Two road games in a row proved to be no test for the Tigers as they beat Sewanee 51-7 and opened up ODAC play with a win over Guilford 31-6. The past two weeks of play not only resulted in blowout wins but in the Tigers sweeping both weeks’ ODAC Player of the Week Honors as well. Running back Kirk Rohle and Defensive End Will Riggenbach swept the Offensive and Defensive POW Awards against Sewanee. Kirk Rohle continued his reign the next week against Guilford as Bill Doody garnered the Defensive award.

Junior Defensive End Will Riggenbach is certainly having a breakout season. He led the team in 2008 with 5 sacks, but he has overpowered every offensive lineman he has faced this year. In only four games, Riggenbach has an ODAC-leading 8.5 sacks. Junior safety Bill Doody accounted for three turnovers himself in Greensboro on Saturday night. His two interceptions extended his season total to a team-leading three interceptions. On top of those two interceptions against Guilford, he broke up three more passes and recovered a fumble.

One of the main questions heading into the season was “Who would replace touchdown machine Josh Simpson?” Kirk Rohle has responded to that question very well. Over the past two weeks, Rohle rushed for 274 yards, had 6 TDs, and extended his 100-plus yards rushing game streak to three. The sensational sophomore is certainly making senior quarterback and Captain Corey Sedlar’s job much easier. On the season Sedlar is completing over 62% of his passes for over 1400 yards and 14 TDs. An average of 353.8 yards through the air doesn’t hurt him either.

Over the past two weeks, the Tiger offense gained just under 900 yards of total offense and brought their season scoring average to 45.8 points per game. For as good as the offense was, the Tiger defense stole the show against Sewanee and Guilford, only letting up a combined 353 yards and 13 points. The constant pressure put on by Riggenbach and the rest of the Tigers’ front seven provided enough pressure to cause turnovers as well. The Tigers forced one fumble and three interceptions, one of which was returned 60 yards by freshman Mikhail Walton for a touchdown.

Both the offense and the defense will have to keep up the good work if they plan on beating rival Bridgewater College. From 1999-2006, the Eagles never lost to Hampden-Sydney. Although the Tigers have had the upper hand for the past two years, the Eagles are averaging 33 points per game and are heading into this ODAC clash with a 3-1 record—their only loss coming in overtime on the road at Ferrum.

The Eagles are without question the team of the decade in the ODAC. In 2001, they represented the conference well, losing the National Championship 30-27 to DIII powerhouse Mount Union. From 2000-2006, the Eagles strung together an astonishing 36 game win streak against ODAC opponents, winning the conference every year from 2001-2005. The Eagles are also without a doubt well coached. Head Coach Mike Craft is in his 15th season with the Eagles. His previous résumé is impressive; he was Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator under Frank Beamer from 1988-1993 until a man by the name of Bud Foster came and took over that job. 

The current Eagles are a bit undersized compared to earlier years, so they have worked on their strength in the off-season. Craft also tweaked his team’s offense prior to the 2009 season, eliminating seven step drops and focusing more on an option, draw, and screen oriented offense in order to emphasize the speed and athleticism of his playmakers.

Needless to say, Craft will have his Eagles ready to play on Saturday as they try to end the Tigers’ win streak against them. The Tigers, on the other hand, will try to ensure that Bridgewater continues to live in the past by continuing their win streak and keeping the momentum going into the next decade. Be sure to remind your family that it is Family Weekend 2009 on Saturday, October 3rd at Lewis C. Everett Stadium as the Tigers take on the Eagles of Bridgewater College at 1:00 p.m.

Related posts:

1. Tigers’ Sensational Season Ends in First Round of Playoffs
2. Resilient Tigers Continue to Prove Their Prowess
3. Senior Day Performance Prepares Tigers for Macon Showdown
4. Football Tigers Thrill in Season Openers
5. Hampden-Sydney Football Tigers Look to “Prove It”