Game Notes (PDF)
GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Gettysburg College and Bridgewater College kick off the 2017 campaign under the lights at Jopson Field this Friday at 7:30 p.m.
OPENING KICKOFF
Just two years ago, Gettysburg played its first season opener under the lights at Bridgewater and it was a memorable display as the Bullets set a school record with 574 rushing yards in a 49-10 victory. The Orange and Blue are hoping lightning strikes twice following a 3-7 campaign that started with a 38-22 setback to the Eagles in 2016. Bridgewater dropped five of its next six contests after beating Gettysburg last season, but the team ended the year with three-straight wins to finish 5-5.
GAME COVERAGE
Friday's game will feature
live stats and
live video courtesy of Bridgewater. A full recap of the game will be posted on
GettysburgSports.com.
THE COACHES
Barry Streeter enters his 39th season at the helm of Gettysburg's football program. Streeter is the longest-tenured active coach in Division III and ranks second in longevity among all current NCAA football coaches. With 193 career wins, Streeter ranks eighth among active Division III coaches. Streeter has led Gettysburg to three Centennial Conference championships (1983-85) and he has twice been named CC Coach of the Year. In 1985, he led the Bullets to the only undefeated regular season in school history (9-0-1) and an appearance in the national semifinals. Streeter is a 1971 graduate of Lebanon Valley and is a member of the Dutchmen's Hall of Fame.
Michael Clark is in his 23rd season as head football coach at Bridgewater. Clark has guided Bridgewater to a 143-90-1 record, five ODAC titles, and six NCAA appearances during his tenure. In 2003, Bridgewater put up a 12-2 record, won the conference title, and advanced all the way to the national semifinals. Clark is a 1980 graduate of the University of Cincinnati where he was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive back on the football team.
THE SERIES
Bridgewater has won two of three meetings with Gettysburg since 2014. The home team has not fared well in the match up with the Bullets falling on their turf 33-32 and 38-22 and the Eagles dropping a 49-10 decision in 2015.
LAST MEETING
Bridgewater put up the first 31 points on the way to a 38-22 win over Gettysburg at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium last fall. The Bullets recovered with three touchdowns over the final 7:28, including a 35-yard toss from junior
Justin Davidov (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) to classmate
Ty Abdul-Karim (Washington, D.C./Woodberry Forest (Va.)). Davidov finished 12-of-17 for 150 yards and added 97 rushing yards on 16 carries. Junior
Frank Olmo (Eatontown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) piled up 15 tackles for the Bullets. For Bridgewater,
Brendon Maturey tossed three touchdowns while piling up 193 yards passing and 101 yards rushing.
Keith Jennings hauled in five passes for 135 yards, including a pair of touchdowns.
LAST TIME OUT
Gettysburg surrendered the Lincoln Football Trophy to rival Franklin & Marshall in a 28-21 setback at the close of 2016. The Bullets opened up strong as freshman
Charles Clewis broke loose for a 77-yard run to the end zone in the opening quarter. After the Diplomats tied the game, sophomore
Justin Geisel (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) put Gettysburg back in front with a season-long 36-yard field goal. A safety gave the hosts a 12-7 lead at halftime. Gettysburg maintained the lead with a touchdown by junior
Ryan Thompson (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hill) and another field goal by Geisel putting the score at 21-14 early in the fourth quarter. The Diplomats tied the game with a long drive and jumped in front following a turnover. Junior
Justin Davidov's last-second heave into the end zone was intercepted. Davidov finished with 139 yards passing and 78 yards on the ground. Junior
Kamau Bridges (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) led the defense with 10 tackles and an interception.
Tanner Erisman posted 96 rushing yards and a touchdown and also threw for two scores.
SCOUTING BRIDGEWATER
Bridgewater's late-season surge propelled the team to a 5-5 overall record and 4-3 mark in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference a year ago. The Eagles were selected fifth in the ODAC Preseason Poll. The squad returns a combined 14 starters on both sides of the ball. Juniors
Jay Scroggins, a former transfer from Shepherd, and
Brendon Maturey are battling for the starting job at quarterback, while senior
Malivai Barker leads the backfield after piling up 1,246 all-purpose yards on the way to All-ODAC honors last season. Cracking Bridgewater's secondary will be a challenge with All-State cornerback
Isaac Evans, who returned two picks for scores last season, and all-conference safety
Chance Morris. The Eagles are looking to fill the void left by two-time All-State linebacker Davey Hardesty as well as solidifying the kicking game.
GETTYSBURG OFFENSE
Gettysburg has finished among the top two teams in the Centennial Conference in rushing in 11 of the last 12 seasons, including second last year. Senior quarterback
Justin Davidov led the team in rushing last year with 657 yards and eight touchdowns. It will be a whole new crew behind Davidov with the loss of the next four leading rushers behind him last season. Davidov split reps at quarterback last season, but he has full control of the offense this fall. As a junior, he threw for 1,050 yards and 11 touchdowns. Two of his favorite targets are back in seniors
Ryan Thompson and
Ty Abdul-Karim. Thompson finished with 338 yards and four touchdowns, while Abdul-Karim hauled in nine touchdowns and recorded 521 yards. An experienced offensive line led by returning starters
Nick Rollo (Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial) and
Trent Seibert (Cape May Court House, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) will pave the way.
GETTYSBURG DEFENSE
A defense ravaged by injuries in 2016 returns focused and healthy. Junior
Jake Skinner (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) and senior
Frank Olmo led the team with 91 and 81 tackles, respectively, last season and resume their starting roles as inside linebackers. Junior safety
Mike McKnight (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) turned in a breakout year as a sophomore with 72 tackles, six tackles for a loss, and five pass break-ups. He also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown against Moravian. Senior
Kamau Bridges (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) posted a career-high 68 tackles and picked off a pair of passes last season. Senior
Dakota Brovero (Monroeville, N.J./Delsea) will anchor the end of a solid defensive line. Brovero posted a personal high 30 tackles last season.
GETTYSBURG SPECIAL TEAMS
As a freshman last fall,
Justin Geisel (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) finished 7-of-8 on field goals and connected on 30 extra point attempts. Five of his field goals came in the final three games of the year, including a 36-yard strike against Franklin & Marshall. Senior
Ryan Thompson is the team's top returner after running back 13 kickoffs for 210 yards last season.
O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
Four seniors lead the Bullets into the new campaign.
Justin Davidov enters his first full season as a starter after splitting reps at quarterback last season.
Andrew Major (St. Davids, Pa./Radnor) gives Davidov a big target at tight end (6-7) and resumes starting duties at long snapper.
Brad Walker (Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard) is coming off a career-high 30 tackles at safety a year ago.
Joey DeCristofaro (East Windsor, N.J./Hightstown) will be sidelined because of an injury, but the former linebacker will be a vocal supporter and coach-like figure from the sidelines.
