College senior Jeff Highfill was recently selected for the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.

    The 2008 NFF Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a 3.2 grade point average or better.

    A total of 439 players from 226 schools qualified for membership in the society's second year, an increase of more than 25 percent from the inaugural class in 2007.

    The NFF Hampshire Honor Society capitalizes on the NFF's current National Scholar-Athlete program, greatly expanding the number os scholar-athletes the NFF can recognize each year and further strengthening its leadership role in encouraging academic performance by the student-athletes who play football at the more than 700 colleges and universities with football programs.

    Highfill was twice named the ODAC Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He was named to the 2006 Academic All-American first team and was a second team Academic All-American pick in 2007.
  • 2008 football schedule announced - 04/21/2008

  • BClogoBridgewater College has released its 2008 football schedule with a pair of new opponents on the the slate.

    The Eagles will open the season on the road at Averett before returning to Jopson Field to host Shenandoah and Ferrum. BC will conclude the non-conference portion of its schedule on the road against Lycoming.

    All 2008 games are scheduled to begin a 1:00 p.m.

    2008 Football Schedule
    Sept. 6 - at Averett
    Sept. 13 - Shenandoah
    Sept. 20 - Ferrum
    Sept. 27 - at Lycoming
    Oct. 4 - Hampden-Sydney*
    Oct. 11 - OPEN
    Oct. 18 - at Guilford
    Oct. 25 - Emory & Henry*
    Nov. 1 - Washington & Lee*
    Nov. 8 - at Randolph-Macon*
    Nov. 15 - at Catholic*
    *ODAC Games
  • Copeland, Carter work out for pro scouts - 03/20/2008

  • Brandon CopelandPhil CarterTwo Bridgewater standouts had the opportunity to impress scouts from the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles at the James Madison University pro day on March 19.

    Brandon Copeland (WR/PR) and Phil Carter (RB/KR) registered some of the more impressive times and distances on the day. Copeland posted the top broad jump and vertical, while Carter ran the fastest 3-cone drill. Copeland ran a 4.44 time in the 40 while Carter posted a 4.50 time.

    The two former Eagles were joined by seven other graduating seniors from JMU, Ferrum, St. Paul's, VMI and Virginia Union
  • Highfill awarded NCAA postgraduate scholarship - 03/20/2008

  • Jeff HighfillBridgewater College senior Jeff Highfill has been awarded one of the prestigious NCAA postgraduate scholarships.

    Highfill, a second-team Division III Academic All-American this year, was one of 29 male student-athletes from across the nation to receive one of the $7.500 scholarships for the fall sports season.

    The NCAA awarded 29 scholarships to male student-athletes and 29 to female student athletes. The student-athletes represented colleges and universities from Division I, Division II and Division III.

    To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.200 (on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent, and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete must have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student.

    Highfill was the starting quarterback at Bridgewater and led the Eagles to a 15-5 record the past two seasons.
  • Washington earns spot on Extreme roster - 03/06/2008

  • UIF logoFormer Bridgewater College running back Marcus Washington has made the 30-man roster for the Bloomington Extreme of the United Indoor Football league.

    The UIF is an eight-team indoor minor pro football team located in the Midwest. Teams are located in Bloomington, Ill., Billings, Mt., Fort Collins, Colo., Omaha, Neb., St. Charles, Mo., Sioux City, Iowa, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Wichita, Kan.

    Washington is one of 16 newcomers on the 30-man roster. A year ago, the Extreme lost in the league’s championship game to Sioux Falls.

    The Extreme begins its 2008 season Saturday when it hosts Sioux Falls.
    [Extreme website]
  • Clark announces changes to staff - 01/13/2008

  • Bridgewater College head football coach Michael Clark has announced several changes to his coaching staff for the 2008 season. All the changes thus far deal with shifting responsibilities among the current staff members.

    Clark will relinquish the role of defensive coordinator and return to coaching the team’s quarterbacks.

    Joe Soltis will remain as offensive coordinator and will coach tight ends. Soltis has been part of the BC staff since 1998 and will begin his third season as offensive coordinator.

    Jack Johnson, entering his third season on the staff, will continue to coach the defensive line and will assume the rose of defensive coordinator.

    Stephon Healey (6th year) will switch to the defensive side of the ball and will coach the linebackers. Healey has also been promoted to the position of assistant head coach.

    Adam Martiny will coach the offensive line while Ryan Lieb (2nd year) will remain with the wide receivers and Peter Raeford (6th year) will continue coaching the secondary.

    Running back coach Bill Shirley will not return to the staff next season. Shirley, 65, is leaving the staff to spend more time with his quarterbacks camp that he runs with his son Rob, a former quarterback at Carson-Newman.

    Clark will hire a running backs coach and another restricted earnings coach later this spring.
  • Gantt, Cotton named first-team all-state - 12/24/2007

  • Anthony CottonTravis GanttBridgewater College placed two players on the All-State college division football team selected by The Roanoke Times.

    Anthony Cotton, a senior offensive lineman was named to the first-team offense while junior defensive end Travis Gantt was named to the first-team defense.

