SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Bridgewater College Football team fell to No. 12 Susquehanna 41-7 to open the 2024 season on Friday night.
 
The Eagles defense was able to force a punt from the Riverhawks during their first series on offense and BC looked to turn the stop into offense. Bridgewater got a first down after a late hit out of bounds on a third down and made the most of it as a pair of completions by Jaicere Bateman to Jamel Johnson moved the chains. The Susquehanna defense ended up stalling out the push as a stop in the backfield and an incompletion forced a punt.
 
The RIverhawks were able to take the touchback on the punt and put together one of their trademark grinding drives as a 10-play, 80-yard drive ended with a Josh Ehrlich quarterback keeper from five yards out. The Christian Colasurdo PAT put the No. 12 team in the land in front 7-0.
 
Bridgewater opened the next drive with a 22-yard completion over the middle to Freddie Watkins before the drive stalled out once again by virtue of the stout Riverhawk defense. Alex Solarzano came on to punt and was able to pin SU inside its own 10. The BC defense forced a third down and long, but Ehrlich was able to find Rashan La Mons for the big-play 86-yard touchdown to make it 14-7.
 
BC looked to gain momentum trailing by two scores and Brendan Robinson did just that. The junior fielded the ensuing kickoff at the four yard line and took off down the near sideline and found the endzone for his sixth kickoff-return touchdown of his career. The Jack Hendern PAT cut the deficit in half to 14-7.
 
Bridgewater kept the momentum rolling as the defense got a stop thanks to a TJ Lowery pass breakup on third down to force a SU punt. BC got a first down thanks to another Bateman-Brown connection, but the Susquehanna pass rush stepped up with back-to-back tackles for loss to stall the drive.
 
After the BC punt the Riverhawks struck again, this time from 22 yards out as La Mons dashed his way in to make it 21-0 after the PAT.
 
Bateman opened the drive of a trio of big passes, putting the Eagles all the way inside the redzone after a 21-yard connection with Watkins. Bateman stepped back to pass on the fourth play of the drive and has his pass intercepted by Steven Williams III , handing the ball back over to Susquehanna. The Riverhawks marched down the field and added to the lead and took it to the half in front 28-7.
 
Bridgewater opened the second half with the ball and marched down the field highlighted by a pair of big plays. Bateman found Cedric Drumgoole over the middle for 28 yards on the second play of the series and a 15-yard keeper by the BC quarterback but the Eagles' offense back in business. Bateman completed a pass to Watkins that took the Eagles to the Riverhawks' 16-yard line, but the ball came out and the home team came up with it.
 
BC forced an SU punt and Bridgewater worked back into SU territory before a penalty and a sack forced a BC punt. Susquehanna took over and again drained the clock with a menacing 15 play drive that spanned 88 yards spanning the quarter break. Ehrlich found Kyle Howes for the 18-yard pass touchdown to make it 34-7 after the missed PAT.
 
Samual Dragovich got the call to go under center for the Eagles first drive of the fourth quarter and started with a 13-yard completion to Johnson, but a turnover halted any plans. Susquehanna was marching down the field after the Dragovich interception, but Lowery stepped up on defense as the senior got into the backfield and knocked the ball free from Ehrlich and fell on it to give BC the ball back.
 
The BC drive was short lived after another interception by the Susquehanna defense. The Riverhawks padded onto the lead a few plays later to make it 41-7 after a La Mons rush from five-yards out. Bridgewater responded and drove the ball down the field as a pair of Bradyn Horacek carries got the Eagles in enemy territory. The pass rush again stifled the offensive attack as Dragovuch was sacked twice in SU territory, including on fourth and long.
 
Bateman led BC in the passing department with a 16-of-26 day with 164 yards. Watkins hauled in six passes for 65 yards to lead the receiving core. Horacek 41 yards late led the rushing attack as Wyatt Jervis also pitched in 22. Aaron Moore and Demarco Fleming led the tackling charge with eight each. Moore also added a tackle for loss.
 
Ehrlich tossed for 279 yards and three touchdowns for the Riverhawks as Lamons led SU in rushing and receiving with 123 yards on the ground and 99 in the air.
 
The Eagles are back in action on Saturday Sep. 14 as Southern Va. visits in the home-opener on family weekend at 2 p.m.