GETTYSBURG, Pa.  – The final game of the 2017 season marks the end of an era as Gettysburg College heads to Franklin & Marshall College this Saturday for Head Coach Barry Streeter's final outing at the helm of the Orange and Blue.
 
After four tantalizingly close games that came down to the final horn to open the campaign, Gettysburg rebounded by winning three of its next four before last weekend's setback to Muhlenberg College. After scoring the last 22 points in a 29-21 win over a solid Susquehanna University team the previous weekend, the Bullets fell to the Mules 39-14 in their home finale.
 
"We made a lot of technical mistakes," noted Streeter. "This week, I talked about focusing on the details. We have to be detail-oriented and that takes being mentally prepared."
 
This weekend's contest at Franklin & Marshall brings its own set of exciting elements. The two teams are meeting for the 103rd time and it is the first at the newly constructed Shadek Field in Lancaster. The winner will take home the Lincoln Football Trophy, a stove-pipe hat-shaped wooden trophy created out of witness trees from the Gettysburg battlefield. Saturday's outing will also be the last for the Bullets' 20 seniors.
 
Perhaps the biggest storyline heading into the weekend is the end of Streeter's four-decade tenure at Gettysburg. He arrived on campus as an assistant coach in 1975, took over head duties in 1978, and has guided the team to three Centennial Conference titles and 196 victories. Streeter is hanging up his whistle in good health and plans to spend more time with his family, which includes nine grandchildren.
 
"I don't want it to be about me, I really don't," said Streeter, who is the longest-tenured head coach in all of NCAA Division III. "I want it to be about them being able to play well against a really good team. It should really be about their ability to prepare themselves and execute the game plan to the best of their ability and just stay focused on those details. That's what they have to do."
 
Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall have met on the gridiron in each of the last 41 seasons with Streeter on the sideline and they have clashed in the regular season finale every year since 1983. Since Streeter took over as head coach, the Diplomats hold a 21-17-1 advantage in the series.  
 
For Streeter, what came before and what comes after Saturday's game are the last things on his mind. His focus, and his team's focus, is entering Shadek Stadium and coming out with the Lincoln Trophy held high.
 
"I'm thinking about this team playing its last game and these 20 seniors playing their last game to the best of their ability," said Streeter. "Let's play the best game we've played. That's the top thing on my mind."
 
Saturday's game begins at 1 p.m.
 
OPENING KICKOFF
Gettysburg (3-6, 3-5 CC) looks to end the season on a high note against its most frequent rival, Franklin & Marshall (8-1, 7-1 CC). The Bullets are coming off a 39-14 loss to Muhlenberg College, while the Diplomats extended their win streak to three with a 42-28 victory over Ursinus College.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Saturday's game will feature live video and live stats courtesy of Franklin & Marshall and the Centennial Conference Digital Network. A full recap of the game will be posted on GettysburgSports.com with additional in-game updates sent out via Twitter.
 
THE SERIES
Gettysburg has faced Franklin & Marshall more times than any other institution in the 127-year history of its football program. The two institutions are meeting with the 103rd time and the Bullets hold a slim 48-47-1 lead. The Diplomats hold the advantage on their home turf at 38-29-5, but this weekend's game will be the first at Shadek Stadium. Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall have met in the regular season finale 34-straight years.
 
THE LINCOLN FOOTBALL TROPHY
The Lincoln Trophy is more than a wooden carving molded in the shape of a former President's hat. It contains a history that stretches back 154 years. The award was created out of two "witness trees" that stood like sentinels as the Battle of Gettysburg raged in and around the community in July, 1863. Found inside one of the trees used to create the trophy was a bullet from the battle. That relic has been safely sealed within the award, representing a bridge to the past. The Lincoln Trophy, created by local historian and woodworker Bill Hewitt, stands as a prize to be won in the battles that will continue between Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall on the gridiron. The trophy made its first appearance for Gettysburg's and Franklin & Marshall's 100^th meeting in 2014.
 