    The Eagles also placed two players on the second team. Senior running back Phillip Carter was selected to the second-team offense and senior Scott Ruebush was named to the second-team defense as the punter.
  • Cotton named to VaSID first team - 12/12/2007

  • Anthony CottonBridgewater College senior Anthony Cotton was named to the VaSID College Division All-State football first team as an offensive lineman.

    Cotton helped anchor an offensive line that helped the Eagles lead the ODAC in rushing with 213 yards per game.

    Four Eagles were named to the all-state second team.

    Named to the second-team defense were junior defensive end Travis Gantt and sophomore defensive back Damien Ward.

    Earning second team special teams honors were senior punter Scott Ruebush and junior return specialist David Argaud. [All-State team]
  • Ruebush earns All-South honor - 12/10/2007

  • ruebushBridgewater College senior punter Scott Ruebush has been named to d3football.com's All-South Region football team.

    Ruebush, the first-team All-ODAC punter, led the conference in punting with a 40.5 averaged. Ruebush punted 41 times and put 22 inside the opponent's 20-yard line. [All-South Region team]
  • Highfill receives Academic All-American honor - 11/29/2007

  • Jeff HighfillBridgewater College senior Jeff has earned Academic All-American honors for the second straight season.

    Highfill (Roanoke, Va./William Byrd H.S) was named to ESPN The Magazine’s College Division Football All-Academic second team released Thursday. Highfill was a first-team selection as a junior.

    Highfill finished his Bridgewater career ranked No. 3 in career passing years on the Eagles’ all-time charts. He was named to the All-ODAC honorable mention team this season and he also received the ODAC Football Scholar-Athlete Award – the second straight year he received that honor.

    Highfill is majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Business Administration.
  • Highfill named ODAC football scholar-athlete of the year - 11/21/2007

  • Jeff HighfillBridgewater College senior quarterback has been named the ODAC Football Scholar Athlete of the Year in voting by the conference’s sports information directors.

    Highfill, an honorable mention selection on the All-ODAC football team released Wednesday, received the scholar-athlete award for the second straight year. He is a Mathematics major with a minor in Business Administration.
  • Eagles land three on All-ODAC first team - 11/21/2007

  • Scott RuebushAnthony CottonTravis GanttBridgewater College placed three players on the All-ODAC football first team released Wednesday.

    Named to the first-team offense was lineman Anthony Cotton while defensive end Travis Gantt and punter Scott Ruebush were named to the first-team defense.

    Cotton helped anchor an offensive line that helped the Eagles lead the ODAC in rushing with 213 yards per game. Gantt was second on the BC defense in tackles with 63 and first in tackles for lost yardage. Ruebush led the ODAC in punting, averaging 40.5 yards per punt

    Named to the second-team offense were running back Phillip Carter and wide receiver Brandon Copeland.

    Carter finished the year 1,201 yards and led the conference with a 5.9 yards per carry average. He was second in the ODAC in scoring with 20 touchdowns. Copeland caught 53 passes for nine touchdowns and 675 yards.

    Named to the second-team defense were end Michael Jackson, backs Earl Chaptman and Damien Ward.

    Jackson ranked second in the ODAC in QB sacks with 6.5. Ward ranked second in the conference in interceptions with five and Chaptman was tied for fifth with three. Ward and Chaptman tied for fifth in the ODAC in passes defended.

    Named All-ODAC honorable mention were quarterback Jeff Highfill and safety Alex Wilkens.
  • D3football.com names Ruebush to team of the week - 11/14/2007

  • ruebushBridgewater College senior Scott Ruebush was selected to the D3football.com National Team of the Week released Tuesday.

    Ruebush punted seven times in Saturday's victory over Catholic and averaged 44.1 yards per punt. All seven of Ruebush's punts were inside the Catholic 20. [National Team of the Week].
  • Eagles close out season with 41-18 victory - 11/10/2007

  • copelandThe Bridgewater College Eagles closed out their season Saturday afternoon by defeating Catholic University, 41-18. With the victory the Eagles finished the season 7-3 overall and 3-3 in the ODAC.

    Catholic led 6-0 after the first quarter on a 12-yard TD pass from Keith Ricca to Ryan McManus.

    The Eagles took the lead for good with 9:31 left in the second quarter when Jeff Highfill tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Copeland and Luke Taylor added the PAT for a 7-6 lead.

    Taylor added a 24-yard field goal with 40 seconds left in the half, giving the Eagles a 10-6 lead at the break. The Eagles broke the game open with three touchdowns in the third quarter with each score set up by a Catholic turnover.

    Bridgewater forced the first turnover early in the second half when Earl Chaptman’s tackle knocked the ball free from Catholic’s Spencer Robinson. Josh King pounced on the loose ball, giving BC possession at the Catholic 41. Tailback Phillip Carter capped the short scoring march with a 4-yard run and Kyle Beach added the PAT for a 17-6 lead.

    Catholic drove deep into BC territory on the next series, but Chaptman stepped in front of a John Jacobs pass at the Eagles’13 and returned the interception 83 yards for the touchdown. The extra point by Taylor gave the Eagles a 24-6 lead.

