Bridgewater's Matt Johnson in the Army, then, as an Eagle in 2005, and as an Eagle in 2014, followed by McDaniel's crew of veterans.

Playing college football means more to Bridgewater’s Matt Johnson and McDaniel’s Jeremy Nagle, Mike Wright, and Shane Douglass than it does to most student-athletes.

These four men appreciate the opportunity to line up on Saturdays. For years, football was a distant thought, thousands of miles away from the deserts of the Middle East where they were busy serving their nation while postponing their college plans. Now, they are using the GI Bill to fulfill their college plans and live their delayed dream of playing college football.

For two programs looking to return to their glory days of the early 2000’s, adding players with such real-life experience was a no-brainer.

“Taking over and trying to rebuild a program that’s been struggling, the first thing you do is start with character, leadership, and work ethic,” said Green Terror coach Mike Hoyt. “I couldn’t ask for a better situation with these guys. They’ve got all those intangible qualities.”

For the players, they have a renewed perspective that they would not have had as teenagers fresh out of high school. While it may take their bodies a bit longer to recover on Sundays, their commitment to their team and to making the most out of each day cannot be questioned.

“It isn’t easy being a student-athlete,” said Johnson, who has one more year of eligibility left at Bridgewater, “but even my worst day at college is still better than an average day during deployment.”

Johnson spent a semester at Bridgewater in 2005 and was a freshman on the last Eagles team to win an ODAC championship. He was struggling with school and with a weight that he felt on his shoulders. Both of his grandfathers served in the Army. He met with head coach Mike Clark following the season and told him of his plan to take time away from school to follow in his grandfathers’ footsteps.

“I was really patriotic growing up and I really love football, but I felt a higher calling,” said Johnson. “I had trouble letting go of football, but I always felt that if it was meant to be, the opportunity would present itself again.”

He spent six years in the Army, serving two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. After taking classes at Penn State upon his return, he reached out to Clark to see if he could rejoin the program he left more than eight years ago. Clark had no problem welcoming the matured 27-year-old back into the fold.

“I think he’s fit in well,” said Clark. “To our players, he’s just another teammate. But there’s no question he’s got a perspective that most college kids don’t have.”

Hoyt has three such players on his roster. Nagle joined the Army straight out of high school, but found his way to his older brother’s alma mater. He did not think he had the ability to play at this level after so many years away from the game, but now wishes that he had joined the Green Terror squad earlier. He joined the football team as a junior and has relished the past two seasons.

“My time in the service really helped me as a student-athlete. For the student side being in the army made me a lot more responsible,” said Nagle. “For the athlete side of things, it helped me so much especially during training camp when we have meetings and practice all day. It reminds me of going through basic training, but with a lot less push-ups.”

Football was a constant that helped these veterans retain a sense of home while they were serving abroad. Nagle’s unit would wake up at 3 a.m. and eat hot wings while watching NFL games from Afghanistan. Johnson served alongside former Division I players and they would talk football which helped them forge through lonely stretches without contact from home. Fantasy football was a welcome diversion.

“Football was always a big thing in my life, and it really got me through my deployment,” said Nagle.

“Football was a constant [overseas],” added Johnson.

Playing football again also seemed like a fantasy. Coming home and going back to school was the realistic goal, and their service helped ready each man for college. Daily 5:30 wake-up calls made getting up for an 8:30 class relatively easy. Physical training made it possible to get back into football shape quickly. An emphasis on education made them enjoy the added benefit of rekindling their love of football.

“It helped me prepare a lot with time management, making sure I get all of my assignments done on time,” said Wright, a 24-year-old freshman. “School was always first. Playing football here was an extra perk.”

Although they are inexperienced on the field, these men instantly earned the respect of their younger teammates, who have helped them adjust to the changes in the pace and style of the game since they last played. The players lend a voice of authority within their respective programs.

“My teammates listen to our coaches, but they don’t always take it in,” said Wright. “They’ll listen to me more because I’m in the fight with them and see things from their perspective.”

“My teammates learn from me and I learn from them,” said Johnson. “They help me with football and I help them with maturity.”

While offensive and defensive schemes have evolved, the principles upon which these four men base their college experience are transcendent. The coaches appreciate having their mature voices in the locker room.

