Bridgewater Overcomes Guilford, 59-13
BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Anthony Carter rushed for 131 yards and a score in Bridgewater College's 59-13 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) football win over visiting Guilford College Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles' (4-2, 1-1 ODAC) defense allowed 130 offensive yards, forced four turnovers and returned two interceptions for touchdowns. Bridgewater scored 28 points off the miscues, all in the first half, which opened a 35-13 halftime lead.
Big plays on special teams and defense gave Guilford (1-5, 0-2 ODAC) an early 13-7 advantage before the turnovers changed the tenor of the game. A 52-yard punt return by Quan Parker set up Zac Halbert's one-yard touchdown run that gave the Quakers a 7-0 lead. Satiir Stevenson returned a Bridgewater fumble 12 yards for a score that opened a 13-7 Guilford advantage midway through the first quarter.
The Eagles drove to Guilford's 14-yard line on their ensuing possession, but Guilford's defense held as Bridgewater went for the first down rather than attempt a short field goal into a gusty wind. The Quakers' offense took over and a holding penalty backed the Quakers inside their own 10-yard line. Domonic Jeter stepped in front of a Halbert swing pass and trotted nine yards into the end zone to tie the game. Will Davis' point after gave Bridgewater a 14-13 lead, which it never relinquished.
The Eagles recovered a Guilford fumble on the ensuing kickoff and three plays later Carter scored from nine yards out for a 21-13 Bridgewater edge. The Quakers moved the ball well on its next possession before Bridgewater's Jermaine Spears picked off a Halbert pass on the second quarter's opening play. The theft set up a one-yard scoring run by Darrin McKenzie, who finished with 62 rushing yards on six carries.
Bridgewater scored its final points of the half when Tyler Staton returned an interception 47 yards after Guilford tried to run off the first half's final seconds with a fake punt.
Bridgewater emptied its bench after Carlos Gonzalez (10-19, 165 yards) threw his second touchdown pass of the day, a 23-yarder to Justin Bingham midway through the third quarter. Backup quarterback Willie Logan scored on option runs of 41 and 20 yards in the second half to round out Bridgewater's scoring. He finished with a career-high 72 rushing yards on three carries.
Guilford's Josh Williams had a game-high 18 carries for 48 rushing yards. Recently recovered from a foot injury, Halbert completed 10-of-22 passes for 62 yards in his first start since Sept. 10. Ben King led Guilford's receivers with three catches for 24 yards. Stevenson and sophomore C.J. Green paced the Quakers' defense with nine tackles apiece, both game and career highs.
Guilford returns home to host league-rival Randolph-Macon College next Saturday (10/22) at 1:00 p.m.
