GAME NOTES
 
Ursinus (7-3) vs. Stevenson (7-3) 
When: Saturday, November 18th
Where: Collegeville, Pa.
Stadium: Patterson Field (1,700)
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m.
Live Video: VIDEO
Live Stats: STATS
 
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN
All-Time Series: First Ever Meeting
 
 
The Ursinus Bears Football Team will host Stevenson in one of the three eighth annual Centennial-MAC Bowl Series games.  
 
Last week, the Bears locked up their bowl series berth with a 21-10 win over Dickinson on Senior Day. After a scoreless first quarter, the Bears broke onto the scoresheet with a touchdown at the 10:56-mark of the second. The Red Devils responded with a trick-play touchdown to knot the game at 7 before the Bears countered with another touchdown of their own to go up 14-7 at the half. Ursinus shook off a muffed punt early in the third quarter as the defense stepped up to maintain their lead. Dickinson cut the lead down to 14-10 early in the fourth quarter, but the Bears got another touchdown with just over five minutes left to seal the win.
 
 
Meanwhile, the Mustangs survived to defeat Eastern in overtime by a score of 26-23 to lock up the MAC's final bowl berth. Each team countered the others move throughout the contest as neither led by more than one score. Stevenson tied the game at 16 early in the 4th quarter and went up 23-16 with just over five minutes left in regulation. The Eagles countered with a quick touchdown that eventually forced overtime. The Mustangs blocked the Eagles field goal attempt on their first possession of overtime and knocked one through of their own to win.  
ALL-CENTENNIAL: 14 Bears were named to the 2023 All-Centennial Conference team that was announced on Wednesday morning. A program record seven players were first team honorees, four earned second team, and three garnered honorable mention. Gross, senior Ryan Bodolus, and senior Ryan DiVergilis, all earned first-team honors for the second-straight season and Bodolus was named Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Bodolus became the first Bear since Greg Martell in 2011 to be named conference player of the year. Juniors Tony Holden, Trey Williams, and Anthony Esposito along with senior Billy Cook rounded out the first team selections. Fresses, sophomore Jordan Carr, and juniors Justin Collier plus Devin Cope earned second team while sophomore Deane Leader, Connor Carter, and House tallied honorable mention.
 
 
 
BEARS IN THE CENTENNIAL-MAC BOWL SERIES: This will be the Bears fourth all-time appearance in the Centennial-MAC Bowl series and third-straight since 2021. Ursinus is 2-1 in those three games after defeating King's on the road last season, 24-13. The Bears routed Misericordia 70-14 in 2018 and were edged 31-23 by Lycoming in 2021. This will be the first time in program history that the Bears will be hosting one of the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series Games. Ursinus and Stevenson have never met prior to Saturday's contest.
 
 
 
THE LAST DANCE: Senior linebacker Brett Gross will play his final game as an Ursinus Bear today after a tremendous career. Gross added one last Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor to his name after a strong performance against Dickinson. Gross led the Bears with eight tackles (seven solo), 2.0 TFL, and 1.0 sack. He now ranks fifth all-time in Ursinus program history with 269 career tackles and can move into fourth with eight tackles today. Gross continues to pace the Centennial Conference with 77 tackles. He is one of the reigning Centennial-MAC Bowl Series MVP's after his dominant showing against King's last season
 
 
HOUSE SPECIAL: After a strong showing on kick returns against Dickinson, sophomore wide receiver Cody House was named Centennial Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. He returned three kickoffs for a total of 107 yards in the Bears win over Dickinson. No return loomed larger than when Ursinus was leading 14-10 early in the fourth quarter and House returned a kickoff 65 yards to set up a touchdown for the final margin of victory. In his first full season in the mix of the Bears offense and special teams, House has showcased his dynamic abilities. House is averaging 24.1 yards per kick return that ranks second in the Centennial Conference and set his career long on his 65-yarder yesterday. On offense, House has caught 34 passes for 403 yards and five touchdowns that all rank second on the team.
 
 
TWO FOR THE MONEY: Senior fullback Dawson Fresses scored a pair of touchdowns for the Bears last week against Dickinson. Fresses initially got Ursinus on the board in the second quarter before scoring the decisive touchdown late in the fourth quarter from a yard out. His two touchdowns vaulted him to a tie for the team lead in rushing touchdowns with junior Tony Holden. It was his third multi-touchdown game of the season.  
 
 
END ZONE FINDER: Wide receiver Justin Collier continued his tear by snagging another touchdown last week against Dickinson. Collier put the Bears up for good with a 15-yard score at the 1:15-mark of the second quarter. It was his team-leading sixth touchdown this season in just seven games and he leads the team with 564 yards on 44 catches. He has tallied at least 60 receiving yards in all but one game played this season.
 
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS: Stevenson ranks third in the MAC in scoring offense at 29.2 points per game and scoring defense at 17.7 points per game. Stevenson leads the MAC by averaging 356.4 yards per game. Junior quarterback Nyaire Wilson has passed for 1,916 yards and 11 touchdown passes to nine interceptions. Stevenson features a 1-2 punch in the backfield led by junior Louis Clouser with 612 yards and eight touchdowns. Sophomore Elijah Marquez has eight touchdowns as well and 343 yards. Senior wide receiver Pat Gorman is the top threat in the air as he ranks second in the MAC with 773 receiving yards and four touchdowns while earning All-MAC first team honors.
              
On defense, junior linebacker Gavin Shields leads the team with 65 tackles (41 solo) and ranks seventh in the MAC with 12.5 tackles for loss to earn All-MAC second team honors. Junior defensive lineman Daniel Johnson earned All-MAC first team honors behind recording 54 tackles (34 solo), 9.5 TFL, and 3.5 sacks. Junior linebacker Clarence Travis earned All-MAC honorable mention behind ranking second on the team with 54 tackles (33 solo), 8.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks.