Sep 09, 2018
BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Senior Dan Williams threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns as Stevenson picked up its first win of the year, dowing Bridgewater (Va.) 35-23 in non-conference football Saturday night at the Jopson Athletic Complex.
FIRST QUARTER
- Stevenson (1-1) drove 82 yards in six plays on the game's opening drive, as Williams found Ryan Stango in the back left corner of the end zone for a 25-yard completion to give the Mustangs a 7-0 lead 2:20 into the game.
- Bridgewater (1-1) countered with a 13-play, 60-yard drive that chewed up nearly six minutes to tie the game with 6:37 left in the quarter.
- Facing fourth-and-8 from the Eagle 14, a fake field goal pass from sophomore Ty Crabb to junior Riley Hodge put the guests up 14-7 with 23 seconds left in the quarter. The pass capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive.
- Stevenson outgained Bridgewater 152-67 in the quarter and held the ball for 8:34.
SECOND QUARTER
- Stevenson extended its lead to 21-7 with 1:16 left before halftime as a five-yard run by Drexel Mosby ended a 16-play, 74-yard drive that took 6:39. Mosby had four carries for 26 yards on the drive as well as a seven-yard reception.
- Bridgewater's Cameron Gieseman hit a 33-yard field goal as time expired to pull the hosts within 21-10 at halftime.
THIRD QUARTER
- Stevenson came up with a takeaway with 6:00 left in the quarter as Izaiha Pitts forced a fumble and recovered at midfield.
- The Mustangs took a 28-10 lead with 3:52 left in the third as junior Daqwan Hill ran up the middle for 15 yards to cap a five-play, 53-yard drive.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Bridgewater scored on the first play of the fourth quarter to pull within 28-16, but the extra point was blocked by senior Bill Burton.
- The Eagles scored again with 4:43 left as they engineered a nine-play, 47-yard drive capped by a three-yard run to make it a one-score game.
- Stevenson started at midfield after a 22-yard kickoff return by Zach May followed by an offside penalty on Bridgewater.
- An 18-yard pass from Williams to Sebastien Vainqueur with 1:47 left put the Mustangs up 35-23.
- An interception at midfield sealed the win, as senior Ashton Leschke tipped the ball in the air and junior Hanif Jones came up with it with 1:04 to go.
NUMBERS AND NOTES
- Total offense was nearly identical, with Bridgewater amassing 422 yards and Stevenson 418.
- The Mustangs outdueled the Eagles through the air 285-208.
- The guests were whistled for just two flags for 10 yards, while Bridgewater was assessed seven penalties for 56 yards.
- Stevenson won the turnover battle as it had two takeaweays without committing a turnover. It marked the 57th straight game with a takeaway for the Mustang defense.
- Eight different players had receptions for the Mustangs with Vainqueur and Chaz Lyles each making six grabs.
- The Mustangs rushed for 133 yards, with Titus Johnson carrying 10 times for 56 yards and Mosby nine times for 45 yards.
- Stango's touchdown catch was the first of his career.
- Leschke led the Mustang defense with 12 tackles (five solo), while Brian Latham had 10 stops. Senior Mike Datu had six of his eight tackles in the second half.
- The win was career win No. 50 for eighth-year head coach Ed Hottle, including a 41-35 mark at the helm of the Mustangs.
WHAT THEY SAID
WHAT'S NEXT
- Stevenson opens Middle Atlantic Conference play next Saturday (9/15) when it travels to Albright for a 1:00 kickoff. The Lions fell to Mary Hardin-Baylor, the nation's No. 2 team, 91-7 on Saturday.
- The Mustangs return home Saturday, September 29 to face defending MAC champion Delaware Valley. Kickoff at Mustang Stadium is set for 1 pm.