“ Just one more stop.” That’s all that ran through the Bears’ heads this past Saturday, as they looked to hold on to a 23-17 lead in a rivalry game against Franklin and Marshall. The team stood at 4-0, one of their best starts of the decade. But Ursinus had struggled mightily in conference play over the past few years, failing to take down stellar rivals Dickinson, Franklin and Marshall, and Muhlenberg. The question echoed through the crowd: “could this year be more of the same?” The team answered that question and more on Saturday, holding the Diplomats on their final drive to lead the team to their best start since 2010. Through key improvements across all three phases of football, the team has ensured success.
While the Bears were able to finish strong on Sunday, the team faced a similar situation a year prior, with a much different result. A last-second catch by senior receiver Jack Sutton stunned the team, leaving them just 3-3 in conference play on the year. The Bears’ handling of clutch situations proved to be a point of struggle a year ago, with one-score losses to both the Diplomats and the Muhlenberg Mules due to an inability to make key plays on either side of the ball in the game’s crucial moments. But through five games, the team has completely flipped the script. Needing a stop with just three minutes left in a tight match against Muhlenberg, the Bears held the Mules without a first down, setting the stage for the team’s crucial stop with two minutes to go against Franklin and Marshall. The late-game heroics have been sparked by elite play from the Bears’ pass rush late in games. Linebacker Connor Carter ‘24 was able to get a massive sack late in the game against the Diplomats, with his partner Marc Clayton ‘24 and defensive lineman Aaron Rios ‘25 providing serious pressure late against the Mules to seal that one. The group, coached by former star edge rusher Ryan Bodolus, leads the conference in 4th quarter sacks, able to wreck games in the most important moments consistently. With matchups against vulnerable offensive lines in Johns Hopkins and McDaniel coming up (last and second to last in sacks allowed) look for the Bears to continue feasting late in games.
Ursinus’ offense was an obvious strong point last season, as the team boasted the third highest scoring offense in the entire Centennial Conference. But the team has skyrocketed to the highest scoring offense in the conference over the last six weeks, a dramatic step from a season ago. The standout difference between the two seasons has been their rushing offense, with Ursinus averaging a whopping 50 more rushing yards per game in comparison to a year ago. Ursinus running back Tony Holden ‘24 leads the conference in rushing by almost 200 yards with 666, turning in by far the most impressive season of his career. The prowess of the senior has completely opened up the Ursinus offense, especially in the red zone. The Bears have improved from a 77% to an 82% scoring percentage in the most crucial area of the field, through their ability to consistently convert short distances with Holden and the run game. In allowing the Bears to become the conferences’ best in turning opportunities into touchdowns, the team looks to be its most dangerous in years.
The Bears have improved significantly offensively and defensively, making them a serious contender. But an under-the radar improvement has been their special teams group. Kicker Jordan Carr ‘24 has converted 71% of all field goals, up from 57% a year ago. The kicker also has improved as a punter, pinning his opponents often with the best average punt distance in the conference. While special teams are rarely emphasized, these improvements can allow Ursinus to win better field position consistently, as well as ensure points on every possession.
Ursinus still faces its biggest test ahead, despite their stellar 6-0 start. A Homecoming duel with #23 Johns Hopkins looms ahead, with first place in the Centennial Conference possibly on the line. But with improvement across the board, this Bears team feels more prepared than ever. Through key progress in all 3 phases of the game, an accomplishment they’ve awaited since 1996 could be just around the corner.