BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- The Bridgewater College football team looks to pick up where it left off in the 2022 regular season as it welcomes the No. 22 Susquehanna River Hawks to the Jopson Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon for a top 25 battle.
When: Saturday, September 2, 2023
Where: Bridgewater, Va.
Stadium: Jopson Athletic Complex
Kickoff: 2:00 pm
Gameday Forecast: Mostly Sunny
High: 87; Low: 50; Rain: < 5%
Series Record: Series Tied at 1-1 (Last meeting 1957)
SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS: Susquehanna is coming off a perfect 10-0 regular season in 2022 before falling in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. The River Hawks were champions in the Centennial Conference and were picked to finish first in its inaugural Landmark Conference preseason poll. The squad is ranked No. 22 in the D3football.com Preseason Top 25 Poll and returns two All-Region 2 selections from a year ago in offensive lineman Nick Gonzalez and wide receiver Kyle Howes. In addition, defensive back Keith Green III, offensive lineman Mark Custer, defensive lineman Jake Schultes and linebacker Drew Robinson are all back after earning all-conference laurels in 2022. The River Hawks outscored opponents by nearly 24 points per game last year and averaged over 400 yards of offense per game. On the other side of the ball, the Susquehanna defense yielded just 270 yards of offense per game and just 80 yards rushing.
SUSQUEHANNA HEAD COACH: Head coach Tom Perkovich enters his ninth season with the River Hawks and also serves as the offensive coordinator and the offensive line coach. He has led the program to four-straight postseason appearances. With a 51-19 record during his tenure, the River Hawks have lost just four games dating back to the 2019 season (Susquehanna did not play during the CoVID year of 2020). He ranks third in program history in wins and has supported over 60 All-Centennial Conference picks and four AFCA All-American selections. Perkovich came to Sellinsgrove after coaching at Muhlenberg (2006-2014), Colgate (2006), Holy Cross (2005) and a two-year additional stint at Muhlenberg from 2003-04.
LAST MEETING: The two teams last played in 1957 as the River Hawks walked away with a 27-0 victory on their home field. This will be the first matchup between the two sides in 66 years.
ALL-TIME SERIES: This is the third time the two programs have faced off with each program remaining prominent teams in the NCAA's Division III. The teams have split the only two meetings in history with both sides earning a 27-0 victory on their own home field. Bridgewater won 27-0 in 1956 for its largest win of that campaign, while Susquehanna earned a 27-0 victory in 1957 as previously mentioned.
WE BACK: Bridgewater returns virtually all of its starters from the 2022 season on all three facets of the game. The team sees a majority of its offensive line, quarterback room, wide receiving corps and tight ends back for the season with still an experienced running back room. On the other side of the ball, all 11 starters from the 2022 defense that stood as one of the top defenses in the ODAC return, some for fifth seasons. Meanwhile, the special teams unit that was boasted as one of the best in the country returns its All-American kick in Jack Hendren and NCAA Division III's statistical champion in kick returning, Brendan Robinson, plus its long snapper Blake Ashley who has snapped for a pair of All-Americans.
HOME SWEET HOME: Bridgewater was a perfect 5-0 at the Jopson Athletic Complex in 2022 and have won seven-straight home games dating back to the 2021 season where they trounced Guilford on Senior Day 43-0 and downed Apprentice 27-7. Dating back to the 2019 season, the Eagles are 14-4 on their home turf and have outscored opponents 538-265 during that stretch. Last season, BC outscored teams 144-66 at home.
ALL-AMERICAN MAN: Jack Hendren returns to the team after claiming All-ODAC, all-region, all-state and All-America honors in 2022. He was also named a D3football.com Preseason All-American prior to the start of the season. Hendren enters his junior season 18-for-24 from field goal range with a career long of 48 yards. He has also been true on 117 PAT attempts.
PRESEASON POLLS: Bridgewater and Susquehanna appeared in the D3football.com Preseason Top 25 rankings with the River Hawks set at No. 22 and the Eagles being among Others Receiving Votes. Both teams were part of the NCAA Regional Rankings at the end of last season, while Susquehanna has been in the Top 25 in 17 weeks over the last few years.
OTHER SUSQUEHANNA TEAMS IN ACTION: Susquehanna has a busy start to its athletic seasons as the River Hawks have several teams competing in the Division III opening weekend. On Friday, the men's and women's cross country teams head to Misericordia, while the volleyball program hosts the 18th Annual River Hawk Classic. The field hockey program travels to Franklin and Marshall, while both soccer teams compete against Misericordia with the men's side at home and the women's team making the trip to Dallas, Pennsylvania. The football and volleyball teams are in action on Saturday and the field hockey team wraps up the weekend with a home game against Allegheny on Sunday beginning at noon.
OTHER BRIDGEWATER TEAMS IN ACTION: Virtually every team is in action for Bridgewater this weekend as the cross country program hosts the Eagles Cross Country Challenge on Friday evening, while the men's soccer team hosts Regent the same day. The field hockey team heads south to Meredith and the volleyball team takes part in the Marlin Invitational at Virginia Wesleyan. The women's soccer team travels to Southern Virginia to round out Friday's action. Women's golf opens the fall slate at the Lynn Schweizer Invitational in Ohio for a two-day event. In addition to football and volleyball's Saturday slate, while both soccer squads are on the round on Sunday afternoon as the men go to Saint Vincent and the women battle Swarthmore up north in Pennsylvania.