BRIDGEWATER CLIPS FOOTBALL TIGERS, 31-24 HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (October 1, 2005)—Brian Awkard’s 39 yard touchdown reception with 1:07 to play lifted the 22nd-ranked (AFCA) Eagles of Bridgewater College (3-1/1-0 ODAC) to a 31-24 victory over 18th-ranked (AFCA) Hampden-Sydney College Saturday at a jam packed Hundley Stadium and Fulton Field. The win was the Eagles’ seventh straight over the Tigers and spoiled another strong outing by Tiger quarterback J.D. Ricca (Gaithersburg, MD/St. John’s) who established a record for the most career passing yards in Old Dominion Athletic Conference and Hampden-Sydney football history. Hampden-Sydney out-gained the Eagles by two yards, 431-429, in the meeting which featured the nation’s No. 2 (H-SC) and No. 6 (BC) ranked offenses. The Tigers were paced by Ricca who completed 25-of-40 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 6,507 yards passing for his career, surpassing former Tiger leader Mac Russell (6,343) and former Catholic quarterback Derek McGee (6,365). Ricca’s first touchdown pass of the game came with 5:28 to play as he connected with freshman receiver Josh Simpson (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) from 11 yards out. The touchdown came after the Tigers had fumbled on a handoff at the Eagles three yard line on their first series of the game. Bridgewater responded with three drives deep into Tiger territory but could only muster field goals by senior kicker David Blackwell as he connected from 43, 26 and 25 yards out to give the Eagles a 9-7 advantage in the locker rooms. In the second half, the Tigers took possession of the lead once-again as junior running back Charlie Omick (Lawrenceville, VA/Brunswick Academy) tripped the goal line from one yard out to put Hampden-Sydney on top, 14-9. The Eagles responded on the ensuing drive as Brandon Copeland was the recipient of a 36-yard pass from quarterback Jacob Lewis. Backup quarterback Jeff Highfill took it in from three yards out for a two-point conversion, making it 17-14 in favor of the Eagles. The Tigers opened the fourth quarter by tying the game on freshman kicker Reed Westra’s (Chester, VA/Lloyd C. Bird) third field goal of the season, this time from 27 yards. The Eagles again answered on the following drive, marching 65 yards in eight plays before Marcus Washington rambled into the endzone from three yards out. Hampden-Sydney came back to again tie the game as the Tigers reeled off their longest drive of the season in terms of time of possession, 11-plays, 65-yards and 5:26, as Ricca found sophomore receiver Drew Smith (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) in the left corner of the endzone from 14 yards away to knot the game at 24 with 2:26 to play. The Eagles again went to work, quickly moving the ball into Tiger territory before Lewis completed the 39-yard touchdown to Awkard. Trailing by seven, the Tigers moved the ball down to the Eagle 27, but time expired to give Bridgewater the 31-24 victory. Bridgewater’s rushing attack lived up to its billing as the Eagles amassed 241 yards on 37 carries, led by Washington who managed 103 yards on 15 carries, while Winston Young tallied 86 yards on nine attempts. Jacob Lewis completed 14-of-27 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing one interception. Receiver Drew Smith led the way for the Tigers as he caught nine passes for 137 yards, eclipsing the century mark in receiving for the third straight game, while Josh Simpson finished with 46 yards receiving on five catches and one touchdown and 35 yards on the ground on six rushing attempts. Defensively, Deon Mays led the Eagles with eight tackles, while David Clements had seven to go with one of three BC sacks. Tiger junior linebacker Wes Hall (Roanoke, VA/Cave Spring) led all players with 12 tackles, while seniors Louis Burrell (Richmond, VA/Highland Springs) and Jeff Inman (Virginia Beach, VA/Ocean Lakes) had nine. Freshman Jamie Edlow (Williamsburg, VA/Bruton) snagged his fourth interception of the season to come up with the Eagles’ only turnover of the game. Hampden-Sydney will try to regroup next Saturday as the Tigers travel to Emory, VA, to take on Emory and Henry College at 1 pm. -www.hsc.edu/athletics- |