EMORY, Va. - In the first ODAC matchup of the season last week, the Emory & Henry Wasps (3-1, 1-0 ODAC) defeated the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets (1-3, 0-1 ODAC) by a score of 31-21. The Wasps pass defense was stifling as the Yellow Jackets threw for only 95 yards on the day. E&H will look to continue the strong effort as they face Bridgewater College (3-1, 1-0 ODAC) this Saturday. Last season, the Wasps defeated the Eagles 34-21.
Bridgewater College is in last place in rush defense in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference thus far with 260 yards given up per game. Wasps' sophomores Chris Thompson and Isaiah Rodgers both rushed for 81 yards last season against the Eagles and they may be the key to earning a victory this season. Last week, it was backup quarterback and running threat Dominic Dunnaville that provided a spark for the Wasps. The freshman ran for 98 yards, including a 33 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Bridgewater does own the second-best pass defense in the conference, which could prove troublesome for quarterback Kevin Saxton. Saxton is ranked in the top three in the ODAC in yards, completions, and yards per game this season. He has achieved those numbers thanks to his deep threat option, Nick Webb, who is averaging 22.5 yards per catch and Kelman Simpson, who is fourth in the ODAC with 22 receptions. Overall, the rushing attack of E&H may be the key to defeating a Bridgewater team that finished 8-2 last season in a four-way tie for first place in the ODAC.
Bridgewater has struggled a bit on offense in the early part of the season. The Eagles are next to last in rush offense and last in total offense in the conference. They have only mustered 123.5 yards a game on the ground and 348 yards in total offense. E&H linebacker Rasheen Williams, who led the team in tackles last week, will be one key to stopping the run game. Bridgewater's quarterback, Ross Rushing, has been effective throughout the year and as a dual threat, has thrown for 610 yards and rushed for 160, while accounting for seven touchdowns. Currently, E&H has the number one pass defense in the conference, giving up only 148.8 yards per game. Tre'von Lightfoot is second in the ODAC in passes defended, with eight, and interceptions, with three. Lightfoot has had success against Bridgewater in the past, as he picked off two passes in last year's game. The team will need for Lightfoot and Eric Johnson, who had an interception last week, to make plays on defense. The Wasps pass rush is getting the job done as well. Defensive end Mitch Carter has 4.5 tackles for a loss on the season and the entire defense leads the ODAC in sacks with eight. The strength of Bridgewater's offense will go up against the strength of Emory & Henry's defense in a game where the Wasps have a chance to beat a team that was also picked to finish second in the preseason poll.
The game at Emory & Henry is set to kickoff at 1:00 p.m. at Fred Selfe Stadium in Emory, Virginia.
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-photo courtesy of Caleb Johnston E&H '15