LEXINGTON, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College football team dropped an instant classic in overtime to Washington & Lee, 20-17 on Saturday.

BC opened the game with the ball, but only managed four yards on its opening drive before punting it away. Washington and Lee put together a lengthy opening series, incluidng converting a third down and 12 on their first set of downs. The Generals continued to slowly grind down the field and converted on fourth down to move the chains to the BC two yard line. The Eagles stood tall as a stop behind the line by Andrew Brown and a break up by Kyle Galloway forced a field goal. The 25-yard attempt was no good to keep the game scoreless, but WLU had churned 12 minutes off the clock.

The Eagles netted one yard after the momentum-shifting stop and had to punt it away to end the opening stanza. WLU returned the favor after a three-and-out but a short punt gave BC generous field position. BC moved the chains for the first time on the next series on back-to-back plays as Jaicere Bateman connected with Ian Browne for 11 yards and Jalin Quintanilla found the edge in a 17-yard rush. Quintanilla’s rush got the Eagles into the redzone, but thats where the drive stalled. BC settled for a field goal attempt and Agustin Miguel nailed a 41-yarder to give BC the lead 3-0 with 10:25 to go in the half.

WLU got the ball back and instantly lost it as a fumble gave the ball back to the Eagles after Joey Strong fell on it. BC failed to get a first down off the turnover, but a 34-yard field goal by Miguel went through the uprights to make it 6-0.

THe Generals looked to put another drive together, but a failed fourth down conversion in BC territory gave the Eagles the ball back after a big stop by Elijah Choy. BC got the ball back with short time to go in the first half, but could not convert on fourth down as the half expired,

WLU opened the second half with the football, but was forced to punt after two big plays. BC had to punt on their nest possession as well after a penalty stalled the series. The Generals got the ball back and responded with a long drive. THe Generals chewed five minutes of clock and punched it in from a yard out to tie the game. The contest would stay tied though as the Eagles blocked the PAT as Amari Presley got his hands on it to tie the game at 6-6.

BC’s next drive resulted in a punt, but the next WLU series ended abruptly as a third and long forced a rare WLU pass. Jordan Harper picked the pass off and gave BC the ball back right before the start of the fourth quarter.

The Eagles netted one yard on the drive and punted. The home team started to put a drive together once again and went for it on fourth down in BC territory, but the defense came up big again, forcing a stop.

BC punted onc again and this time the Generals rolled down the field once again. and faced a fourth down and goal to go at the two-yard line. WLU went to the run and it was successful from two yards out to make it 12.6. BC looked to have blocked the PAT that followed, but an illegal substitution penalty let WLU try again. The Generals elected t go for two with the shorter distance and were successful to make it 14-6 with 3:31 to play.

Bridgewater faced a fourth down early in the next series with the game on the line. Bateman dropped back and connected with Ian Browne for a 13-yard gain and moved the chains for the first time in the second half. WLU forced BC to a third down once again, but a pass interference call gave BC the conversion and moved the chains, Two plays later, Bateman scrambled and slid, but was hit late and another costly penalty on WLU moved the chains to give BC first down and goal. Two plays later Browne and Bateman connected again as Browne got his feet in the endzone for the touchdown. BC had to go for two points down 14-12 and Browne came in clutch again with the catch at the sideline to tie the game.

WLU had time left, but was forced to punt with time left and BC looked to make something out of it, but the hail mary attempt was batted down in the endzone to force overtime.

BC got the ball first in OT and the drive went nowhere. The Eagles were forced to attempt a field goal and Miguel nailed the 40-yard attempt to make it 17-14. The Generals went to the air on the first play of their series and scored to take the game 20-17.

Bridgewater was limited to just 186 yards on offense as the defense surrendered 440 yards, but made stops when it counted.

Bateman tallied 135 yards through the air fueled by eight catches from Browne for 67 yards. Aaron Nice registered 15 tackles on the evening including a TFL.

— BC Athletics —