Weekend Victory Would Secure Slot in Playoffs

After a long and testing season, it all comes down to just one game to finish up the regular season, as the Cardinals could clinch the Old Dominion Athletic Conference title with a win over Bridgewater on Saturday.

“I think we can’t grow complacent with what we have done so far this season,” said senior captain Nick Olivero midseason about what needed to be done to reach the playoffs. “We have to be even hungrier and more focused for the next game if we want to have the type of success that we desire.”

The Cardinals drowned Guilford College 49-34 last Saturday. Senior quarterback Keith Ricca passed for over 500 yards and threw five touchdown passes.

Senior wide-receiver Andrew Buis was Ricca’s favorite target of the day. He had nine catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Greg Brown had five grabs out of the backfield for 101 yards. One of his grabs was a 63 yard reception that ended up being one of three touchdowns Brown had during the day.

Ricca completed 28 of 42 passes and threw for 530 yards and five touchdowns. For the second week in a row and third time this season, Ricca was named ODAC offensive player of the week. He completed passes to seven different receivers and completed six passes of more than 30 yards. Ricca now leads the conference in passing efficiency rating (163.5), completion percentage (62.5 percent) and touchdown passes with 30. A season for the record books is in the making with one game left, and the most efficient offense in the conference is sure to be explosive.

History was made, on Saturday, when Guilford’s quarterback, Josh Vogelbach, hit Guilford player, Kevin Vaughn, for his third and final touchdown pass of the day. Vogelbach broke the NCAA Division III career total offense record on the play, marking his 124 career touchdown pass.
Brown added 101 receiving yards on five catches and rushed for 34 yards and two touchdowns. The stat leaders were capped off by Buis who finished with nine receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Brown added 101 receiving yards on five catches and rushed for 34 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore defensive back Christian Pavik made a game-high 10 tackles for a defense that forced three turnovers.

CUA will return to action on Saturday as the Cardinals welcome Bridgewater to Cardinal Stadium.  This game will end the regular season for CUA and serve as the ODAC championship game. With a win, the Cards will enter the playoffs for the first time since the 1999 season, in which they went 9-2, losing to Western Maryland in the first round. Saturday’s kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

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