Date: Saturday, September 27, 2008
Contact: Chris Kilcoyne, Sports Information Director
(804) 752-7387/ christopherkilcoyne@rmc.edu

Big Second Half Sends Randolph-Macon Past Catholic 32-20 in ODAC Football Action
(Box Score)

ASHLAND, VA - The Randolph-Macon College football team scored 23 unanswered points in the second-half to erase a half-time deficit and beat visiting Catholic University 32-20 Saturday afternoon in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

R-MC (2-2 / 1-0 ODAC) trailed CUA (3-1 / 0-1 ODAC) 14-9 at the intermission before receiving the second-half kickoff and promptly driving down to the Cardinals 11 yard line fueled by a 68 kickoff return by Darius Harris before the drive stalled. The Yellow Jackets scored what looked to be a go-ahead touchdown on a rush by kicker Scott Shope on a fake field goal, but the play was called back due to holding and R-MC had to settle for three points to make the score 14-12.

The Randolph-Macon defense forced a three-and-out on Catholic's ensuing possession and took over on their own 44-yard line. The Jackets used eight plays to go 56 yards, scoring when quarterback Austin Faulkner found Rod Nelson for a 10 yard touchdown pass to give R-MC its first lead of the game at 19-14.

After the defense stopped CUA on three plays, the Yellow Jackets built on their lead, putting together a seven play, 57-yard drive. Zak Thornton had 36 yards rushing on the drive and Faulkner connected with Brandon Braner for an eight-yard touchdown pass to put the Jackets up 25-14 with 11:40 to go in the game.

R-MC's defense helped seal the game when Gabe Jones picked off CUA quarterback Keith Ricca on the Cardinals 36-yard. The Yellow Jackets' offense capitalized six plays later when Thornton plunged into the end zone from four-yards out to put his team up 32-14 with just under two minutes to go in the game.

Thornton finished the day with 125 yards on 30 carries to go along with one score, while Faulkner was 17-of-26 for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Alex Ramirez snared five balls for 74 yards, while Nelson and Brander caught four and three balls, respectively on the afternoon.

Scott Ahonen, who made a team-high nine tackles to go along with a pair of pass break ups, led the Randolph-Macon defense along with Christian Stahl who had five tackles, while Jesse Jones, and Alex Wade each had four in the win as well.

Ricca who was 21-of-38 for 230 yards and a touchdown in the loss paced Catholic offensively. He connected with five different receivers on the day, including Andrew Buis who had eight catches for 61 yards and a score. Nick Olivero put up a game-high 10 tackles for the Cardinals and picked off a Faulkner pass.

Randolph-Macon outgained Catholic 364-302 and garnered 23 first downs on the afternoon. The Yellow Jackets special teams also played a big role, as they collected 105 return yards on kickoffs

The Yellow Jackets return to action next Saturday when they travel to Washington and Lee University for a 1:30 p.m. ODAC game. Catholic will travel to SUNY-Maritime for Noon kickoff next Saturday.

- Yellow Jackets -