Bridgewater coach Mike Clark and quarterback Jason Lutz. D3sports.com file photo

By Pat Coleman
D3sports.com

I wonder where Bridgewater points to when it considers the turning point of its program.

By now, of course, everyone who's paid attention to anything besides the clock operator has learned that in 1998, when this year's seniors were freshmen, Bridgewater went 0-10. They were in a few games, but, as head coach Mike Clark says, "we earned those losses."

The next year, the sophomore-dominated Eagles improved under Clark but still struggled, coming out of the gate with a 3-3 record. And it appeared they were headed for 3-4 on a rainy Friday night in Baltimore, as they trailed Johns Hopkins 24-10 at the end of the third quarter when lightning struck.

From there, the story goes, the Blue Jays offered to accept Bridgewater's surrender, and the way the Eagles had played the third quarter it might not have been unreasonable. They'd thrown two interceptions and fumbled in their own red zone, giving Johns Hopkins excellent field position and two touchdowns. 

Instead, Bridgewater came out after the hour-long delay on a mission and scored the final 27 points to win 37-24. From the moment that lightning bolt struck outside Homewood Field, the Eagles have gone 24-4.

"Coach told us they gave him the ultimatum," then-sophomore free safety Henry Eggleston told me afterwards. It was either wait it out or take the loss and call the game. "We came to play four quarters of football -- we're here to fight."

The fact that Johns Hopkins says it never offered the surrender doesn't lessen the impact of Clark's story. In fact, it enhances it, changing it from a opportunity presented to an opportunity created.

"I think that was the defining moment," says Clark in retrospect, "in a game where you had every reason to pack it in. We learned you're never out of a game, if you choose to execute."

Lightning was around when the Eagles first flew onto the national scene as well, interrupting the season opener the following September as Bridgewater upset Top 20-ranked Western Maryland 19-7 in the season opener. The Eagles went on to finish 10-2, advancing to the second round of the playoffs before losing in overtime at Trinity (Texas). 

They got to that second round despite being down 35-3 at Washington & Jefferson in the playoff opener. 

"I remember last year," said Clark, "when we were down (in that game), it was a sense of 'Yeah, we've done this before'."

And perhaps lightning wasn't involved last week, but the ending of the semifinal win against Rowan was certainly a shocker.

I don't know where Bridgewater points to, but I think it all started Oct. 22, 1999, when Bridgewater took the bull by the horns. As Clark said that night, "They offered a surrender, but I told the kids, 'I'll stay until midnight to win this game.' "

It's fair to say that Bridgewater will wait however long it takes to win a Stagg Bowl, as well.