JACKSON, Miss. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College football team picked up a 28-14 victory over Millsaps on Saturday behind three total touchdowns from Jaicere Bateman.

The Eagles opened the game and marched down the field as Bateman and the BC offense were humming. The series almost stalled before it began as a 10-yard completion from Bateman to Kyle Beck moved the chains on the third play of the series. A Brendan Robinson eight-yard carry got the Eagles in a goal-to-go situation and Bateman followed with a connection to Watkins from three-yards out to get BC on the board. Following the Jack Hendren kick, Bridgewater took a 7-0 lead six minutes in.

The Bridgewater defense forced a three-and-out by the Majors on the home team’s opening series, but the Bridgewater offense got nothing going after a punt from MC.

Millsaps tried to get something going offensively after both defenses controlled the pace in the early going, but a failed fourth down conversion gave BC the ball back at the Millsaps 16-yard line. Bridgewater wasted no time as a Bateman rush from the three-yard line made it 13-0 for the Eagles. The Hendren kick went through the uprights despite a roughing the kicker penalty on the Majors to make it 14-0.

The Majors responded and drove down the field staring with a 33-yard rush from Cole Canatella to flip the field. Canatella completed a pass on third down and nine to get inside the BC red zone. Canatella continued to thrive as he scampered in from 10-yards out to get the Majors on the board.

The two teams traded punts and BC tried to drive down the field before a field fourth-down conversion gave MC the ball back. The teams traded punts again to send it to the half at 14-7 in favor of BC.

Millsaps came out of the break with a plan and executed as they marched down the field fueled by a a Canatella six-yard rush on fourth down and five in Bridgewater territory. Canatella scampered in from two-yards out later in the drive to tie the game following the Ty Miller PAT. MC drove down the field again and had a chance to take the lead, but a Miller field goal attempt from 41 yards away missed wide left to give BC the ball back.

The Eagles drove down the field to eventually be stopped on fourth down in MC territory. After a pair of punts Bridgewater got the ball back and drove down the field before they were stopped at the MC 23-yard line. Hendren attempted and made the 40-yard field goal, but an offsides against the Majors gave BC a first down based on the yardage and the Eagles took it. Two plays later Robinson found paydirt with a 16-yard touchdown rush to put BC ahead. The Hendren kick made it 21-14 with under two minutes to play in the third.

Millsaps got the ball back and drove all the way down to the BC one-yard line. Chase Jacobs went to punch it in only to have the ball knocked out by Demarco Fleming. Fleming jumped on it and the Eagles were back in business.

A trade of punts got BC the ball back and the Eagles went to work. Robinson utilized his explosiveness as he broke off a 46-yard rush to put the Eagles in Majors’ territory. MC forced a fourth-and-two on their 25-yardline, but a rush from Bateman kept Bridgewater rolling. Bateman called his own number two more times in the drive including a one-yard touchdown run. Hendren nailed the PAT to make it 28-14 with 2:43 to play after the 11-play drive.

Millsaps tried to get something going once it got the ball back, but the BC defense had none of it as Jaelan Matthews and Kyle Beer combined for the tackle behind line to stall out the drive. BC got the ball back and methodically used the clock to their advantage as a Robinson nine-yard dash allowed BC to utilize victory formation to seal the victory.

Bateman had a great day despite an interception on the stat line. His 19-of-37 day passing combined with 40 yards on the ground led to three total touchdowns in the victory. Robinson fueled the rushing attack with 172 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

Matthews led the defense with seven tackles including 2.5 TFL. Beer tallied a pair of pass breakups while Fleming’s fumble helped seal the victory.

The Eagles are back in action after a bye week as they head to Ferrum to battle the Panthers on Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.

— BC Athletics —