Box Score BRIDGEWATER, Va. – For the third week in
a row, Bridgewater Eagles football team used a special teams
score en route to victory, this time a 35-24 win over the
Ferrum Panthers.
Bridgewater's offense fired on all cylinders while the Eagles
defense was yet again up to the task, holding Ferrum to their
lowest rushing output in nearly eight years.
Wide receiver Tyler Beiler
(Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) turned in a 212-yard performance
on the receiving end to break the career receiving yardage record,
formerly held by Marcus Richardson. Beiler now has 2,051 yards in
his career, becoming just the second Bridgewater receiver to cross
the 2,000-yard barrier.
Ferrum struck first in the middle of the opening quarter on a
25-yard dash from Justin Donnelly to put the Panthers ahead
7-0.
Bridgewater answered on the ensuing drive when quarterback Hagan
Driskell (Ruther Glen, Va./Caroline) caught Beiler on a 57-yard
route to tie the score at seven apiece.
With 1:54 to play in the opening frame, the Panthers took 10-7
lead with a 29-yard Scott Puschell field goal, but it was the last
time the Panthers would lead.
At the 8:39 mark, Driskell caught Beiler on a 58-yard pitch and
catch to put the Eagles up by a 14-10 tally.
During Ferrum's ensuing drive, the Eagles defense forced a
Panthers punt following a three and out. On the punt, junior Chris Wholey
(Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford County) sprinted up the middle to
block the T.J. Grzesikowski punt, which was recovered by senior Matt Jarvis
(Berryville, Va./Clarke County) who returned the ball 11 yards to
the endzone to put Bridgewater ahead 21-10.
The punt block and return for a touchdown was the third special
teams score of the year for the Eagles.
Bridgewater forced another three and out from the Panthers
before notching another touchdown before the intermission. Driskell
connected with Beiler yet again, this time on a 38 yard exchange,
to put the Eagles ahead 28-10 at the break.
Following the intermission, a lethargic Bridgewater offense was
forced into a pair of three and outs before the Panthers chipped
the Eagles' lead to a 28-17 margin off of a Marcus Mayo 76 yard
punt return.
Ferrum brought the game to a one-touchdown affair when Mayo
connected with Roger Smith on a 33-yard route to bring the Eagles
lead to a 28-24 score as the game headed to the fourth quarter.
With 9:44 to play in the game, Driskell tossed his fourth
touchdown of the game, this time to senior Keenan Tillar
(Colonial Heights, Va./Thomas Dale) to put Bridgewater ahead
35-24.
Ferrum's next drive went three and out before the Bridgewater
offense chewed up the final seven-plus minutes of the game to
record a 35-24 victory over the visiting Panthers.
On the ground, Tate's 112-yard afternoon led the way.
Bridgewater rushed for 128 yards on 41 carries in the win.
Driskell turned in an outstanding performance. The Ruther Glen,
Va. native was 14-of-21 for 299 yards and a career-high four
touchdowns to go along with no interceptions. Driskell's four
touchdown passes puts him in sole possession of fourth on the
career touchdown passes list. His four touchdowns in a game is the
most since Jeff Highfill's four-touchdown game against Guilford in
2007.
Beiler's 212-yard performance was the second time against the
Panthers that the Lancaster, Pa. native has posted a 200-yard game.
The senior hauled in seven catches, with three of the receptions
being for a touchdown.
His seven receptions puts him in third place all-time with 107
career catches, while his three touchdowns moves him into a
tie for third on career receiving touchdowns list.
On the day, Beiler posted 304 all-purpose yards, including 34
yards of punt returns and 54 yards of kickoff returns.
Defensively, seniors T.J. Montague (Reston, Va./South
Lakes) and Darrin
Stephenson (Chesapeake, Va./Indian River) led the way with
eight stops a piece. Junior Stephen
Howard (Afton, Va./Nelson County) also had a standout
day with two sacks and three tackles for a loss.
As a unit, the Bridgewater defense held Ferrum to 66 yards on
the ground marking the first time since November, 9 2002 that the
Panthers were held to less than 100 yards rushing. The Eagles
defense also held Ferrum to an abysmal 1-of-11 effort on third
down.
Ferrum was led on the ground by Donnelly's 42 yards rushing.
Through the air, Mayo was a solid 9-of-18 for 153 yards and a
touchdown.
On the receiving end, Smith had three catches for 67 yards and a
touchdown.
Bridgewater outgained Ferrum by a 427-to-219 tally, and also
owned the time of possession battle by a 35:26-to-24:34 margin.
Ferrum's 217-yard output marks the third straight game that the
Bridgewater defense has held its opponent to under 250 yards of
total offense.
Bridgewater has five days to prepare for Southern Virginia. The
Eagles will do battle with the Knights in Salem, Va. on Thursday
night at 7:30 p.m. inside Salem Stadium.