GETTYSBURG, Pa.  – The Gettysburg College football team will open the year with a strong test as the Bullets host Bridgewater College at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 6, at 1:30 p.m.
 
After back-to-back season openers against Misericordia University's fledgling football program, Gettysburg hosts a traditionally strong program out of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. The Bullets and Eagles have never met on the gridiron.
 
"They've had a very strong football tradition since Mike Clark arrived there," said Gettysburg Head Coach Barry Streeter. "This will be a good test for our football team this early. I think it's really good for us to play someone that has some legitimate credentials under their belt. I think it will be a great football game."
 
Bridgewater is coming off just its second non-winning season since 2000 after finishing 4-6 overall last fall. The team dropped six of its final seven regular-season games, all in conference play.
 
Gettysburg has won its last two openers, piling up 132 points in a pair of wins over Misericordia's new program. While the Bullets have never faced Bridgewater, the team is familiar with the ODAC. Hampden-Sydney College was a regular opponent on the schedule with the two teams meeting 22 times from 1982 to 2009. Gettysburg has also played Randolph-Macon College with the last meeting coming in 2000.
 
Both teams will be looking to kick off the new campaign on a positive note.
 
"They've traditionally been a good football team," said Streeter. "If you can beat a team like that, it's good in a lot of ways. I think conversely they're playing a good program. Both are established programs and if you can get a win in a game like that you can build around that for the upcoming season."
 

OPENING KICKOFF
Gettysburg and Bridgewater meet for the first time on the gridiron. The Bullets and Eagles are looking to get off on a strong note after each posting 4-6 records a year ago.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Saturday's game will feature live stats and live video thanks to the Orange and Blue Club and service provider Stretch Internet. You can follow along on your computer or mobile device at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/gettysburg/.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Gettysburg cut a 28-point deficit down to 10 before falling 36-26 at Franklin & Marshall to close the 2013 campaign. The Diplomats turned in each of the first 27 points of the game and led 34-13 at the break. The Bullets made a run with back-to-back scores at the end of the first half and beginning of the second before Franklin & Marshall logged a safety late in the third frame. Gettysburg stopped a Diplomat scoring drive in the fourth quarter thanks to a 69-yard interception return by A.J. Hill (Madison, Conn./Daniel hand), but the Bullets failed to convert off the turnover with a fumble near the red zone. Gettysburg was held to a season-low 38 yards rushing and surrendered a season-high 10 sacks. Quarterback Zach Miller (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) threw for 230 yards and totaled three touchdowns, while Chris Miller (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) and Kodie McNamara (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) each tallied 11 tackles and an interception.
 
LAST HOME SEASON OPENER
The last time Gettysburg opened the year at home was a memorable experience. The Bullets welcomed Misericordia University to collegiate competition with a 70-0 drubbing in 2012. Fred Caruso (Sinking Spring, Pa./Holy Name) took the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and the Bullets were just getting started. The hosts would go on to post a school and Centennial Conference record 546 rushing yards. The 70 points were the most scored by the Bullets since 1928 (81).
 
GETTYSBURG OFFENSE
Gettysburg lost each of its top two receivers, including all-time receiving yards leader Aden Twer '14, but the rest of the offense returns intact. Senior quarterback Zach Miller will guide the unit following his first season as a starter. Last fall, Miller logged 2,486 yards passing and 15 touchdowns. Junior tailback Kyle Wigley (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) returns to the backfield after amassing 855 yards and five touchdowns. Fred Caruso leads the wingback and receiving corps and has over 1,500 career all-purpose yards to his credit. The strength of the offense arguably lies with the offensive line which features eight returners that started at least two games a year ago. Senior Michael Reali (Manhasset, N.Y./Paul D. Schreiber) leads the way after earning All-Centennial Conference Second Team recognition. 
 
GETTYSBURG DEFENSE
The defensive unit returns a number of experienced players, including eight starters. On the defensive line, seniors Drew Winters (Midlothian, Md./Mountain Ridge) and A.J. Hill  were the team's top pass rushers a year ago and combined for 20.5 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks. Junior linebacker Kodie McNamara led the conference with 119 tackles and outside linebacker Chris Miller finished fourth on the team with 65 stops. Three of the team's defensive backs return, including junior Brian Calatozzo (Sewell, N.J./St. Augustine Prep), who picked off a team-best four passes in 2013.
 
GETTYSBURG SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior Robby Fay (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) is slated to handle all kicking duties this fall. An All-CC Second Team selection in 2013, Fay finished second in the conference by averaging 39.1 yards per punt. Fay will also return to extra-point and field-goal duties. The return game took a hit with the loss of Tommy LeNoir '14, who handled 50 of 67 punt/kick returns last season, but Caruso and senior Nick Ulassin (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) have plenty of experience in the return game. Caruso had an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the 2012 season opener, while Ulassin returned a school-record 41 kickoffs for 840 yards in 2011.
 
SPREAD WING
Gettysburg's vaunted offense is in the midst of a remarkable run. The Bullets have averaged over 200 yards rushing and over 400 yards of total offense in each of the last seven seasons. The Orange and Blue has put up over 30 or more points per game in each of the last six seasons.
 
HELPING HAND
Daniel Hand High School in Madison, Conn., has provided the Bullets some skilled football players this season, including seniors Zach Miller, Alec Pacelli, and A.J. Hill. All three student-athletes were named All-State after leading Hand to the state semifinals in 2010. Additionally, freshmen Daniel Rogers and Patrick Rogers, who is out for the season with an injury, also hail from Daniel Hand and helped the team claim back-to-back state titles in 2011 and 2012.
 
TWER THE BLUR
One of Gettysburg's most notable losses on the field is wide receiver Aden Twer '14. Twer graduated from Gettysburg with a slew of receiving records, including the program's career marks in receiving yards (2,225) and receiving touchdowns (24). The Bullets' current wide receiving corps has totaled 294 yards and four TDs combined.
 
SCOUTING BRIDGEWATER
Prior to last fall, Bridgewater had posted only one losing season since 2000. The Eagles finished national runner-up in 2001 and claimed five consecutive ODAC championships (2001-05). After posting wins in its first three contests a year ago and totaling more than 400 yards of offense in each game, Bridgewater dropped six of its final seven contests. Bridgewater will be looking to replace several offensive starters, including quarterback, fullback, and wide receiver. Senior Jacob Wright will lead the backfield after rushing for 743 yards and eight touchdowns on the way to All-ODAC Third Team recognition last season. Eight defensive starters return, including all-conference selections Nick Cawthon and Alex Collins at defensive tackle and linebacker, respectively. The secondary is particularly strong with five returning starters. Senior Darrick Gore was tagged All-ODAC First Team after posting 42 tackles and one interception. Junior place-kicker Chandler DeHaven tied a school record with 13 field goals last fall and was named D3football.com All-South Region First Team.