“They can provide a new perspective for our young guys,” said Hoyt. “If they can play and contribute on the field, that’s a bonus.”

A new trophy

Franklin and Marshall will meet Gettysburg for the 100th time on Saturday in Gettysburg. This time, the newly created Lincoln Football Trophy is at stake. The upper hand in the series is also at stake. Remarkably, these programs are knotted up at 46-46-7 through their first 99 encounters.

The Lincoln Trophy has been molded and carved from the remains of two trees that bore witness to President Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Gettysburg following the great battle 151 years ago.

The Bullets have not lost to the Diplomats at home since 2004. Last season, the Dips snapped a three-game losing streak to the Bullets with a 36-26 home victory.

Record-setting Saturday

Shenandoah’s Cedrick Delaney rushed for an ODAC-record 321 yards on 41 carries. He added three touchdowns, but it was not enough to complete a comeback. Emory and Henry jumped out to a 28-0 lead and held off the Hornets for a 42-34 victory. Delaney, just a sophomore, also broke the school record for rushing yards in a season. He has 1,174 yards heading into the season finale.

Johns Hopkins clinched its record 10th Centennial Conference title. The program’s first championship came in 2002.

Christopher Newport wide receiver Rudy Rudolph set a USA South single-season record with 1,289 receiving yards. His teammate Mason Studer set a school record by nailing a 50-yard field goal, as the Captains clinched the USA South title.

Ian Gimbar set a school record for career sacks, while Nick Palladino set a record for most completions in a season, as Muhlenberg outgained Ursinus 459-230 en route to a 41-27 win. With a win at Moravian on Saturday, the Mules will have a case for a Pool C bid at 9-1.

Three down, one (or more) to go

Christopher Newport clinched the USA South crown in its final trip through the conference, holding off Maryville, 37-27. Marcus Morrast passed for three scores and ran for another, and Studer was perfect on three field goals and four point-after tries. The Captains get a bye before the first round of the playoffs.

Johns Hopkins won its tenth Centennial title since 2002. The Blue Jays have dominated the conference this year behind a defense yielding just 14 points per game this season.

We’ll go ahead and give one of the two Pool B bids to Wesley, which enters its regular season finale against Division I Charlotte with a 9-0 record.

#ODACtion

That leaves the ODAC to be decided. For the third year in a row, Guilford faced Hampden-Sydney with first place in the conference standings on the line. For the first time, the Quakers delivered a memorable performance. Matt Pawlowski passed for 363 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Nash Nance countered with 237 yards and four touchdowns with no picks. The Tigers quarterback delivered the edge on the ground, rushing for 138 yards and the decisive score. Hampden-Sydney held on for a 35-28 win in overtime. The Quakers rallied from a ten point deficit to tie the game in final minute.

When Pawlowski hooked up with Austen Thompson from 18 yards out with 22 seconds to play, Guilford’s coaching staff had a crucial decision to make. They had already used what they felt was their best two-point play earlier in the game. They had confidence in their kicker and believed that they had momentum heading into overtime. After Nance scored on the Tigers opening possession of overtime, the Quakers were unable to gain a yard and went four-and-out. The junior-laden squad will be back in contention next year, but this game is one that the Guilford program will not forget for many years.

Now, it’s simple. If the Tigers win The Game, they win the ODAC. But is anything in the ODAC ever that simple?

Making a case

Emory and Henry and Muhlenberg could each finish 9-1, with their only losses to the eventual conference champions. Will that be enough to earn a coveted Pool C bid? The Wasps won at defending USA South champion Maryville, but their other two non-conference wins are over teams with a combined three wins. The Mules only non-conference opponent has won just two games this season.

Guilford and Bridgewater could each finish 8-2, but will be on the outside of the playoff picture. The Quakers senior class could complete the program’s turnaround from winless the season before their arrival, to 2-8 as freshmen, to 8-2 in their final campaign. The Eagles restored the program’s tradition after suffering just the program’s second losing season since 1999 last year.

What did I miss?

Do you know about any upcoming milestones, big games or new names in the Mid-Atlantic? Please share them with me. If you have suggestions for next week's column, please reach out to me on Twitter at @adamturer or via email at adam.turer@d3sports.com.