LAST MEETING
Franklin & Marshall turned in the final two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to escape Gettysburg 28-21 last season. The Bullets carried a 12-7 lead into halftime before the Diplomats jumped ahead on a four-yard touchdown throw by Tanner Erisman in the third quarter. The hosts came right back with Ryan Thompson '18 (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) hauling in a short pass form brother Danny Thompson '17 late in the quarter and a 27-yard field goal by Justin Geisel (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) made it 21-14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Erisman fueled the Diplomat comeback with a short touchdown run and the game-winning touchdown throw with 5:47 left. Justin Davidov '18 (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) threw for 139 yards and added 78 yards rushing for the Bullets. Ryan Thompson fielded five catches for 55 yards. Kamau Bridges '18 (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) totaled 10 tackles and an interception to lead the defense. Erisman threw a pair of touchdowns and rushed for 96 yards for F&M.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Muhlenberg jumped out to a 16-0 lead and went on to defeat Gettysburg 39-14 at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium last Saturday. The Mules scored a pair of touchdowns just over a minute apart at the start of the second quarter, the first completing an 82-yard drive and the second following a fumble recovery on the kickoff. The Bullets went big for their first score as senior Justin Davidov hooked up with 6-7 tight end Andrew Major (St. Davids, Pa./Radnor) for a 54-yard touchdown to pull the score to 16-7. After a six-yard touchdown reception by senior Ryan Thompson in the third quarter made it 29-14, the Mules turned in the final 10 points to close the game. Davidov finished with career highs for completions (24) and yards (280), while throwing a pair of touchdowns. Major hauled in four passes for a career-high 88 yards. Juniors Mike McKnight (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) and Jake Skinner (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) each posted 13 tackles to lead the defensive unit.
 
SCOUTING FRANKLIN & MARSHALL
Franklin & Marshall blew open a close game against Ursinus with a pair of touchdowns at the start of the fourth quarter on the way to a 42-28 decision last Saturday. Holding a 28-21 lead at the start of the final period, junior Tanner Erisman found senior Dillon Alderfer for a six-yard touchdown. The Bears drove down to the Diplomat 11-yard line on their ensuing possession, but junior Vincent Speranza intercepted a pass and ran it all the way back for a score and 42-21 lead with 10:49 left. Ursinus held a 488-398 advantage in total offense, but Franklin & Marshall recorded four takeaways in the contest. Erisman finished 18-of-27 for 233 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Alderfer recorded seven catches for 110 yards and two scores. Senior Taalib Gerald carried the ball 35 times for 153 yards and scored twice. Senior Ben Okun recorded eight tackles, two tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, one pass break-up, and a 55-yard interception return to pace the defense.
 
Franklin & Marshall enters the final weekend of the regular season tied with Johns Hopkins for the top spot in the Centennial Conference. The Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker in the event of a tie thanks to a 45-7decision on Oct. 7. A win would put the Diplomats in the running for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and clinches the top seed in the Middle Atlantic Conference-Centennial Conference Bowl Series. F&M paces the CC in interceptions (12), defensive touchdowns (4), and average time of possession (34:07). Erisman leads the CC in quarterback efficiency (164.7) thanks to a 23:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Gerald is tied for the league lead with eight rushing touchdowns and he heads into his final regular-season game with 2,220 career rushing yards. Junior defensive lineman Joe Granahan leads the conference with 12 sacks and three forced fumbles. Franklin & Marshall is making its second appearance at its new field. The Diplomats opened Shadek Stadium with a 56-0 drubbing of Dickinson on Oct. 21.
 
THE END OF AN ERA
Saturday's game marks the final outing for Gettysburg Head Coach Barry Streeter. Streeter joined the Bullets' staff as an assistant coach in 1975 and was named head coach just three years later. Over the last 39 years, he has guided the Bullets to 196 victories and three Centennial Conference titles. In 1985, he led Gettysburg to its only unbeaten regular season (9-0-1) and an appearance in the NCAA Division III semifinals – the best finish by a Centennial institution to this day. Streeter has coached 207 all-conference performers, three CC Offensive Players of the Year, 21 All-Americans, and six Academic All-Americans at Gettysburg. He played both football and lacrosse at Lebanon Valley College and is a member of the Dutchmen's Hall of Fame.
 
GETTYSBURG OFFENSE
Gettysburg was held to a season-low 44 yards rushing last week against Muhlenberg, but the Bullets turned in a season-high 305 yards passing. The team ranks fourth in the conference in rushing yardage. Freshman tailback Reggie JeanCharles (Galloway, N.J./Holy Spirit) leads conference newcomers with 74.9 rushing yards per game, while senior Justin Davidov is one of the top running quarterbacks with 49.4 rushing yards per game. Davidov has thrown his 11 touchdowns to seven different receivers, including four to senior Ryan Thompson. Sophomore Kevin Benavente (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel) has taken over the top spot in receiving yards on the team with 285 on 19 receptions.
 
