Randolph-Macon College Football

Game 7 – October 16, 2021

R-MC (5-1, 2-1) at Guilford (1-3, 0-3)

Audio pregame show with Rob Witham and Marty Wilson 

Series vs. Guilford

The Yellow Jackets are 36-25-2 all-time against the Quakers. R-MC has won the past five meetings after Guilford won four consecutive encounters. In their last meeting, the Yellow Jackets won 44-0 on Feb. 26, 2021. R-MC registered a 34-21 victory on its last trip to Greensboro on Oct. 5, 2019. R-MC posted a 63-34 win at home in 2018. The Yellow Jackets are 19-11 against Guilford in ODAC contests since the Quakers joined the conference in 1991.

2021 R-MC Results/Schedule (5-1, 2-1)

9/4       at Dickinson                      W 31-21

9/11     Catholic                             W 62-10

9/18     at Bridgewater*                W 31-13

9/25     Washington & Lee*          L 24-25

10/2     at Ferrum*                         W 44-21

10/9     Emory & Henry                W 34-31

10/16   at Guilford*                      1:00 pm

10/23   Apprentice                        6:00 pm

10/30   Shenandoah*                    1:00 pm

11/13   Hampden-Sydney*           1:00 pm

Head Coach Pedro Arruza

Pedro Arruza is in his 18th season as head coach at Randolph-Macon. He has compiled an overall record of 109-67 (.619) and now owns the top spot on R-MC's career list with those 109 victories. Ted Keller previously headed the career wins list with 105 victories in 18 seasons (1964-81). Over the past 12 seasons, the Yellow Jackets are 82-33 (.713) under Arruza. Arruza has been named ODAC Coach of the Year four times (2008, 2016, 2018, 2020).

Best in ODAC

Over the past six seasons, R-MC is 44-11 overall (.800) and 30-6 in ODAC play (.833). Both marks are the best in the conference. Over the past 15 seasons, the Yellow Jackets are 102-44 overall (.700) and 66-28 in league play (.702). Both records also lead the ODAC.

Last Meeting

The Randolph-Macon defense held Guilford to 71 yards of total offense in recording a 44-0 victory. The Yellow Jackets held the Quakers to 45 yards on the ground and 26 yards through the air. Zyreon Jones-Walker recovered a fumble on the GC 35 on the third play from scrimmage. Presley Egbers completed a 12-yard scoring pass to JoJo Marinella to put the home team on top 7-0 five minutes into the contest. Gavin Stone hit a 35-yard field goal later in the period as the lead grew to 10-0. R-MC took control with three TDs in the second quarter. Egbers scampered into the end zone from seven yards out to make it 17-0. Nick Hale had a six-yard scoring run for a 24-0 advantage. Egbers hit Zach Bowman on a 32-yard scoring strike with 29 seconds left in the half as R-MC led 31-0. Bowman pulled in a 39-yard pass from Egbers on the first possession of the second half to make it 38-0. Chris Vidal hit field goals of 40 and 37 yards in the fourth period to make the final score 44-0. It was R-MC's first shutout since Oct. 22, 2016, a 21-0 victory over Catholic. It was the most one-sided shutout since a 51-0 victory at Dickinson on Sept. 3, 2016, to kick off the season.

Hold the Flags

The Yellow Jackets are first in the country in fewest penalty yards per game at 20.67. R-MC is second in the nation in fewest penalties per game at 2.33. The Yellow Jackets had just one penalty for 10 yards in the win over E&H and one penalty at Ferrum two weeks ago for 5 yards.

Flip the Field

R-MC is first in the ODAC and sixth in the nation in net punting at 39.9. Chris Vidal has punted 12 times for 47.0 yards per kick. Six of his punts have been 50 yards or more.

Beat the Clock

R-MC is first in the ODAC and sixth in the nation in time of possession at 35:17. The Yellow Jackets have had the advantage in time of possession in each of their six games this season. R-MC held the ball for 40:05 at Dickinson and 40:05 at Ferrum.

Last Time Out

Brecht Heuchan hit Joey Hunt with a three-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds remaining as R-MC outscored E&H 34-31.

