BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- The Bridgewater College football team is set for a second straight battle of unbeaten ODAC teams as it travels to No. 16/18 Randolph-Macon for a 1 pm match up on Saturday, October 15.

Bridgewater vs. Randolph-Macon
When: Saturday, October 15, 2022
Where: Ashland, Va.
Stadium: Day Field
Kickoff: 1:00 pm
Gameday Forecast: Sunny
    High: 75; Low: 45; Rain: 0%
Series Record: Randolph-Macon leads, 62-17-3
Tickets: Buy tickets in advance HERE. Tickets can be purchased on site with a debit or credit card.

SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS: Randolph-Macon comes into this weekend's matchup with a 5-0 record and a national ranking coming in at No. 16 in the AFCA Coaches' Poll and No. 18 in the D3football.com poll. The Yellow Jackets bring in a reputation of being one of the best rushing offenses in the nation and rank seventh in the country and second in the conference with 281.8 yards per game. The team from Ashland also brings in the top scoring offense in the ODAC and the ninth best in the country averaging 48.0 points per game. The Yellow Jackets can run the football but also rank at the top of the ODAC and second in the country at stopping it allowing just 21.4 yards per game on the ground. 

RANDOLPH-MACON HEAD COACH: Pedro Arruza enters his 19th season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets program after taking over in 2004. Arruza has established a winning culture at R-MC as the Yellow Jackets are the winningest team in the ODAC since 2007. In the last six seasons, Arruza's program has amassed a 48-11 record and has won three ODAC titles. 

LAST MEETING: Last season the two sides squared off in Bridgewater with the Yellow Jackets taking a 31-13 victory. A Chris Vidal field goal got the Yellow Jackets on the board first but the Eagles answered with a quick two minute drive resulting in a Chad Jones touchdown catch. From that point forward it was all Randolph-Macon as they scored 21 unanswered heading into the fourth quarter. Bridgewater got back on the scoreboard in the first 30 seconds of the final frame as Stephen Kloosterman caught a seven-yard touchdown throw from Matt Lawton to make it a two possession game. 

ALL-TIME SERIES: Today is the 103rd meeting between the two schools separated by about 120 miles. The Yellow Jackets have won the last two meetings and six of the last seven with the last BC win coming in 2019. Despite the run for Randolph-Macon in the last couple of seasons the series has been relatively even over the last 23 years with BC winning 11 including eight in a row from 1999-2006. 

JACK IS BACK: Sophomore kicker Jackson Hendren leads the team in scoring with 42 points off eight field goals and 18 PATs on the year. He is tied for the national lead with 1.6 FGs made per game and is also tied for the most field goals made so far. His 47-yarder against Shenandoah is the longest kick by an Eagle in 10 years and fourth longest in team history. 

I'LL TAKE THAT: The Bridgewater College football team currently leads the entire NCAA in turnover margin at an even 3.00 margin. The next closest team is Division I's USC with 2.80. BC also ranks atop all divisions in takeaways with 20. The total is tied with NCAA Division II member Virginia State and was raised by three after the performance last weekend. The team has capitalized with 69 points coming off turnovers so far this year.

LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN: Senior Shawn Harris put up video game-like numbers in last week's victory finishing with a career-high 16 tackles, including 10 solo stops, 4.0 TFL, a strip sack and an interception that he nearly returned 30 yards for a touchdown. The INT instead set up a touchdown for the Eagles on the very next play by Albert Mensah.

D3FOOTBALL.COM TEAM OF THE WEEK: After finishing with 14 total tackles (10 solo), 2.0 TFL, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup against Shenandoah on Saturday, defensive back Aaron Moore was named to the D3football.com National Team of the Week for the second time this season. He joined Shawn Harris as members of the defense to feature weekly accolades following the team's 23-17 win against the Hornets last week.

ODAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK, SPONSORED BY BRIDGEWATER: With Shawn Harris' selection as ODAC Defensive Player of the Week after Week 6, it marked the fourth time an Eagle has gained weekly laurels from the league office with the defense capturing the award three out of the five times it has been given. In addition, Harris was named the D.C. Touchdown Club College Player of the Week and was the first Division III player to garner the accolade this season. It had been all DI athletes prior. 

RETURN POLICY: The Bridgewater College football team features one of the most explosive kick return units in Division III. As of this week, the Eagles lead DIII with an average return of over 36 yards per kick. A week ago, the Eagles were only given the chance to return two kickoffs with one being taken 62 yards by Brendan Robinson who was tackled by the last man back, and another 45-yarder by Cedric Drumgoole. In comparison, the kickoff defense is ranked in the top three in the nation.

STEPPING UP WHEN IT COUNTS: The Eagles are outscoring opponents 185-65 through five games this season and that includes an astounding 60-0 score in fourth quarters this year after scoring 14 unanswered on Saturday. Bridgewater has had to come from behind several times in the second half and have allowed just 10 points beyond halftime all season. 

OTHER BRIDGEWATER TEAMS IN ACTION: Saturday is a busy day on Bridgewater's campus as the volleyball program is hosting a tri-match with Randolph-Macon and Juniata, while the men's and women's swim teams are hosting Roanoke in a dual meet to open their home schedule for the 2022-23 season. Away from home, the women's golf team plays at the Cardinal Fall Classic and the cross country teams travel to Gettysburg. The women's soccer team heads south on 81 to meet Roanoke, while the men's side will go north to take on Shenandoah. Field hockey is also in action as it travels to face off with Lynchburg. 

OTHER RANDOLPH-MACON TEAMS IN ACTION: In addition to the football and volleyball teams in action against Bridgewater, both Randolph-Macon soccer teams will hold their Senior Days on campus at R-MC with the men taking on Guilford at 1 pm and the women against Ferrum at 4 pm. Field hockey rounds out the day as they visit Roanoke.

ABOUT BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE: The student experience at Bridgewater College has been shaped and defined by connections since 1880.Bridgewater's commitment to building connections for life gives you more opportunities to flourish. More opportunities to participate in sports, theatre, music, clubs and organizations. To exercise leadership. And to develop and achieve your potential through the support of faculty mentors.

UP NEXT: Bridgewater returns to the turf on Saturday, October 22, for Homecoming weekend as it plays its first ODAC game with Averett as kickoff is set for 2 pm