GETTYSBURG DEFENSE
Junior Jake Skinner is three tackles shy of his first 100-tackle season. Skinner ranks second overall in the CC with 10.8 tackles per game. Junior Mike McKnight is fourth in the conference in tackles and leads the way with 15 pass break-ups. Junior Logan Aikey (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) ranks second in the conference with 14.5 tackles for a loss. Freshman Thomeir Richardson (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central) has recovered four fumbles and ranks second in the league with 11 pass break-ups. Senior Glenn Benson ranks third on the team with 60 tackles and is the only Bullet with an interception, fumble recovery, and forced fumble this season.
 
GETTYSBURG SPECIAL TEAMS
Sophomore Justin Geisel ranks third in the conference in field goals made (9), field goals attempted (15), and kicking points (48). His 47-yarder against Susquehanna was the longest in the conference this fall. Sophomore Evan Tannenbaum (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga) ranks third in the CC with an average of 36.3 yards per punt and has placed 17 punts inside the opponent's 20-yardline.
 
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Senior linebacker Glenn Benson and sophomore kicker Justin Geisel were named Centennial Conference Players of the Week on Monday, Oct. 30. Benson grabbed the defensive award after posting a career-high 11 tackles and two forced fumbles against Susquehanna. Geisel earned his second specials teams nod after booting three field goals and two extra points in the victory over the River Hawks. Freshman tailback Reggie JeanCharles was also named CC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 8 following his 178-yard rushing performance against Juniata College.
 
QB RUSHING RECORD
Senior Justin Davidov set the program's record for rushing yards by a quarterback last week. Davidov enters his final game with 1,148 career rushing yards and passed the previous mark of 1,128 held by Matt Flynn '10. With 2,743 passing yards, Davidov is just 109 yards shy of becoming the seventh Bullet to go over 4,000 total yards in a career.
 
ROOKIE RUSHER
With 178 rushing yards against Juniata, freshman Reggie JeanCharles posted the best rushing day by a first-year tailback since Tom Sturges '08 went for 180 against Ursinus on Oct. 23, 2004. The most rushing yards in a game by a Gettysburg freshman was 242 by Paul Smith '00 against Swarthmore in 1996. Smith also holds the program record for rushing yards by a freshman with 888 in 1996 and JeanCharles is second with 674 this fall. Smith and JeanCharles are both graduates of the same high school – Holy Spirit – in Absecon, N.J.
 
DO-IT-ALL DEFENDER
Senior Glenn Benson is the lone Gettysburg player with an interception, fumble recovery, and forced fumble this fall. Benson posted his first career interception in the season opener against Bridgewater and he logged two fumble recoveries against Moravian. He has three forced fumbles on the season, including two against Susquehanna. The senior linebacker is the only Bullet to have two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in different games in the same season.
 
BREAK IT UP
Junior Mike McKnight recorded a career-high five pass break-ups against Moravian, which is one shy of the program's single-game record. McKnight already has 15 pass break-ups this season, the most by a Bullet in over two decades. Andy Baribeau '96 holds the program record for pass break-ups in a season with 16 in 1995.
 
BLOCKED KICKS
Gettysburg swatted a pair of kick attempts in the season opener. Senior Dakota Brovero blocked an extra point and classmate Andrew Major (St. Davids, Pa./Radnor) denied a 30-yard field goal. It was the first time Gettysburg managed two blocked kicks in the same game since beating Misericordia in 2013. Major also swatted away a field goal against Johns Hopkins, moving him into a tie for the program's career mark with four.
 
FAMILY TIES
Senior Dakota Brovero is the second member of his family to play for Coach Streeter. Dakota's father, Don '88, was a three-time letterwinner with the Bullets and helped the team win the Centennial Conference title and go to the NCAA Division III semifinals in 1985. The younger Brovero is in the midst of a career year on the defensive line with 37 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, and five sacks.
 
IN THE ARMY NOW
Six members of the Gettysburg community took the Oath of Enlistment into the Army prior to the game against Dickinson, including sophomore football player Tyrus Legenski (Glendora, N.J./Triton Regional). All of the cadets received full tuition and fee scholarships for college valued between $100,000-200,000.