    Catholic turned the ball over again on its next play from scrimmage when P.J. Smith forced a fumble and teammate Shane Conlon recovered the fumble at the Catholic 29. Highfill and Copeland hooked up for a 29-yard scoring pass on the next play and Beach added the extra-point for a 31-6 lead.

    Catholic put together a solid 60-yard drive on its next series to get back on the scoreboard. Ricca hit Greg Brown with a 14-yard TD pass, making the score 31-12.

    Carter scored on a 17-yard run early in the fourth quarter and Taylor booted a 27-yard field goal to complete the BC scoring.

    Catholic’s final points came on a 4 yard pass from Jacobs to Pete Mercatanti.

    Highfill capped off his career with a huge day, completing 24-of-35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns. He had one pass intercepted.

    Fellow seniors Copeland and Carter also ended their careers with big days. Copeland caught 11 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Carter gained 84 yards on 18 carries to top the 1,200-yard mark for the season. He also finished the year with 19 rushing touchdowns.

    Defensively, Chaptman led the way with five tackles, the interception for a touchdown, a forced fumble and five pass breakups. [Boxscore].
  • Highfill named to academic team - 11/08/2007

  • HighfillheadBridgewater College senior quarterback Jeff Highfill has been named to the ESPN The Magazine District 3 College Division Football All-Academic first team for the second consecutive season.

    Highfill, a Mathematics major with a minor Business Administration, has been ranked among the national leaders in passing efficiency for much of the current season.

    He is now eligible for consideration to the College Division Academic All-American team.
  • Yellow Jackets hold off Eagles, 24-12 - 11/03/2007

  • copelandRandolph-Macon’s Zak Thornton rushed for 238 yards on two touchdowns on 43 carries Saturday to lead the Yellow Jackets to a 24-12 ODAC victory over the Bridgewater College Eagles at Jopson Field.

    With the victory, the Yellow Jackets improve to 8-1 and 5-0 in the ODAC. Randolph-Macon closes its regular season with a Nov. 10 home game against Hampden-Sydney with the winner claiming the conference championship.

    Bridgewater drops to 6-3 overall and 2-3 in the ODAC. The Eagles close out their season with a home game against Catholic next Saturday.

    Freshman quarterback Hagen Driskill, making his first career start, led the Eagles to points on the first series of the game.

    Starting at the BC 42 following a 40-yard kickoff return by David Argaud, Driskill completed his first pass on the first play with a 16-yard strike to Brandon Copeland. The Eagles moved to the R-MC 7 before the drive stalled and the Eagles settled for a 24-yard field goal by Luke Taylor for a 3-0 lead.

    Randolph-Macon answered on its possession with Thornton scoring on a 36-yard run. Scott Shope added the PAT for a 7-3 R-MC lead with 9:46 left in the first quarter.

    Driskill marched the Eagles into scoring postion on the next series but once again the Eagles’ offense stalled and Taylor’s 37-yard field goal made the score 14-6.

    The Yellow Jackets padded the lead with Shope’s 37-yard field goal with just 16 seconds left in the first quarter, giving Randolph-Macon a 10-6 lead.

    After a scoreless second quarter, Randolph-Macon took the second half kickoff and drove 67 yards six plays to take a 17-6 lead. The big play was a 40-yard pass from Brandon Braner to Kevin Allen to the BC 22. Thornton capped the drive with a 7-yard scoring run and Shope added the PAT.

    Senior Jeff Highfill, who did not start the game due to an injury, entered the game early in the fourth quarter at quarterback, and led the Eagles on an 80-yard scoring drive. Phillip Carter, who finished the game with 108 yards rushing, capped the drive with a 2-yard run. The try for two points failed, but the Eagles were within striking distance, 17-12, with 6:40 left in the game.

    The Yellow Jackets answered with a 76-yard clinching drive. Thornton carried eight times for 44 yards and Braner finished off the drive with a 13-yard TD pass to Stuart May. Shope’s PAT made it 24-12 with just 2:23 left in the game. [Boxscore].
  • Generals hold off Eagles, 17-14 - 10/27/2007

  • actioncarterWashington & Lee took the lead just before the end of the half and held on Saturday afternoon to defeat the Bridgewater College Eagles, 17-14, in ODAC action.

    Bridgewater scored on its first possession when Phillip Carter found the end zone with a 31-yard run.

    The Generals tied the score with 5:03 left in the half on a 22-yard TD pass from R.J. Varner to Ty Parrino. W&L then took the lead with 30 seconds left in the first half on a 2-yard pass from Varner to Billy Murray.

    The Eagles had a chance to put points on the board before the half when Carter returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards to the W&L 18, but Kyle Beach’s 35-yard field goal was blocked by the Generals.

    Mark Snoddy booted a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter to give W&L a 17-7 lead.

    The Eagles pulled to within three early in the fourth quarter when Jeff Highfill hit Brandon Copeland with a 9-yard scoring pass.

    The Eagles moved into W&L territory on its next possession before the drive stalled at the Generals’ 40. Scott Ruebush pinned the Generals with a punt to the 6, but W&L kept the ball on the ground and ran out the final 4:12 of the game to preserve the three-point victory.

    Carter finished the game with 103 yards on 24 carries and moved past the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Carter now has 1,009 yards with two games left to play.

