READ THE ODAC FOOTBALL REPORT: WEEK 8
Eight weeks into the season and the standings are up for grabs following Saturday's contests. Both Shenandoah and Hampden-Sydney fell from the ranks of the ODAC unbeaten, creating a four-team logjam of one-loss squads including Shenandoah at 3-1 and Hampden-Sydney, Randolph-Macon, and Washington and Lee each at 2-1.
THE GAMES
BRIDGEWATER 31, EMORY & HENRY 23 -- Box Score
Bridgewater snapped a three-game ODAC winless streak with a 31-23 victory at Emory & Henry. The Eagles owned a 28-10 lead at one point powered by a pair of long touchdowns that covered 88 and 100 yards.
GUILFORD 45, SHENANDOAH 20 -- Box Score
Guilford snapped a four-game skid and handed Shenandoah its first conference loss of the season behind a strong offensive performance and a defense that registered four interceptions.
WASHINGTON AND LEE 36, HAMPDEN-SYDNEY 6 -- Box Score
Washington and Lee pitched a shutout for 44:11 before Hampden-Sydney found the end zone in the Generals' 36-6 win in Farmville. The win marked the third straight for W&L over H-SC.
RANDOLPH-MACON 63, APPRENTICE SCHOOL 14 -- Box Score
Randolph-Macon cracked 60 points for the first time this season and extended its scoring streak of 50 or more points to three straight contests in a 63-14 victory at Apprentice School. The game capped the Yellow Jackets' non-conference schedule.
ODAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE: Guilford running back De'Eric Bell, a junior from Jackson, Ga., picks up his second weekly award after racking up 277 all-purpose yards in Guilford's 45-20 win over Shenandoah. The yardage moves him into fourth on the ODAC all-time list with 5,573 all-purpose yards. Bell ran for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 21 carries, good for a 10.8 per carry average. He had 100 yards in the first half while needing just nine carries to pick up the remaining 127 yards over the second 30-minute frame. His scoring runs covered 10 and 40 yards, furthering his Guilford all-time record to 25 career rushing touchdowns. He added 19 yards receiving on a pair of receptions and returned two kicks for an additional 31 yards. For the season, Bell is third in the ODAC with 602 rushing yards and fifth with seven touchdowns on the ground. His 1,547 overall all-purpose yards and 221.0 per game average both lead the conference.
DEFENSE: Guilford safety/linebacker Vic Smith Jr., a senior from Lakeland, Fla., helped the Quakers hand Shenandoah University its first conference loss of the season in Guilford's 45-20 win on Saturday. Smith notched nine or more tackles in a game for a fourth straight contest with nine total stops including file solo tackles. One came behind the line of scrimmage. Smith's biggest play was a tone-setter for the Quakers' defense as he intercepted the Hornets first play from scrimmage and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown and an early 7-0 lead. It marked the first pick-six of his career. Guilford held the nation's leading passer, Hayden Bauserman, to 290 yards and pair of touchdowns thru the air while intercepting him once in each quarter. For the season, Smith is third in the ODAC with 62 total tackles and fourth with 36 solo stops. The interception was his first of the season.
For more information on this week's action in ODAC football, view the ODAC Football Report: Week 8. You can also go to any of the participating school's websites. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram!