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Gettysburg College has had its ups and downs on the football field this season.

The bright spot has been quarterback Matt Flynn, the Mainland Regional High School graduate who leads the Bullets' explosive offense.

Flynn, a senior, plays his final college game Saturday when Gettysburg (3-6) closes its season at Franklin and Marshall.

Flynn has rewritten the record books in his four years at Gettysburg. He also has turned the Bullets into one of the top offensive teams in NCAA Division III.

Gettysburg ranks third in D-III in offensive yards (4,485). The Bullets had the top-ranked offense for one four-week stretch this season.

Flynn is the Centennial Conference's all-time leading passer (7,658 career yards) and holds several single-game conference records. He holds the Gettysburg career records for touchdown passes (56) and completions (559). This season he has broken his own single-season school records for passing yards (2,451, 20th in D-III), total offense (2,772, 15th in D-III) and completions (180). He is tied for the school record with 19 passing touchdowns.

Flynn, a 2005 Press first-team All-Star, arrived at Gettysburg four years ago hoping to compete for time with two other quarterbacks. He split reps at the beginning of the season, but that didn't last long.

In the Bullets' fourth game of that season, Flynn came in and threw five touchdown passes. He's been the starter ever since.

"I was lucky to have the opportunity to come in here and get time as a freshman," Flynn said. "I was lucky (coach Barry Streeter) gave me an opportunity. I was just trying to go through camp and learn the offense. Eventually I got an opportunity to play, and from then on I'd be starting here."

Flynn admits that he had no thoughts of breaking any records early in his career. He credits Gettysburg's system for helping him.

"The offense has opened up a lot of opportunities for me," he said. "We're a spread offense. We're in the shotgun formation 99 percent of the plays, and I'm definitely more of a passing quarterback than a runner."

Junior wide receiver Charles Curcio, a former St. Joseph High School standout, points out that Flynn's focus has always been on the team.

"He keeps setting records in losses. He's kind of torn," said Curcio, who faced Flynn in high school scrimmages but not games because Mainland and St. Joseph are in different conferences within the Cape-Atlantic League. "His first goal is always to win, but you look back and it's something to be proud of."

Streeter, the Bullets' 31st-year coach, noticed early on that Flynn had the potential to be something special.

"We watched his (recruiting) tape and rated him pretty high," Streeter said. "We were excited about him making the decision to come here. Preseason his freshman year, he showed us he had a lot going for him. We could see right away that we were going to have a good one on our hands."

With only one game left in his college football career, Flynn finds the friends he's made and the bonds he's formed with his teammates more important than any stats or numbers.

"It's an honor, and I'm just thankful I had the opportunity to play," Flynn said. "It's cool having some of my best friends playing on the offense with me. Just playing with them the last few years has been a lot of fun. I just want to be prepared, finish the season strong, and most importantly finish it with my friends and teammates."

Contact Patrick Carragher:

609-272-7210

PCarragher@pressofac.com

Flynn's Centennial Conference records

Flynn's school records

*Oct. 3 at Ursinus **This season

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