Ed note: This week's column, with the exception of the Top 5 and Games of the Week, was written by Bridgewaterfootball.com publisher Matt Barnhart.

Following a 20-0 win over McDaniel, the Bears are only one of three teams in the region undefeated after the first five weeks of the season. The other two are No. 9 Bridgewater (5-0) and No. 16 Wilkes (4-0).

Ursinus is only one of three Division III teams that still haven't lost, but aren't receiving any votes in the D3football.com Top 25. The other two are Curry (5-0) and Elmhurst (4-0).

Curry has been the NEFC's playoff representative the past three years, but has lost in the first round by two or more touchdowns each time. Elmhurst hasn't won more than six games since 1985.

Now here's why Ursinus hasn't caught the nation's attention.

Last year, their four wins -- the most since 2001 -- were by a combined nine points. Before their three-point win against Gettysburg in 2005, they rode a 20-game losing streak in the Centennial. This year, all of their wins have been against teams with 1-3 records.

If you ignore their history and who they've played, there are some bright spots. Unfortunately, they're all on defense. Their defense has shut out three opponents on their way to allowing only 3.8 points per game. They've given up only one score through the air, which came with one minute left in the fourth quarter of the 32-13 win over Albright. They've held opponents to only 1.8 yards per carry. They've kept the opposition from big plays; allowing a 21-yard rush and 31-yard pass for their longs -- neither of them resulting in points. And finally and most importantly, they've forced 12 turnovers.

With the easy part of their schedule behind them, and four road games remaining, the Bears will certainly need to turn it up on offense if they are to be taken seriously on the national level. Only one of their remaining opponents has a losing record, and that's an away game against four-time defending conference champion Johns Hopkins.

It would not be immensely surprising if the Bears concluded the season with as many wins as they have now. But as the uncertainty of the Centennial bears itself once again, Ursinus could run the table. Of course, as always, anything is possible.

Calling all All-Americans
The Washington and Lee Generals had three players receive preseason All-American accolades following a 2005 season full of eye-popping numbers. Opponents must have caught on.

Wide receiver Jack Martin caught 70 balls for 1,353 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Through four games this year, he has hauled in 11 passes for 172 yards and two scores. He's on pace to record 28 receptions for 430 yards and five touchdowns. Hardly the numbers we could have expected.

Last season, all-purpose players Stuart Sitterson and Colton Ward combined for 2,446 all-purpose yards and scored 17 touchdowns four different ways. Sitterson gained nine yards every time he touched the ball, while Ward collected 8.8. This season, they've combined for three touchdowns and only 5.5 yards per touch. 

Christopher Newport's Jekyll and Hyde act continues
Mr. Hyde lost to Rowan 32-8 in Week 1, followed by Dr. Jekyll defeating nationally ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor and then Salisbury on the road in overtime. This past Saturday, Mr. Hyde showed up again in a 17-3 win over Shenandoah.

A win is a win, but the Captains faced a Hornets team that came in having lost 13 of their last 15 games, including eight consecutive USAC contests.

Had it not been for a 28-yard run -- their longest play from scrimmage -- with less than five minutes to go in the game following an onside kick attempt by the Hornets, we could be talking about a 10-3 win. The Hornets even had a chance in the fourth quarter to score a touchdown when they recovered a fumble on the Captains' side of the field and proceeded to move it to the 6-yard line. Dr. Jekyll ended that opportunity.

Even though the Hornets didn't turn it over all night and held onto the ball longer, the Captains' defense forced eight punts on Shenandoah's first nine possessions.

Fortunately for CNU, their two toughest games will be in November, and they've both at home when they play Averett and Ferrum. Even so, Dr. Jekyll better be there.

A different kind of run game
A lot of attention has been given to the Guilford Quakers passing attack the past two seasons. Even more attention has been given to their lack of rushing attack which has led to an 8-7 record over that span. But if you've seen them in person, or taken a close look at their box scores, you'll see that it isn't their pass-happy approach that has hurt them -- they actually use their air attack as their run game too.

On the season, the Quakers are averaging just less than 11 yards a completion. Against the Greensboro Pride this past Saturday, Guilford completed more than half of their passes for less than 10 yards. And that counts the yards after the catch their playmaking receivers gain. They simply get the ball out to their receivers and let them make plays.

In other words, Guilford grinds out of the clock with short passes keeping the other offense off the field. Last week again the Pride, the Quakers had seven of their possessions last at least eight plays.

Even though the Quakers pass 75 percent of the time, their opponents only have possession of the ball 38 more seconds per game. So what keeps them from being more productive are turnovers and defense.

Sophomore quarterback Josh Vogelbach already has 14 interceptions on the year, which means seven percent of his completions are being thrown to the other team. That leads to good field position and pressure on the Quaker defense has given up 35.2 points a game -- one of the worst in the nation.

Cardiac kids are back
The Doylestown Hospital staff must be busy for the third consecutive fall thanks to the Aggies football team.

Coming into the season, 12 of Delaware Valley's games the last two years were decided by a touchdown or less. Already in 2006, three have followed the same model, with the last two by only one point.

Pretty amazing that Del Val has averaged a little over five points in the first half, but has a 3-1 record having only lost to nationally ranked Wilkes in overtime. The Aggies' fourth-quarter defense can be thanked for that, giving up 163 yards and seven points in all four games combined in the final 15 minutes.

Perfectly spreading the wealth while in the zone
The Bridgewater Eagles' offense is a perfect 23-for-23 in the red zone so far this season, scoring 19 touchdowns and hitting on field goals of 19, 22, 22 and 41 yards. What's even more impressive is that 11 different Eagles have either rushed for or caught the 19 touchdowns.

The next most perfect while in the red zone is No. 1 Mount Union who is 16-for-16. The team having the most with converting all but one is No. 3 Capital at 19-for-20. St. Olaf is the closest to the Eagles with conversions having 21, but did so on 24 attempts.

Mid-Atlantic Region Top 5
1. Bridgewater
2. Wilkes
3. Christopher Newport
4. Dickinson
5. Delaware Valley

Games of the Week
Ursinus at Case Western Reserve, Case Field, Cleveland, 12 p.m.: The Bears get their first opponent with a winning record and it's on the road, just a mere seven hours from home. CWRU had three relative cupcakes in their first three games and scored only seven when facing a better Wooster team. Perhaps a game that will define Ursinus as a bit more of a legitimate contender or pretender.

Lycoming at No. 16 Wilkes, Ralston Field, Edwardsville, Pa., 1 p.m.: This game has huge significance for a variety of reasons. A long-standing rivalry, yes. An opponent who could jump back to prominence with a win over a ranked opponent? Absolutely. We aren't saying it will happen, but no one would be overtly surprised if it did.