    Desmond Jalloh led the defense with nine tackles. Travis Gantt finished with eight tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and one QB sack. Michael Jackson added two QB sacks for the Eagles. [Boxscore].
  • W&L-BC game featured on videocast - 10/26/2007

  • odaclogoThe Bridgewater College at Washington & Lee football game will be available via videocast Saturday.

    Thanks to Penn Atlantic and Lavaa Productions as well as both participating schools, the ODAC is proud to bring you all the action via streaming audio and video. Game time is 1 p.m.

    Click here to access the [ODAC videocast]. The videocast can also be accessed by visiting the [ODAC website] or the [Penn Atlantic website].

    There is a $3.50 charge to view the game.

  • Eagles move up in AFCA poll - 10/23/2007

  • afcaThe Bridgewater College Eagles football team moved up one spot in this week's AFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches' Poll released Tuesday.

    The Eagles moved up to No. 19 following Saturday's 17-14 victory over Emory & Henry.
  • Beach's kick lifts Eagles to 17-14 victory - 10/20/2007

  • actioncarterBridgewater College placekicker Kyle Beach booted a 23-yard field goal on the final play of the game Saturday afternoon to lift the Eagles to a crucial 17-14 ODAC victory at Emory & Henry.

    After a scoreless first half, the Eagles took the lead with a pair of third quarter scores.

    The BC defense set up the first score when Brandon Orndorff pounced on a fumble to set the Eagles up with excellent field position at the Wasps 25. A pass from Jeff Highfill to Phillip Carter picked up a first down to the 15 and Highfill gained 2 yards on a fourth-and-1 play to give the Eagles a first-and-goal at the 4. Highfill then found tight end Chris Tichacek alone in the end zone for the TD and Kyle Beach added the PAT for a 7-0 BC lead with 6:43 left in the third quarter.

    The Eagles’ defense stopped E&H on three plays on the next series and a short punt gave BC the ball at the E&H 46. David Argaud ripped off a 23-yard gain to the Wasps’ 23 and runs by Argaud and Carter put the Eagles at the 11. Highfill gained 9 yards to the 2 and Carter found paydirt on the next play. Beach’s extra point gave BC a 14-0 lead with 3:47 left in the third period.

    The Eagles had a chance to pad the lead when Tony Gilliam picked off a pass BC 45. The Eagles moved to the E&H 33 before a holding penalty killed the drive.

    Just when the Eagles appeared to have control of the game, the Wasps put together a fourth-quarter rally to tie the score.

    The Wasps scored their first TD with an 83-yard drive early in the fourth quarter. A 30-yard pass from Daniel Booher to Steven Friend moved the ball into BC territory at the 39. The Wasps continued to move the ball with a 17-yard run by Tia’von Hamler to the BC 21. A pair of incomplete passes left the Wasps with a third-and-10 play, but Booher came through with a clutch throw as he connected with Jonathan Hawkins for a 21-yard scoring strike. Luke Hawk added the PAT to make it 14-7.

    A key mistake by the BC special teams led to the Wasps second score. Arguad tried to pick up a booming punt inside his 10 and when he mishandled the ball, E&H recovered at the Eagles’ 4.

    Bridgewater temporarily avoided disaster as the defense stopped the Wasps on fourth down and inches to turn the ball back over the BC offense. The Eagles were unable to pick up a first down and a 36-yard punt by Scott Ruebush gave the Wasps the ball at the Bridgewater 46.

    This time, E&H took advantage of the good field position to tie the score. Booher hit Josh Castle for 20 yards and a first down at the BC 26 and on the next play Booher found Hawkins in the corner of the end zone for a 26-yard TD pass. Hawk booted the PAT to tie the score with just 1:59 left in the game.

    The Eagles started the next series at their 31 and on the first play Carter ripped off a 56-yard run to the E&H 13. A holding penalty moved the ball back to the 23 before Arguad gained 2 yards to the 21.

    At that point the Eagles were facing a relatively long field goal try into the wind. Highfill then moved the Eagles closer when he connected with Andy Ropp for an 11-yard gain to the 10-yard line. Carter carried for three more yards and the Eagles let the clock wind down to 3.7 second before calling timeout to set the stage for Beach’s winning kick.

    Carter had another big game for the Eagles with 160 yards on 26 carries. The BC senior also caught five passes for 48 yards to finish with more than 200 yards from scrimmage. Highfill completed 18-of-31 passes for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

    Bridgewater, now 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the ODAC, travels to Lexington next Saturday to meet Washington & Lee. Emory & Henry drops to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
  • Saturday's game will be webcast - 10/18/2007

  • odaclogoThe third game of the ODAC’s video webcast schedule is on tap for this Saturday in Emory, Virginia. The match up features Bridgewater College at Emory & Henry College for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff. Thanks to Penn Atlantic and Lavaa Productions as well as both participating schools, the ODAC is proud to bring you all the action via streaming audio and video.

    Click here to access the [ODAC videocast]. The videocast can also be accessed by visiting the [ODAC website] or the [Penn Atlantic website]. There is a $3.50 charge to view the game.

