By Pat Coleman
D3sports.com
People have mentioned to me that I'm writing an awful lot about the ODAC. Sorry. That's still the conference I see the most, with two schools within a 90-minute drive.
One that's not so close is Bridgewater. In fact, the Eagles were pretty much off the map in terms of ODAC football not so long ago. Coming off an 0-10 season, Bridgewater was picked last in the seven-team conference.
The Eagles served notice on the rest of the conference with a 41-14 shellacking of Guilford, undefeated in conference play at the time. And Bridgewater still has its destiny in its own hands, if Catholic can beat Emory & Henry this week. That would set up a showdown in Week 11 for the conference title.
But the Eagles, to a man, are not looking forward to their Nov. 6 game with Randolph-Macon nor the season-ender against Catholic Nov. 13. Everyone I spoke to uttered the fatal cliche...
Yes, they're taking it one game at a time.
"For us to have a chance we have to keep that tight a focus," said Bridgewater Head Coach Michael Clark.
Last year "was one of those years that got out of hand from the mental point of view. No question at Bridgewater we're grateful for every win we get."
"Last year we had too many individuals after their own agendas," said sophomore free safety Henry Eggleston.
Washington & Lee is next on Bridgewater's list, Saturday.
Bowers still rolling along
All-American R.J. Bowers broke two records, tied one and eclipsed another career milestone last week in Grove City's 45-26 win at Kenyon. Bowers rushed for a school-record 305 yards and six touchdowns on 41 carries, setting a Division III record with his 12th career 200- yard game.
The 6-2, 242-pound junior fullback nosed past his own single-game rushing record of 304 yards set last year against Thiel. His six touchdowns tied the school record held by himself (vs. Thiel, 1998) and Greg Magness (vs. Geneva, 1968). Bowers also became the eighth player in NCAA Division III history to surpass the 5,000-yard plateau.
Bowers ranks sixth all-time with 5,164 yards rushing. The Division III record for career rushing yards is 6,125 set by Coe College's Carey Bender from 1991-94. With 422 career points, Bowers is tied for fourth in Division III annals. Bender owns the record with 528 career points. Bowers extended his NCAA Division III record of consecutive 100-yard games to 24.
Dumas sets receiving marks
Lycoming senior wide receiver Tim Dumas set two Lycoming career records and tying one other mark in last week's game against Albright. . He hauled in six catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns while posting the third 100-yard game of the season and 13th of his career. He also moved into first place in career receiving yardage (2,745) and set the program mark for touchdown receptions (28). His 28 career scores ties the all-time program mark for total touchdowns. Dumas has 36 catches for 618 yards and nine touchdowns in 1999.
The week ahead
Emory & Henry at No. 13 Catholic (1:00)
The luster is off this game a little bit with Emory & Henry's recent loss to Randolph-Macon, but the first meeting since 1983 between the teams ranked 1-2 in the ODAC preseason poll still has a lot riding on it. Namely, that's the ODAC AQ (or at least, the drivers' seat on the road to the title).
Key is whether Emory & Henry's Oliver Jordan, the 1998 ODAC Player of the Year, is at 100 percent. If not, and the Wasps (5-2, 3-1 ODAC) have to rely on their fledgling passing game, it could be a long day. Jordan has only been playing every other series of late. Catholic (6-1, 3-0) has been looking to this game all season -- perhaps as a chance to prove to Emory & Henry that the Cardinals were worthy of last year's playoff spot.
No. 21 Frostburg State at Kentucky Wesleyan (2:30)
Frostburg State (6-1, 3-1 ACFC) looks to rebound from last week's 20-17 overtime loss to Ferrum last week when it travels to Div. II Kentucky Wesleyan (6-2). FSU defeated the Panthers 34-16 last year at home. This is the Bobcats' third higher-division opponent this season, though Kentucky Wesleyan does not offer football scholarships. Frostburg State defeated Central Connecticut and West Virginia Tech earlier this year.
Frostburg State is led offensively by the rushing tandem of Denelle Hale and Craig Hopkins. Hale leads all rushers in carries (140), yards (582) and average yards per game (83.1) and has six touchdowns. Hopkins has gained 459 yards on 60 attempts for a team-high average of 7.7 yards per attempt and has eight TDs. Jason Henry has completed 74 of 144 attempts for 913 yards and nine touchdowns. Greg Cooper leads all receivers in receptions (39), yards (469), average yards per game (67) and touchdowns (six). Defensively, linebacker Chris Seguinot tops all tacklers with 68 (33 solo). Defensive lineman Patrick Hoiler has a team-high eight sacks and cornerback Brian McElhenny is the team's interception leader with five.
Widener at No. 7 Western Maryland (1:00)
A key interconference matchup that looked much better on paper before the season started but has also lost some of its luster after Widener (5-2, 2-1 MAC) was blanked by Lycoming and lost to Susquehanna. But it's a definite upgrade over years past, when the Green Terror (7-0, 5-0 Centennial) were playing Salisbury State in this spot. Western Maryland has won 27 consecutive regular-season games.
Swarthmore at Franklin & Marshall (1:00)
I'm thinking someone's going to win this battle of winless Centennial teams. Line? Franklin & Marshall (0-7, 0-4) by 24½ over Swarthmore (1-5, 0-5). That pick is for recreational use only and should not be used as the basis for an actual wager. That's the last thing we need...