Bridgewater hosts Hampden-Sydney and looks to bounce back

BRIDGEWATER, Va. (WHSV) – The Bridgewater football team returns to the Jopson Sports Complex this weekend to host Hampden-Sydney.

Bridgewater (5-2, 3-1) is coming off its first conference loss to Randolph-Macon 49-16. The Eagles turned the ball over three times on offense, including two Jayser Bateman interceptions that were returned for touchdowns.

Bridgewater head coach Scott Lemn says the offense lacked consistency, adding there were too many mistakes on offense to overcome.

“We have to learn from this,” Lemn said after the defeat. “We will have a new opponent and a new team that wants to beat us.”

The loss to Randolph-Macon leaves Bridgewater behind Randolph-Macon and Washington and Lee for first place in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

“We still have a lot of goals ahead of us,” Lemn said.

Hampden-Sydney is led by first-year head coach Vince Luvara, who previously served as defensive coordinator at Washington & Jefferson. Under Louvara’s leadership, the Presidents’ defense was one of the best in all of Division III, recording 64 All-Presidents Athletic Conference selections.

The Tigers (4-3, 2-2) are led offensively by Carter Sido. Lemn describes him as a dynamic player who can beat you with his hands and feet. Sido looks to Ethan Dowdy, who leads the ODAC in touchdowns.

“This is a group that we have to be prepared to defend from our backend, but also rush,” Lemn said.

Defensively, Lemn expects Hampden-Sydney to show plenty of options.

“You’re looking at a team that’s playing on an upward trend,” Lemn said.

Starts on Saturday at 14:00.

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