Box Score BRIDGEWATER, Va. – On a day when senior
wide receiver Tyler Beiler set
the career receptions record, a 39-yard Will Davis field goal
missed wide right with 1:19 to play as the Washington and Lee
Generals escaped Jopson Field with a 35-34 Old Dominion Athletic
Conference (ODAC) football victory over the Bridgewater Eagles.
Washington and Lee's conference leading rush offense rushed for
438 yards on the Eagles ODAC-leading rushing defense.
Bridgewater struck first on its opening possession, when a Thomas Tate
(Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee) rush for one yard capped off a seven
play, 49 yard drive to put the Eagles ahead by a 7-0 score.
The Eagles defense was up to the task early, holding the
Generals off of the scoreboard on their first drive.
Following a Bridgewater three-and-out, Washington and Lee
knotted the game up at seven each on a four-yard Brett Murray carry
with 3:14 left in the opening stanza.
Bridgewater answered the Generals' score with a two-yard Darrin
McKenzie (Rustburg, Va./Brookville) touchdown run with two
ticks left in the first quarter to take a 14-7 advantage.
Washington and Lee responded with a 10 play, 68 yard drive of
its own, capped off by a two yard Luke Heinsohn touchdown burst, to
tie the game back up at 14 a piece with 11 and change to play in
the first half.
Following the Washington and Lee score, Bridgewater responded
yet again when quarterback Hagan Driskell
(Ruther Glen, Va./Caroline) connected with Beiler on a 40 yard
pitch and catch to put the Eagles ahead 21-14.
Washington and Lee tallied the final score of the half on a
three-yard Heinsohn carry to tie the game at 21 each as the game
headed to the intermission.
Out of the halftime break, Washington and Lee made its first
mistake of the day, when Eagles defensive end Dominic Jeter
(Yorktown, Va./Tabb) forced a Charlie Westfal fumble to give
Bridgewater the ball on the Generals 48.
Bridgewater regained the lead on a one-yard McKenzie carry on
the ensuing drive to put the Eagles back ahead 28-21.
Washington and Lee immediately responded with a 10-play, 60 yard
drive, capped off by Heinsohn's third touchdown of the game to knot
the score at 28-28.
The two teams continued to exchange scores when McKenzie scored
from 12 yards out to put the Eagles ahead 34-28, after the Davis
PAT attempt missed wide.
Bridgewater forced another Washington and Lee miscue on the
ensuing drive, but a Bridgewater's offense went three-and-out on
their following drive to give the Generals the ball with 11:13 to
play.
Washington and Lee used a 32-yard Westfal to Cody Smith strike
to move into the Bridgewater redzone before a Westfal keeper from
eight yards out put the Generals up 35-34 after the PAT.
Following the Washington and Lee score, Bridgewater used a 12
play drive to chew up nearly seven minutes of the clock, before the
drive stalled out at the Generals 22, forcing a 39 yard field goal
attempt.
Will Davis' 39-yard field goal missed wide left, allowing the
Generals to escape Jopson Field with a 35-34 victory.
Both offensive units were clicking as the two teams racked up
824 total yards between them, including 669 yards on the
ground.
Bridgewater was led on the ground by McKenzie's 146-yard
afternoon. McKenzie rushed for three touchdowns along the way, on
26 carries. McKenzie's three-touchdown afternoon is the first for a
Bridgewater running back since Thomas Tate's three touchdown game
last season against Guilford.
Through the air, Driskell was 9-of-19 for 119 yards and a
score.
On the receiving end, Beiler led the Eagles with three catches
for 58 yards. Junior Julius
Delbridge (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) also chipped
in with four receptions for 41 yards. Beiler's three catches gives
him 131 on his career, placing him atop the career receptions
list.
Defensively, Darrin
Stephenson (Chespeake, Va./Indian River) and T.J.
Montague (Reston, Va./South Lakes) recorded a co-game high 11
tackles.
Washington and Lee was led offensively by Harrison Hudson's
204-yard performance, on 18 carries. Hudson tallied two touchdowns
along the way. Heinsohn had 19 carries for 99 yards and three
touchdowns.
Westfal was 3-of-6 through the air for 36 yards. Of Westfal's 36
yards, 32 of them came on one play during Washington and Lee's
go-ahead drive.
A trio of General's led the way with a catch a piece.
Linebacker Jesse Jenkins recorded 10 tackles to lead the
Washington and Lee defense.
Bridgewater is back in action next Saturday when the Eagles end
the home slate against the Emory and Henry Wasps. Kickoff from
Jopson Field is slated for 1:00 p.m. Next Saturday's game is also
Senior Day.