Complete Game Notes

GETTYSBURG, Pa.  – The Gettysburg College football team will open the 2019 campaign at Bridgewater College in its only non-conference outing under the lights at Jopson Field Saturday night at 7 p.m.
 
GAME COVERAGE
Friday's game will feature live stats and live video courtesy of Bridgewater. You can also follow in-game updates on Twitter (@GburgBullets) and check out post-game coverage at GettysburgSports.com.
 
THE SERIES
Bridgewater has won four of five meetings with Gettysburg since the series began in 2014. Two of those meetings have been decided by three points or less, including a 27-24 victory by the Eagles in 2017.
 
LAST MEETING
Bridgewater made the most of several big plays and a trio of turnovers to spoil Gettysburg's season opener 34-17 at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium last fall. The Eagles converted a 52-yard touchdown reception in the opening minutes of the game and added a 52-yard rushing score in the third quarter. Bridgewater also converted a 41-yard pick six in the third period. Mike Welsh '21 (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) completed 15-of-32 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns for Gettysburg. Jake Skinner '19 posted eight tackles and an interception for the defense, while Justin Geisel '20 (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) connected on a 42-yard field goal. Bridgewater quarterback Jay Scroggins threw for three touchdowns and tailback Demetrius Jalepes posted 79 yards on 12 carries.
 
GETTYSBURG OVERVIEW
The Bullets will be young this season with 84 of the 110 uniformed players holding freshman or sophomore status. The core group of veteran leaders includes senior co-captains Ryan Greene (Easton, Pa./Easton) and Charles Hagen (Yardley, Pa./Notre Dame Prep). Gettysburg posted a record of 1-9 in Head Coach Kevin Burke's '90 first year at the helm and the team was picked ninth in the Centennial Conference Preseason Poll.
 
GETTYSBURG OFFENSE
A new face will slide in at quarterback with Welsh transitioning to a new role as a running back. Junior Matt Harris (Dennisville, N.J./Middle Township) and freshman Logan Edmond (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) are the front-runners for snaps heading into the opening game. Welsh will lead the backfield after posting 251 yards and three touchdowns out of the pocket a year ago.
 
Experience abounds in the wide receiving corps led by seniors Kevin Benavente (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel) and Kurt Wronsky (Huntersville, N.C./Lake Norman). Benavente missed most of last season due to injury, but he is the most experienced member of the offense with 41 receptions, 511 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. The Bullets also return a pair of starters on the offensive line in seniors Ethan Kendzulak (Flemington, N.J./Delaware Regional) and Alex Scott (Princeton, N.J./Notre Dame).
 
GETTYSBURG DEFENSE
The defense racked up 29 sacks and 70 tackles for a loss a year ago. The top four tacklers on the team are gone, but the rest of the lineup returns. Leading the list is Greene who posted 45 tackles, six tackles for a loss, and four sacks a year ago. He'll be joined by sophomores Brent Hayes (Biglerville, Pa./Biglerville) and Alex Raimondo (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville).
 
The linebackers feature a slew of interchangeable and consistent performers paced by senior Jordan Mason (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro Horsham). The most experienced part of the defense might be in the secondary with junior Thomeir Richardson (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central) and senior Joey LaMore (Millersville, Md./Archbishop Walding) at the corners and junior Justin Lessel (Orefield, Pa./Orefield) and sophomore Kevin Sawtell (Hillsborough, N.J./Delbarton) at the safeties. Richardson defended a total of 14 passes last fall with four interceptions and 10 pass break-ups.
 
GETTYSBURG SPECIAL TEAMS
Special teams will be a big weapon for Gettysburg this season once again. Two senior kickers lead the way in junior Justin Geisel (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day School) and Evan Tannenbaum (Berwyn, Pa./Conestoga). Geisel was named All-CC First Team in 2018 after hitting 10-of-14 field goal tries. His only misses came from a school-record breaking distance of 49 yards or more. Tannenbaum finished third in the conference in punting with an average of 38.2 yards per kick.
 
BRIDGEWATER OVERVIEW
After starting the season 2-4, Bridgewater won its final four games to finish 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in 2018. Head Coach Michael Clark welcomes back a deep and experienced lineup for his 25th season at the helm, including a four-year starter at quarterback and the top-eight leading tacklers on defense. The Eagles were selected No. 2 behind defending champion Randolph-Macon College in the ODAC Preseason Poll.
 
BRIDGEWATER OFFENSE
Bridgewater averaged 31.3 points per game and 371.2 total yards of offense last fall. Quarterback Jay Scroggins returns for his fourth year under center. Scroggins totaled 1,424 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. Scroggins will be protected by a young offensive line anchored by All-ODAC left tackle Will Hoffman.
 
Tailback Demetrius Jalepes scampered for 771 yards and seven touchdowns last fall, while wide receiver Trey Stephens posted 18 catches for 361 yards and five touchdowns. Grant Monson was named second-team All-ODAC at tight end after posting 153 yards receiving and two touchdowns in 2018.
 
BRIDGEWATER DEFENSE
A strong group of linebackers and safeties return for an Eagles team that gave up 26.4 points per game last season. At the top of the list is reigning ODAC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team Preseason All-American Re'Shaun Myers. Myers posted 84 tackles, three sacks, 9.5 tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble from his linebacker position a year ago. Gary Ramey, Jr. was a second-team all-conference pick in each of the last two seasons and both safeties, Matt Dang and Dustin Green, were all-league picks a year ago.
 
The defensive line is the most inexperienced part of the defensive unit with only Da'Sean Davis returning as a starter. Davis posted three sacks and seven tackles for a loss last season.
 
BRIDGEWATER SPECIAL TEAMS
Like the Bullets, Bridgewater returns a strong group of kickers led by All-ODAC selection Logan Weis. Weis hit 10-of-13 field goals in 2018, including three from 40-plus yards.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
It's on to Centennial Conference play following Saturday's opener as the Bullets host Ursinus College on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 1 p.m. Gettysburg leads the series against the Bears 35-23-4, but Ursinus has won the last two meetings.