    High-powered offense meets top-notch defense on the gridiron of Fullerton Field as Bridgewater enters the game having scored a school-record 76 points in a victory over Guilford College last weekend. Quarterback Jeff Highfill accounted for 341 yards of total offense and threw for four touchdowns while running for three more to lead the Eagles to 11 offensive touchdowns. BC averages 42 points and 258.5 yards rushing per contest, having scored 22 touchdowns via the ground game this season.

    The Wasps’ defense could put a major kink in BC’s offensive efficiency, with the unit led by standout middle linebacker Evin O’Sullivan (89 total tackles – 14.8 per game). E&H has surrendered a league-best 15.2 points per game this season while holding opponents to 282.7 yards of total offense including 113.3 yards on the ground. The Wasps’ also led the ODAC in sacks, having gotten to the quarterback 16 times through the first six games.

    All remaining videocasts will feature conference schools in action. Following this weekend’s contest, the next videocast will feature a pair of ODAC tilts on Saturday, October 27. Bridgewater and Washington & Lee will be going toe-to-toe at W&L while Randolph-Macon College travels to Greensboro, N.C., to square-off with Guilford College. Both games start at 1:00 p.m.

    The season’s final broadcast will hit the web from Guilford as Emory & Henry takes on the Quakers at 1:00 p.m. on November 10.

    In order to view the broadcasts, you will have to be using a cable or DSL high-speed Internet connection (preferably above 600 kbps download speed). Strong high-speed wireless feeds are also capable of showing the game. You can test your speed (bandwidth) directly from the Penn Atlantic website. The feed will not work with a dial-up set up. You will also need Windows Media Player 9.0 or 10.0.

    For AOL users, you will not be able to access the Penn Atlantic website via the AOL browser (due to firewall). If you use Internet Explorer (installed on every Windows-based PC) instead, you will have no problems viewing the game.

    Macintosh users should view the “FAQ” section of the Penn Atlantic website to learn about how you can view the game. Scroll down near the bottom of that section to the “Can I watch a game on my Macintosh?” question to learn how to view the game.

  • Highfill honored by Football Gazette - 10/18/2007

  • HighfillheadBridgewater College senior quarterback Jeff Highfill was named Division III National Player of the Week by Football Gazette.

    Highfill received the honor for his play in Bridgewater's record-setting victory over Guilford, 76-28.

    Highfill threw four touchdown passes in the game and ran for three more. The 76 points were a new BC record.

    Highfill was one of 10 Division III players honored this week as a National Player of the Week by Football Gazette.
  • Copeland, Ward honored by D3football.com - 10/16/2007

  • wardcopelandBridgewater College’s Brandon Copeland and Damien Ward were selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week following their performances against Guilford College.

    Copeland, a senior wide receiver, set two school records in Saturday's 76-28 victory over Guilford, catching 12 passes and four touchdowns, and finishing the day with 165 receiving yards. He had eight receptions for 129 yards and three scores in the first half alone.

    Ward, a sophomore safety, Ward led an Eagles defense that held Quakers quarterback Josh Vogelbach, the nation's leading passer coming in, to just 85 yards passing on 9-of-21 attempts, while picking him off five times. Ward had two of the picks, to go along with four assisted tackles and 0.5 tackle for a loss.
  • Eagles ranked No. 20 in AFCA poll - 10/16/2007

  • afcaThe Bridgewater College Eagles are ranked No. 20 in this week’s AFCA Division III coaches’ poll.

    The Eagles moved up three spots in this week’s poll after defeating Guilford, 76-28, this past Saturday.
  • Highfill named ODAC Player of the Week - 10/14/2007

  • HighfillBridgewater College senior quarterback Jeff Highfill was named ODAC Offensive Player of the Week by the conference office Sunday.

    Highfill accounted for seven of Bridgewater’s 11 touchdowns as the Eagles set a new school record for points scored in a 76-28 win over Guilford on Saturday.

    Highfill finished the day with 341 yards in total offense. He carried the ball 11 times, rushing for 93 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed 18-of-26 passes for 248 yards and four more touchdowns. He was not intercepted.

    Following Saturday’s contest, Highfill moved into the top spot in the conference rankings in passing efficiency rating, boasting a 163.7 mark.
  • Eagles roll to 76-28 victory over Guilford - 10/13/2007

  • copelandThe Bridgewater College Eagles celebrated Homecoming in record-breaking style Saturday afternoon by rolling over the Guilford Quakers, 76-28, in ODAC action.

    The Eagles set a new college record with 76 points and wide receiver Brandon Copeland set a pair of receiving records in the victory. Copeland caught 12 passes, breaking the previous mark of 11, and caught four TD passes, breaking the previous record of three.

    Quarterback Jeff Highfill also had a huge day for the Eagles, Highfill rushed for 93 yards and three touchdowns and completed 18-of-26 passes for 248 yards and four scores.

    Despite the offensive numbers, the defense may have turned in the best performance of the day.

    Guilford quarterback Josh Vogelbach entered the game leading the nation in passing yards with 2,212, total offense with 440 yards/game and was ranked No. 8 in passing efficiency. The Eagles limited the star QB to 9-of-21 passing and just 85 yards. He threw one TD pass, but was picked off four times.

    The Eagles scored twice late in the first quarter to gain control of the game.

