GREENSBORO, N.C. - Numerous mistakes at inopportune moments proved costly for the Bridgewater Eagles football team on Thursday evening in a 23-20 loss to the Guilford Quakers (3-3, 2-1 ODAC) in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action at Appenzeller Field.

Bridgewater (4-2, 1-2 ODAC) committed three turnovers on the evening and was penalized 13 times for 114 yards.

After holding the Quakers in check on the opening drive of the game, Bridgewater established a solid opening drive but came up empty as the Guilford defense came up with a big hold inside of its own 40.

On the next Guilford drive, Quakers running back Mike Williams rushed to the Bridgewater 40 before having the ball stripped away by John Brilliant and returned to the endzone for an apparent score by Daryus Beale. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play negated the return for the Eagles as the game remained scoreless after the first stanza.

Bridgewater wouldn't come up scoreless on their next offensive series as a one-yard Willie Logan touchdown run capped off a 10-play, 63-yard drive to put the Eagles up by a 7-0 tally with 14 and change to play in the second quarter.

Guilford quickly responded to the Bridgewater touchdown with a two-play scoring drive. Quarterback Matt Pawlowski connected with Adam Smith on a 22-yard touchdown pass to cut the Eagles' lead to 7-6. The Quakers PAT attempt failed to keep Bridgewater ahead by a point.

Mistakes Cost Eagles in 23-20 Loss at Guilford

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Numerous mistakes at inopportune moments proved costly for the Bridgewater Eagles football team on Thursday evening in a 23-20 loss to the Guilford Quakers (3-3, 2-1 ODAC) in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) at Appenzeller Field.

Bridgewater (4-2, 1-2 ODAC) committed three turnovers on the evening and was penalized 13 times for 114 yards.

After holding the Quakers in check on the opening drive of the game, Bridgewater established a solid opening drive but came up empty as the Guilford defense came up with a big hold inside of its own 40.

On the next Guilford drive, Quakers running back Mike Williams rushed to the Bridgewater 40 before having the ball stripping away by John Brilliant and returned to the endzone for an apparent score by Daryus Beale. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play negated the return for the Eagles as the game remained scoreless after the first stanza.

Bridgewater wouldn't come up scoreless on their next offensive series as a one-yard Willie Logan touchdown run capped off a 10-play, 63-yard drive to put the Eagles up by a 7-0 tally.

Guilford quickly responded to the Bridgewater touchdown with a two-play scoring drive. Quarterback Matt Pawlowski connected with Adam Smith on a 22-yard touchdown pass to cut the Eagles' lead to 7-6. The Quakers PAT attempt failed to keep Bridgewater ahead by a point.

Eagles quarterback Willie Logan was picked off on the ensuing offensive drive, but the Bridgewater defense was up to the task forcing a three-and-out to give the offense the ball back with 10:15 to play in the first half.

Bridgewater used a massive nine-play, 91 yard drive to push its lead to eight points after a 28-yard run from Logan pushed the Eagles out to a 14-6 lead with 4:41 to play in the first half.

Guilford used a pass-run balance to work the ball into Bridgewater territory in the waning moments of the first half to set up a 30-yard Tyler Hunt field goal. Hunt's kick split the uprights to cut the Eagles' lead to 14-9 at the intermission.

Bridgewater racked up 274 total offensive yards in the first half, but 10 first-half penalties kept the Eagles up by a slim five-point margin at the break.

Out of the halftime intermission, both teams struggled to establish an offense as the two teams exchanged field position for the majority of the third quarter.

With 4:42 to play in the third, the Quakers opened a 10-play, 62-yard scoring drive which resulted in a one-yard Pawlowski run on third and goal to put Guilford ahead for the first time at a 15-14 tally after the two-point conversion attempt failed.

Bridgewater regained the lead on its first series of the fourth quarter when running back Ryan Green-Ellis stormed in from the two to push the Eagles' lead to 20-15. The Eagles also went for two, but Logan's pass couldn't find the mark, keeping the Bridgewater lead at a five-point gap.

Guilford again responded to a Bridgewater score with one of its own behind a heavy dose of Williams on the ground. With third and goal at the Bridgewater 10, Pawlowski hit Nick Mearite with a quick strike in the front corner of the endzone to put the Quakers up by a 21-20 score. Pawlowski hit Mearite again on the two-point conversion to push Guilford up by three, 23-20, with 7:13 to play.

The Eagles went three-and-out on their next possession, but the defense gave Bridgewater one more opportunity with a stop near midfield. On the Guilford punt, Bridgewater return man Jordan Hartman muffed the punt, and the Quakers recovered before winding out the clock to secure a 23-20 victory.

The Guilford win snapped a five-game Bridgewater winning streak against the Quakers.

Sophomore running back Jacob Wright paced the Bridgewater ground attack with 88 yards on 17 carries. Bridgewater owned a 154-to-79 advantage in rushing yards on the evening.

Through the air, Logan finished the game at 14-of-23 for 245 yards. The junior was picked off twice on the evening, with one interception coming on a half-ending Hail Mary at the end of the second quarter.

Fullback Nick Wimer and tight end Michael Colee were Logan's primary targets with three catches each.

Linebacker Salem Nganga paced the Eagles defense with a dozen tackles on the evening.

Guilford was led on the ground by Williams' 63-yard effort.

Pawlowski was stellar through the air, throwing for 258 yards and two scores on 18-of-26 passing.

Mearite posted a game-high five catches in the win, while Daniel Woodruff had two catches for 77 yards.

The Guilford defense was led the by the play of reigning ODAC Defensive Player of the Week Robert Smith. Smith posted a game-high 14 tackles including one for a loss. Hunter English was also disruptive with eight tackles and two-and-a-half for a loss. Guilford sacked Logan four times on the evening.

Bridgewater outgained Guilford on the evening by a 399-to-327 margin.

The Eagles converted 5 of their 11 third down attempts, while the Quakers posted a 7-of-15 performance on third downs.

Bridgewater is back in action on October 20 at Jopson Field against Washington and Lee. Kick off against the Generals is set for 1 p.m.