WESTMINSTER, Md. – The Ursinus College football team used a big second half and overwhelming defensive performance to earn a 42-0 shutout win over McDaniel on Saturday afternoon in Centennial Conference action.
 
 
With the win, the Bears improved to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in Centennial Conference action. It was the Bears first shutout win since September 2021 when they earned a 24-0 shutout over Franklin & Marshall. Meanwhile, the Green Terror fell to 1-7 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
 
 
Senior quarterback Jalen Bradford went 22-of-39 for 263 yards and tossed three touchdown passes to no interceptions. Sophomore Tristan Machado backed up Bradford and went 3-of-5 for 31 yards with one touchdown. Senior wide receiver Justin Collier led all players with a season-high 115 yards on eight catches and snagged two touchdown passes. His two touchdown receptions tied him for the Ursinus career receiving touchdown record of 23 that was held by Nick Giarratano. Sophomore wide receiver Aidan Donahue caught one of the touchdown passes while junior tight end Tyler Houser recorded his first collegiate touchdown reception.
 
 
Sophomore running back Jason Bernard had a breakout game on the ground with a career-high 128 yards on 23 carries. Bradford added 35 yards on the ground and scored the only Ursinus rushing touchdown of the game.
 
 
Each team punted on their respective opening possessions of the game and the Bears second drive went into McDaniel territory for the first time. However, Ursinus was turned over on downs at the Green Terror 29-yard line following an incompletion. The Bears once again made it into the McDaniel end of the field on its ensuing drive before punting away just outside of field goal range. The Ursinus defense continued to overwhelm the Green Terror as they allowed just one first down in the first quarter.
 
 
Ursinus started at midfield on its first drive of the second quarter and drove inside the red zone for the first time. Once again the Bears were turned over on downs, this time at the Green Terror 15-yard line. Ursinus came up empty in the red zone on its next drive as well after a 37-yard field goal sailed wide left. The Bears took advantage of short field and finally broke the scoreless tie with 1:42 before halftime when Bradford found Collier for an 8-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0.
 

The Bears got the ball right back after a Green Terror three-and-out started the second half but fumbled at midfield to stall a drive that started with good field position. Ursinus quickly staved off the turnover and cashed in on its next drive on an 8-yard touchdown run by Bradford to make it 14-0 with 6:10 left in the third quarter. Senior defensive back Joseph Small intercepted McDaniel quarterback Jayden Booker to set the Bears up inside the red zone, but another turnover on downs kept the lead at 14. However, with the Green Terror backed up on its on 3-yard line, senior defensive back Pat McManus punched out the ball from Booker's hands which was recovered by junior Sean Spinosa in the end zone for a touchdown to make it 21-0.
 
 

Collier caught a 32-yard pass from Bradford to open the fourth quarter which set the Bears up at the Green Terror 1-yard line and Houser caught his touchdown one play later to put Ursinus up 28-0. One drive later, Collier was not to be denied as he caught a 7-yard pass to tie the career program record and put Ursinus ahead 35-0 with 8:45 left in the game. Small grabbed his second interception of the game on the next McDaniel drive and set up Machado to find Donahue for the final touchdown of the game.
 
 
The Bears defense limited McDaniel to just five total first downs in the game and held them without one for a full two quarter span. Ursinus held the Green Terror to just 61 yards of total offense which was the least number of yards allowed for the Bears since giving up 58 yards to William Paterson last season. McManus led all Bears in tackles with seven (five solo), 3.5 TFL, one sack, and forced fumble. Junior defensive lineman Aaron Rios posted six tackles (one solo) and 1.5 sacks while senior Michael McCuen, senior Connor Carter, and sophomore Ethan Turber-Ortiz all added one sack. Small was the first Bear since Aaron Anderson in 2021 against Muhlenberg to record a multi-interception game while first-year defensive back PJ Blessington grabbed his first collegiate interception in the fourth quarter.
 
 
Ursinus returns to action on Saturday, November 9th as they will host Gettysburg for Senior Day at 1:00 p.m.