    Earl Chaptman picked off a Vogelbach pass at the Guilford 29 to set up the first score. Highfill hit Copeland with a 6-yard TD pass and Luke Taylor added the PAT for a 7-0 BC lead.

    Damien Ward picked off a Guilford pass at the Quakers' 34 and the Eagles took advantage once again with Phillip Carter scoring on a 1-yard run. Taylor’s PAT made it 14-0.

    The Quakers then fumbled the ensuing kickoff with the Eagles recovering at the Guilford 32. The opportunistic Eagles once again took advantage of the turnover when fullback Shawn Baker scored on a 14-yard run on the second play of the second quarter. Taylor’s PAT made the score 21-0.

    The Eagles scored again on their next possession with Highfill finding the end zone on a 6-yard run to cap a 53-yard drive. The PAT was missed, but the Eagles led 27-0 with 9:16 left in the half.

    Linebacker Robbie Hahn intercepted a Vogelbach pass at the BC 45 and returned the pick to the Guilford 30. Highfill hooked up with Copeland on a 31-yard scoring strike and Taylor’s PAT made the score 34-0.

    Ward picked off his second pass of the game to set up the Eagles’ next TD. Highfill and Copeland connected again, this time from 20 yards out. Taylor’s PAT gave BC a 41-0 lead.

    Guilford got on the board on the ensuing possession with a 61-yard drive. Vorgelbach hit Hagen Miller with a 24-yard scoring strike with just 1:22 left in the half. The PAT failed, leaving BC ahead at the half, 41-6.

    Bridgewater’s offense continued to roll in the third quarter with four scores in four possessions.

    Highfill hit Copeland with a 16-yard TD pass and the BC quarterback added a 35-yard scoring run on the Eagles’ second series to push the lead to 55-6.

    Highfill added a 2-yard TD run and Darrin McKenzie scored on a 45-yard scamper to put the Eagles up 69-6 entering the final quarter.

    Backup Eagles’ quarterback Hagen Driskill hit Corey Johnson with a 16-yard TD pass early in the fourth quarter to complete the BC scoring.

    Guilford scored three times in the final quarter. Backup QB Billy Watkins completed a 19-yard TD pass to Hagen Miller, making it 76-12. Watkins added an 11-yard TD pass to Joe Joyner and the Guilford quarterback ran for the conversion making it 76-20. Guilford’s final points came on a 25-yard pass from Watkins to Jon McKinney with Watkins again running for the conversion.

    The Eagles finished with 575 yards total offense while the BC defense limited the Quakers to 327 yards.

    The Eagles are now 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference while the Quakers drop to 4-2 and 0-2 in the ODAC.
  • Highfill named semifinalist for Draddy Trophy - 10/11/2007

  • Jeff HighfillBridgewater College senior Jeff Highfill is one of 153 semifinalists for the 2007 Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, and a candidate for the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

    The NFF Awards Committee will select and announce up to 15 finalists on Oct. 25. Each finalist will be recognized as part of the 2007 National Scholar-Athlete Class, receiving am $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. The Draddy Trophy winner will receive a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship.

    The 153 semifinalists include players from all divisions of college football, including 23 Division III players. Highfill is one of two semifinalists from the ODAC along with Emory & Henry’s Matthew Assenat.
  • Carter ranked No. 3 in nation in scoring - 10/10/2007

  • pcarterBridgewater senior running back Phillip Carter ranks No. 3 in the nation in scoring in the most recent NCAA statistics.

    Carter has scored 14 touchdowns in Bridgewater's first five games. He also ranks No. 13 in the nation in rushing with 133.4 yards per game.

    David Argaud ranks No. 10 in the country in kickoff returns and No. 21 in punt returns. Quarterback Jeff Highfill ranks No. 23 in passing efficiency and Alex Wilkens is tied for No. 44 in interceptions.

    As a team, the Eagles are ranked No. 19 in rushing, No. 23 in total offense, No. 33 in pass efficiency, No. 34 in scoring and No. 36 in passing efficiency.
  • Late score lifts Tigers to win over Eagles - 09/29/2007

  • fblogoJosh Simpson scored the go-ahead touchdown with just 44 seconds left in the game Saturday afternoon to lift Hampden-Sydney to a 38-31 victory over Bridgewater College in ODAC football action. The victory snapped the Tigers’ eight-game losing streak to the Eagles, dating back to the 1998 season.

    The Tigers drove 90 yards for the winning touchdown, scoring when quarterback Corey Sedlar passed to Drew Smith in the left flat and Smith pitched the ball to Smith who raced into the end zone to complete the 14-yard scoring play.

    The offenses put on a show in the first half as the teams battled to a 24-24 tie.

    Hampden-Sydney scored on its first possession of the game on Sedlar’s 3-yard run, but the Eagles countered when Phillip Carter returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a TD to tie the score.

    Simpson and Carter then took turns scoring touchdowns, making the score 21-21. Simpson scored on runs of 5 and 4 yards while Carter found the end zone on runs from the 6 and 1.

    The teams then traded field goals with BC’s Luke Taylor connecting on a 25-yarder with two seconds left in the half to tie the score at 24-24.

    Bridgewater took the lead in the third quarter, 31-24, when Carter scored on a 70-yard run.

    Hampden-Sydney’s Simpson bulled over from the 1 with just more than six minutes left in the game, but the Eagles maintained the lead when they stopped the Tigers on the two-point conversion try.

    The Tigers stopped the Eagles on the next drive, forcing a BC punt to set the stage for the winning drive.

    Carter piled up 176 yards on 24 carries to lead the BC offense with his fourth 100-yard game of the season. Defensively Alex Wilkens led the Eagles with 13 tackles and two pass interceptions.

    Simpson gained 138 yards on 32 carries and Sedlar passed for 477 yards. Smith caught 15 of Sedlar’s 37 completions for 184 yards. Hampden-Sydney finished the game with 643 yards total offense. [Boxscore]
  • Saturday's game to be videocast on the internet - 09/25/2007

  • odaclogoThe Old Dominion Athletic Conference announced plans Tuesday to videocast six conference football games during the remainder of this season.

    The first game on the schedule will be Saturday's Bridgewater at Hampden-Sydney contest, scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

    The Eagles will be featured on the videocasts three times this season. In addition to Saturday's game, the Bridgewater at Emory & Henry and Bridgewater at Washington & Lee will also be available.

    There is a $3.50 charge to view the game.

    More information about the games as well as information on how to access the games on the internet are explained in the [ODAC press release.]
  • Eagles ranked No. 22 by Football Gazette - 09/24/2007

  • BClogoThe Bridgewater College football team moved up one spot to No. 22 in the latest Don Hansen's Football Gazetter Division III Top 40 released Monday.

  • Eagles ranked No. 24 by d3football.com - 09/23/2007

  • D3footballDespite a 39-14 victory on the road Saturday at LaGrange, the Bridgewater College Eagles dropped one spot in the d3football.com Top 25 poll released late Sunday evening.

    The Eagles, now 4-0 on the season, are ranked No. 24 in the latest poll. Mount Union is still ranked No. 1 in the d3football.com poll.

    The Eagles travel to Hampden-Sydney on Saturday for BC's first ODAC game of the season.

    [d3football.com Top 25]
  • Eagles pull away from LaGrange, 39-14 - 09/22/2007

  • HighfillBridgewater College ran its record to 4-0 on the season with a 39-14 victory over LaGrange College on Saturday.

    Quarterback Jeff Highfill had a big day as he completed 17-of-27 passes for 270 yards and two scores. Highfill also ran for a touchdown. Phillip Carter rushed for 108 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries – his third 100-yard game of the season.

    Carter put the Eagles on the board early with a 40-yard TD run on Bridgewater’s first possession. Luke Taylor booted the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

    LaGrange tied the score on a 4-yard scoring pass from Drew Carter to Eric Miller before the Eagles took the lead for good on Taylor’s 42-yard field goal.

    The Eagles extended the lead to 16-7 when Highfill connected with Brandon Copeland on a 64-yard scoring pass with 25 seconds left in the quarter. The try for two failed.

    The Eagles took an 18-7 lead to the locker room on Michael Jackson’s second-quarter safety.

    Bridgewater put the game away with three touchdowns in the third quarter. Andy Ropp scored on a 31-yard pass from Highfill and Carter added scoring runs of 1 and 3 yards.

    LaGrange scored the only points of the final quarter on a 2-yard run by Mario Wallace.

    Copeland ended the day with four catches for 101 yards. David Argaud also had his most productive day as an Eagles, accumulating 228 all-purpose yards. Arguad rushing for 30 yards, caught four passes for 64 yards and added 29 yards on punt returns and 105 yards on kickoff returns.

    Safety Damien Ward led the defense with 12 tackles, seven solo. He also broke up a pass and forced a fumble. The Eagles kick off ODAC play next Saturday when they travel to Hampden-Sydney. [Boxscore]
  • Eagles ranked No. 16 in AFCA Coaches' Poll - 09/18/2007

  • afcaThe Bridgewater College Eagles are ranked No. 16 in the AFCA Division Coaches' Poll released Tuesday. Tuesday's poll is the first of the season realeased by the AFCA.

    Mount Union is ranked No. 1 in the poll. [AFCA Coaches' Poll]
  • Highfill featured on Roanoke TV station - 09/17/2007

  • Jeff HighfillBridgewater College senior quarterback Jeff Highfill was profiled Monday evening on Roanoke TV station WDBJ-7.

    To view Mike Stevens' feature on Highfill click here [Broadcast]
  • Carter recognized in Sports Illustrated - 09/17/2007

  • pcarterBridgewater College senior running back Phillip Carter is featured in Faces In The Crowd in the most recent edition of Sports Illustrated. [Read More]
  • Eagles stay at No. 23 in Football Gazette poll - 09/17/2007

  • BClogoThe Bridgewater College football team is remained at the No. 23 spot in the latest Don Hansen's Football Gazetter Division III Top 40 released Monday.

  • Eagles ranked No. 23 by d3football.com - 09/16/2007

  • D3footballThe Bridgewater College football team cracked the d3football.com Top 25 as the Eagles are ranked No. 23 in the poll released Sunday.

