BRIDGEWATER, Va. - The Bridgewater College football team looks to bounce back as it will do battle with Averett on Saturday.

When: Saturday, September 26, 2025
Where: Danville, Va.
Stadium: Daly Field
Kickoff: 2:00 pm 
Gameday Forecast: Rain, 74F
        70% Chance of rain
Series Record: BC leads 5-0

AARON NICE THINGS: Aaron Nice returned to the gridiron for the first time in over a year in BC's week one loss to Stevenson and continues to make an impact after three games in 2025. Nice ranks among the national leaders in getting stops behind the line of scrimmage as the senior sits sixth in Div. III in total TFL and fifth in sacks as he's averaging multiple in each department. Nice also ranks 21st in Division III and leads the ODAC with 6.7 solo tackles per game and he is tied for 10th nationally with a pair of forced fumbles in 2025, both of which came in last week's loss to nationally-recognized Randolph-Macon

AIR RAID:  The Bridgewater offense has relied heavily on the passing game through the season's first three contests. BC is averaging 211.0 yards through the air per game to rank fourth in the ODAC and just outside the top 100 in the country. The Eagles are paced by Jaicere Bateman's 207.0 yards per game through the air, which ranks second in the ODAC. Bateman's top target has been the ODAC's receiving touchdown leader Ian Browne. Browne is among the conference's leaders in all means of receiving, including holding the second-best mark in yards, yards per game and receptions per game. On the flip side, BC's run game has been less than ideal. BC netted zero rushing yards last week against Randolph-Macon as Bateman was sacked eight times in the loss. BC is averaging just 36.7 yards on the ground this season, which is the lowest among the ODAC institutions, but BC has faced three of the nation's top 50 defenses against the run to start the season.

THE DARKSIDE: The Bridgewater defense has had to take on two of the nation's top rushing attacks over the last two weeks, but the group rebounded well on Saturday, all things considered. The Eagles' strength defensively has been against the pass as they hold the ODAC's second-best pass defense and rank 69th nationally, averaging 2.3 sacks per game. BC also sits tied for 28th nationally in fumble recoveries, highlighted by a pair last week against RMC.

SPECIAL TEAMS MATTER:  The Bridgewater special teams unit has continued to be a highlight. Aiden Grefe leads the ODAC and ranks third in Division III in punting as he averages 45.9 yards per attempt. The Eagles' punt return unit has also been solid in 2025 as Tate Leach ranks second in the ODAC and 40th nationally, averaging 7.8 yards per return. Brendan Robinson has been limited in the kick return game for the Eagles in some capacity, but the senior still ranks inside the top 60 in kick returns in Division III. 

SCOUTING THE COUGARS: Averett looks to end a four-game losing skid that extends back to the last week of 2024. The Cougars hold the ODAC's top passing offense as Ethan Ross's 225.7 yards per game ranks 60th in Division III. The Cougars also rank in the top half of the conference in yards per completion, but struggle to take care of the football as they have already turned the ball over an ODAC-high nine times. The AU defense has excelled at getting stops behind the line of scrimmage with 4.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks per game, but they are allowing over 480 yards of total offense per contest to rank outside the top 220 nationally. 

AVERETT HEAD COACH:  Patrick Henry is in his sixth season leading the Cougars. Henry has been at Averett since 2012 and took over the program during the 2020 spring campaign. The Avon, Ohio native has amassed 17 wins over his tenure in Danville, highlighted by a pair of five-win seasons. Henry has coached many different position groups for the Cougars during his tenure including wide receivers, defensive tackles and tight ends, while he was a quarterback himself during his playing days at Defiance College from 2001-2004.

RUN RUN RUN: Averett has struggled on both sides of the ball when it comes to the running game. The Cougars rank 222nd in both rushing offense and rushing defense as they are tallying just 44.7 yards per game on the ground, while giving up 244.7 yards the other way. Last week against a new ODAC foe, Gallaudet, AU gave up  249 yards rushing while the Bison registered 6.1 yards per carry.

SCOREBOARD WORKOUT: AU has given up 39 points or more in all three games this season (49.7 ppg) and has given up 50 or more points in each of the last two meetings with Bridgewater.