How it Happened:

• After three pointless possessions, two by the Yellow Jackets, the Wasps got a touchdown midway through the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead.
• Facing 3rd and 8 from the RMC 20, Heuchan hit David Wallis on an 80-yard scoring strike as the Yellow Jackets knotted the score at 7-7 with 6:33 left in the first period.
• R-MC put together an 11-play, 82-yard scoring drive, as Justin DeLeon reached the end zone from 10 yards away to give the home team a 14-7 advantage with 9:31 left until halftime.
• Jace DePriest forced a fumble and Torryn Carey-Jarrell recovered on the EHC 24. DeLeon scored from six yards out as the Yellow Jackets took a 21-7 lead with 6:37 remaining until intermission.
• The Wasps answered quickly with a touchdown to pull within seven at 21-14 with 4:58 left in the second quarter.
• R-MC would march to the EHC 4, where Chris Vidal hit a 21-yard field goal at the horn to give the Yellow Jackets a 24-14 lead at the half.
• E&H had a bad snap on a punt and       R-MC took over on the EHC 5, but a fumble on the one kept the Yellow Jackets off the scoreboard.
• Following a Wasp punt, R-MC moved to the EHC 3, but another fumble thwarted the drive.
• The Yellow Jackets had a punt blocked through the end zone, with the safety making it 24-16. E&H took the kickoff, scored a touchdown and was successful on the two-point conversion to level the score at 24-24 with 4:38 left in the third period.
• R-MC advanced to the EHC 9, where a 26-yard field goal from Vidal put the Yellow Jackets back on top 27-24 with 1:28 remaining in the third.
• Following an exchange of punts, E&H scored the go-ahead touchdown with 10:05 left to take a 31-27 lead.
• The Yellow Jackets were stopped on downs on the EHC 34 with 6:44 remaining. The Wasps faced 4th and 2 on the RMC 27 when Devontae Jordan was stopped for no gain by Silas James as R-MC took over with 1:47 left.
• Heuchan hit a nine-yard pass to Tim Hanratty and a 49-yarder to Zach Bowman to put the ball at the EHC 15. Following a rush for three yards by DeLeon and a pair of incompletions, R-MC faced 4th and 7 from the EHC 12 with 29 seconds remaining. The Wasps were called for pass interference on a toss toward Hanratty in the end zone, giving the Yellow Jackets the ball on the EHC 3. Heuchan hit Hunt in the end zone to give R-MC a 34-31 lead with 19 seconds left.
• Erik Harris picked off a pass on the first play following the kickoff and R-MC was able to run out the clock and secure the win. 

By The Numbers:

• R-MC finished with 503 yards of total offense, with 235 on the ground and 268 through the air. Heuchan was 7 of 13 for 259 yards and two TDs.
• DeLeon carried the ball 29 times for a career-best 202 yards and two scores.
• Wallis had three catches for 160 yards and one touchdown. Bowman had two receptions for 87 yards.
• Jace DePriest led the Yellow Jacket defense with eight tackles. He had two tackles for loss and forced a fumble.
• R-MC won time of possession, holding the ball for 31:37.

Potent Passing

The Yellow Jackets are first in the ODAC and 10th in the nation in team passing efficiency at 183.25. Brecht Heuchan has a passing efficiency of 302.22. R-MC is 14th in yards per completion at 16.21. Heuchan is averaging 29.9 yards per completion. The Yellow Jackets are 19th in completion percentage at .661.

ODAC Standings       ODAC Overall

Washington & Lee         3-0             5-1

Randolph-Macon         2-1             5-1

Shenandoah                   2-1             4-1

Hampden-Sydney          2-1             2-3

Ferrum                            1-1             4-1

Bridgewater                   0-3             2-4

Guilford                         0-3             1-3

Saturday, Oct. 16

*Randolph-Macon at Guilford 1 pm

*Shenandoah at Ferrum 1 pm

Hampden-Sydney at Emory & Henry 1 pm

Apprentice at Bridgewater 2 pm

Saturday, Oct. 23

Apprentice at Randolph-Macon 6 pm

*Ferrum at Hampden-Sydney 1 pm

*Bridgewater at Washington & Lee 1 pm

Emory & Henry at Shenandoah 1 pm

Record-Tying Field Goal

Chris Vidal nailed a 49-yard field goal at Ferrum. That kick tied the program record for longest field goal. It was the third-longest field goal in ODAC history.

