By Kyle Starrett

HAMPDEN SYDNEY, Va. - Bridgewater and Hampden-Sydney went back and forth moving methodically down the field, but after a slow first half for the Eagles, the Tigers took the game, 24-14. 

Hampden-Sydney started the game with a 13-play, 74-yard drive ending in the games first touchdown. This drive saw the Tigers convert two fourth downs as well as a third down on their way to the end zone, with a heavy passing game from Hampden-Sydney's Tanner Bernard. The Eagles nearly completed the goal line stand to end the drive, but on fourth and goal from the one-yard line, Bernard was able to put his head down and find the endzone. 

The Eagles then followed with a 13-play drive of their own. However, after a short kickoff return, the 54-yards gained on the drive weren't enough to put Bridgewater in field goal range and the Eagles were forced to punt. 

The Tigers added another touchdown on a 7-play, 80-yard drive. Bernard and his offense created chunk plays and swiftly moved the ball down the field before finally punching it in to take a 14-0 lead. 

Bridgewater's Matt Lawton had a slow start to the game, throwing a first half interception without a touchdown. However, the senior quarterback ended the day completing 22 of 30 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. Also seeing a large share of the quarterback snaps was senior Kenneth McCray, who completed all five of his passes for 43 yards. McCray was also effective with his legs, rushing ten times for 38 yards and a touchdown. 

Hampden-Sydney ended the first half with another long scoring driving, going 78-yards in 14 plays to end with a field goal. The Tigers would take their 17-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, the largest lead of the game. 

Bridgewater started the second half driving down the field for their first touchdown of the game. McCray led the way with a generous dose of the run game, ending the drive by punching it in from one-yard out. The 16-play, 75-yard drive lasted nine minutes and 22 seconds. 

Immediately following was the Hampden-Sydney offense who put together a lengthy touchdown drive of their own. This drive, lasting one more play then Bridgewater's previous drive, melted eight and a half minutes off the clock. The drive ended with Hampden-Sydney's Kaleb Smith punching it in for a two-yard rushing touchdown. 

From then on, neither team could do much with the ball, with three of the last six drives ending in turnover on downs. The Eagles were able to score one more time on an eight-yard touchdown pass to Chad Jones. A fumble on Hampden-Sydney's second to last drive did add a moment of excitement, but the Tiger's recovery put that excitement to a quick halt. 

Outside of the quarterbacks, Bridgewater's offense had a solid statistical day, especially from Jones and Viante Tucker. Jones ended the game with 10 catches, 108 yards and a touchdown, while Tucker brought in six passes for 49 yards. On the ground, Demetreus Jalepes finished second in rushing on the team with six carries for 30 yards. 

Defensively, Brett Tharp led the team in tackles yet again with 15. Val West recorded a forced fumble in the late stages of the game. 

Bridgewater falls to 3-6 following the loss. Hampden-Sydney moves to 5-4 overall with a 4-1 ODAC record. The Eagles return to Jopson Athletic Complex for their final game of season against Guilford. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.