    Bridgewater joined the Top 25 for the first time this season along with Montclair State and Salisbury at No. 24 and No. 25 respectively.

    Mount Union received all 25 first-place votes and is ranked No. 1 in the poll. [d3football.com Top 25]
  • Eagles roll past Ferrum, 41-16 - 09/15/2007

  • HighfillThe Bridgewater College Eagles rolled up 511 yards total offense, including 338 on the ground to roll past the Ferrum College Panthers, 41-16 in non-conference football action Saturday at Jopson Field.

    The Eagles improved to 3-0 on the season while Ferrum dropped to 1-2.

    Senior Phillip Carter continued to pile up impressive numbers as he rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

    Senior quarterback Jeff Highfill finished with 202 yards of total offense. Highfill completed 9-of-13 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw his first interception of the season.

    Senior wide receiver Brandon Copeland caught three passes for 86 yards, including a 56-yard TD catch.

    The Eagles’ offense set the tone early, driving 55 yards on seven plays for a touchdown on their first offensive series. Carter’s 7-yard run capped the drive.

    Bridgewater’s defense set up the second score when Earl Chaptman pounced on an errant, option pitch from Ferrum’s quarterback at the Panthers’ 18-yard line. A 5-yard loss on a swing pass and a delay penalty put the ball back to the 23, but Highfill found Brandon Jones open in the end zone for a 23-yard scoring strike. Luke Taylor added his second extra point of the game, making the score 14-0.

    The Eagles added their third TD of the first quarter with a 70-yard , nine play drive. David Argaud powered in from the 1 for the touchdown and Taylor’s PAT gave the Eagles a 21-0 lead with 10 seconds left in the opening quarter.

    The Eagles’ offense slowed in the second quarter, but the defense continued to stymie Ferrum’s wishbone attack. The Panthers did get on the board with just 29 seconds left in the half when Clint Slappey connected on a 31-yard field goal.

    Bridgewater’s offense got back on track in the third quarter with three more scores.

    The Eagles took the second half kickoff and marched 54 yards in six plays for the score. Carter carried four times for 45 yards on the drive and Highfill ended the drive with a 4-yard scoring pass to fullback Shawn Baker, making the score 27-3. The PAT was missed.

    The Eagles added two more scores in the quarter – a 1-yard run by Carter and a 56-yard strike from Highfill to Copeland to take a 41-3 lead into the final quarter.

    Ferrum added two touchdowns in the final quarter to complete the scoring. Axza Alexander scored on an 11-yard run and Marcus Mayo tossed a 24-yard scoring strike to Mike Vann.

    Robbie Hahn led the Bridgewater defense with eight tackles while Travis Gantt and Alex Wilkins added six tackles each. [Boxscore]
  • Eagles ranked No. 23 by Football Gazette - 09/10/2007

  • BClogoThe Bridgewater College football team is ranked No. 23 in the latest Don Hansen's Football Gazetter Division III Top 40 released Monday.

  • Eagles just miss Top 25 - 09/10/2007

  • D3footballThe Bridgewater College football team moved a little closer to cracking the D3football.com Top 25 poll after Saturday's 20-6 victory over Shenandoah.

    The Eagles received 52 points in the poll released Monday and were the first team listed in the "others receiving votes." [D3football.com Top 25]
  • Eagles turn back Shenandoah, 20-6 - 09/08/2007

  • HighfillBridgewater College overcame three turnovers and a solid effort by Shenandoah University to post a 20-6 non-conference victory over the Hornets at Shentel Stadium on Saturday evening.

    With the victory, the Eagles improve to 2-0 while the Hornets drop to 0-2.

    The Eagles took the lead when Brandon Jones scored on a 31-yard pass from Jeff Highfill. Luke Taylor added the PAT made the score 7-0 with 6:33 left in the first half.

    The score remained that way until Phillip Carter found the end zone on a 10-yard run with 9:04 left in the third quarter, The PAT was blocked.

    The Hornets answered when Paul Diggs scored from 2 yards out to cap a 10-play, 69-yard drive. Bridgewater blocked the extra point to hold a 13-6 lead.

    The Eagles scored early in the fourth quarter when fullback Shawn Baker hauled in a 5-yard TD pass from Highfill. Taylor’s PAT gave the Eagles a 20-6 lead with 12:36 left in the game.

    Highfill turned in a strong performance as he completed 15-of-19 passes for 163 yards with two touchdowns and no interception. The BC senior quarterback also rushed 9 times for 59 yards.

    Carter just missed his second straight 100-yard game as he finished with 98 yards on 19 carries.

    Travis Gantt led the defense with six tackles, including 1.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and one quarterback sack.

    The Eagles are back in action on Sept. 15 when they host Ferrum College. Game time is 1:30 p.m. [Boxscore]
  • Carter makes the most of starting opportunity - 09/05/2007

  • fblogo Bridgewater College's Phillip Carter has waited three years to get his shot at the starting running back position for the Eagles.

    If the first game of the season is any indication, the waiting is going to be worthwhile. Carter rushed for 158 yards and a college-record five touchdowns in a season-opening victory over McDanile

    Read more about Carter in today's editon of [The Daily News Record]