BRIDGEWATER, Va. – The Bridgewater College football team battled against one of the nation's highest-scoring teams, but ultimately came up just short in a 23-20 loss to Guilford at Jopson Field.

The Eagles held Preseason All-American quarterback Matt Pawlowski (27-44, 220 yards) in check throughout the contest and allowed him to make just one great throw, but that pass over the shoulder to Austen Thompson in the corner of the end zone with 2:26 remaining proved to be the game-winning touchdown.

Defensive end Logan Whitaker was in the Guilford backfield all day, totaling three QB hurries, two passes batted down and one tackle for loss. Daniel Brent added nine tackles while Davey Hardesty had eight tackles and a forced fumble.

Guilford benefited from two great plays by running back/returner De'Eric Bell. Disaster struck on the opening kickoff, as Bell collected the ball in his own end zone, slipped a tackle up the middle, and beat Tyler Dawson to go 100 yards for the return touchdown. He then broke a handoff in the second half for a 42-yard score that made it 16-6 Quakers.

Bridgewater senior Kevon White rushed for two touchdowns, including a 23-yard run right up the middle late in the third quarter that kept Bridgewater close at 16-13.

With a chance to go ahead in the fourth quarter, Jeffrey Moore opened BC's drive with a 14 yard catch out the backfield, but later couldn't make a diving catch on third down as Bridgewater had to punt.

The Eagles were unlucky not to get a fourth down stop on Guilford's clinching touchdown drive, with Dominic Lopes whistled for a late pass interference penalty.

The Eagle defense did its job in the first half, holding a Guilford team that was averaging over 50 points per game without an offensive touchdown.

Bridgewater kept their early drives going on the legs of their quarterbacks. Twice Matthew Pisarcik picked up 3rd-and-7s in the first quarter with scrambles of 22 and 11 yards.

After Pisarcik's second pickup, he hit Moore for 21 yards deep into Guilford territory. Hunter Hoots recovered a Nick Ollie fumble however to end the threat.

Hardesty would soon force a fumble going the other way, with Jason Monroe recovering. Again the Eagles turned it over in field goal range, as Ross Rushing was picked off in the end zone by Tyriek Able.

Rushing scrambled for a first down on 3rd-and-12, but again the Eagles had to punt. The kick appeared to deflect off a Quaker special teamer but the Eagles did not fall on it despite coaches screaming for them to dive on the ball, and the punt was ruled down.

Moore's 18-yard catch set up Bridgewater's touchdown drive late in the first half. White converted a 4th-and-1 rush and then carried it in after Ollie had rumbled down to the 2-yard line. Bridgewater trailed 7-6 after a two-point pass attempt failed.

Guilford drove right down at the end of the first half and kicked a field goal with six seconds remaining to hit the locker rooms with a 10-6 lead.

Rushing was 17-for-29 for 171 yards and a touchdown, and added 50 more yards on the ground. Moore led Eagles receivers with six catches for 82 yards, while Keith Jennings added a touchdown in the final minute.

Bridgewater falls to 3-3, 1-2 ODAC and will travel to play first place Washington & Lee (6-0, 3-0) next weekend. Guilford is 5-1, 2-1 ODAC.