BRIDGEWATER, Va. - The Bridgewater College football team's comeback effort against Stevenson came up just short on Saturday night by a 32-27 scoreline.

Each team traded three-and-outs, but a short punt by Stevenson gave the Eagles a short field. Two big completions from Jaicere Bateman to Evan Welsh got the Eagles down to the six-yard line before some trickery led to Ian Browne taking a lateral in for a score to give BC a 7-0 lead after the Agustin Miguel point after. 

The Stevenson offense stalled at the hands of the Eagles defense as tackles up front by Elijah Choy, Aaron Nice and Shalin Green forced a quick punt. BC worked from near the midfield stripe, but could not convert. A punt by Aiden Grefe trapped SU at their own 10, and the Mustangs mustered their first first down of the night, but a stop in the backfield by Kyle Beer and Wyatt Singletary forced another Mustangs' punt. 

BC added on just before the end of the opening frame as Bateman connected with Browne in the flat and the seas parted as the wideout sprinted in for his second score of the night. After Miguel's PAT BC took a 14-0 advantage.Stevenson looked to rebound instantly as a 45-yard completion by Jailen Knight put the Mustangs in business at the end of the first. Another deep pass from Knight put SU deep in BC territory before Louis Clouser bullied his way in from six yards out to get the visitors on the board. The BC special teams got involved on the try as Kyle Beer blocked the kick and Coleman Strange had a chance to return it, but was knocked out of bounds by the Mustangs' kicker to make it 14-6.

The next BC drive stalled out after an early false start, and Stevenson took advantage with two early conversions on third down during the next possession. Bridgewater looked to have stopped SU on third down deep in Eagle territory, but a personal foul extended the drive. The Mustangs punched it in for a score on the next play, but the two-point conversion that followed was not successful to make it a 14-12 lead for BC with 6:40 to go in the half. 

Bridgewater looked to rebound, but a fumble after a long return by Brendan Robinson fell in the hands of Stevenson and the Mustangs looked to strike again. A deep pass over the middle put Stevenson in a goal-to-go situation, and the BC defense stood tall, forcing SU to a fourth and goal from the one-yard line. The Mustangs just pushed the rush over the goalline to take their first lead of the night, 19-14, after the successful point after. The sides traded punts before BC looked to bounce back just before the half. The Eagles worked down the field and were just outside of the red zone before the final snap of the half was intercepted and taken the distance for a pick-six. The successful point after made it 26-14 for Stevenson at the break. 

Stevenson was forced to punt on its first drive of the second half, and BC capitalized. A 15-yard rush from Tate Leach set the tone as Bridgewater marched down the field before Bateman found Browne again in the endzone for the score. Miguel's kick was true and made it 26-21 late in the third. The BC defense made quick work of the Mustangs' next drive, and a short punt put Bridgewater in business, it seemed. The turnover bug caught BC again as an interception and a long return led to Stevenson adding onto the lead shortly after as a 36-yard field goal made it 29-21 late in the third quarter.

BC was forced to punt on its next drive, and a long field goal by the Mustangs, at the tone of 49 yards, made it 32-21 with 12:05 to play. Bridgewater attempted to put a drive together, highlighted by a conversion on fourth down early in the series. The turnover big came around again as Bateman was strip-sacked and Stevenson fell on it. The Mustangs tried to bleed some clock, but the Bridgewater defense held strong to give the offense a shot. 

The Eagles were trapped deep in their own end before a 60-yard throw and catch from Bateman to Leach sliced into the lead. Bridgewater went for two, but was stopped to make it 32-27 with 2:49 to play. The Eagles' defense did its job again as a stop in the backfield by Aaron Nice set the tone for a quick three-and-out. Another short punt gave the Eagles the ball at the Stevenson 40, but a pair of incompletions, including a drop on fourth down, sealed the deal for the Mustangs.

Bridgewater's offense was anchored by Bateman's 326 yards through the air and three touchdowns. Browne hauled in two touchdowns through the air, along with the score on the ground, to go along with 123 yards in the air. Nice led the BC defense with nine tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, in his return to the program. 

Both teams struggled on the ground, as neither team rushed for under 100 yards each as a unit. Despite that, the Eagles still totaled over 400 yards of total offense, but four turnovers made the difference.

BC is back at it next Saturday at No. 4 Susquehanna.