Potent on PATs

Chris Vidal now owns the program record for PATs made at 149. Josh Storm (2009-12) held the previous mark at 137. Vidal has the third-highest total in ODAC history. Matt Seals of E&H (2016-20) is first at 166 and Tyler Hunt of Guilford (2012-15) is second at 156.

Long Drives

Through the first six games, R-MC has had 21 drives of at least nine plays and has scored 15 touchdowns on those drives. The Yellow Jackets have had two drives of 14 plays and both ended in turnovers. R-MC has had 27 drives of 60 or more yards and 20 have ended with touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets had TD drives of 95 and 92 yards in the fourth quarter against Catholic. R-MC has had four drives of at least seven minutes, eight of at least six minutes, 17 of at least five minutes and 22 of at least four minutes.

Rushing for 200

Justin DeLeon rushed for a career-high 202 yards in the win over Emory & Henry. The last time a Yellow Jackets eclipsed the 200-yard mark for rushing yards was Tre Frederick, who had 238 yards on 31 carries with three touchdowns in a 44-41 double-overtime win over Bridgewater.

Strong on the Ground

Justin DeLeon leads the ODAC and is 11th in the nation in rushing yards at 654. He tops the conference with 109.0 rushing yards per game, nine rushing touchdowns, 10 total touchdowns and 60 points.

Tight Games

R-MC has had multiple close games at home decided late in recent years.

10/9/21 R-MC 34, Emory & Henry 31

  Brecht Heuchan hits Joey Hunt with 3-yard TD pass with 19 seconds left.

9/25/21 Washington & Lee 25, R-MC 24

  Generals score TD & 2-point conversion with no time left.

4/3/21 R-MC 13, Emory & Henry 10 OT

  Presley Egbers grabs ball out of the air and runs it in for a TD from 13 yards out in OT.

11/2/19 R-MC 36, Washington & Lee 35

  After Presley Egbers hits Mike Avent with a 6-yard TD pass with 39 seconds left, Chris Vidal executes a successful onside kick and hits a 38-yard field goal with 2 seconds left.

10/20/18 R-MC 44, Bridgewater 41 2OT

  Burke Estes hits Robby Owens with 2-yard TD pass in second OT for win.

20/28/17 Washington & Lee 17, R-MC 14

  Generals score TD with 38 seconds left.

High Point Total

The Yellow Jackets tallied 62 points in the win over Catholic. The last time R-MC scored as many as 62 points was October 6, 2018, when the Yellow Jackets topped Guilford 63-34.

High Total Offense

The 694 yards of total offense against Catholic was the most for the Yellow Jackets since Sept. 12, 2015, in a 49-28 win at Averett. R-MC had 340 rushing yards and 376 through the air against the Cougars.

Brothers Put Points on the Board

Freshman Kyle Ihle made the final three extra points for R-MC against Catholic. His brother, senior Andrew, was the holder for those three kicks.

Potent Passing, Part 2

R-MC had two QBs throw for at least 200 yards in win over Catholic. Starter Presley Egbers was 11 of 17 for 230 yards and three TDs. Brecht Heuchan came off the bench to go 6 for 6 for 213 yards and two scores.

Players of the Week

R-MC has had three ODAC Players of the Week this season.

10/10 ODAC Defensive Player of Week

Jace DePriest, senior defensive tackle

Led Yellow Jackets with 8 tackles in 34-31 home victory over Emory & Henry. Had two tackles for loss. Forced a fumble in the second quarter that led to an R-MC TD.

9/19 ODAC Defensive Player of the Week

Dominic Gray, sophomore linebacker

Led all players with 11 tackles in 31-13 win at Bridgewater. Had 6 solo stops. R-MC defense held Eagles to 27 yards rushing on 24 carries.

9/12 ODAC Offensive Player of the Week

Justin DeLeon, senior running back

Registered 174 all-purpose yards and scored 3 touchdowns in 62-10 win over Catholic. Rushed 20 times for 105 yards & 2 scores. Had 2 catches for 68 yards and 1 TD.

2021 ODAC Football Preseason Poll

1 Randolph-Macon (6) 36 pts.

2 Hampden-Sydney 27 pts.

3 Bridgewater 26 pts.

4 Washington and Lee (1) 25 pts.

5 Shenandoah 14 pts.

6 Ferrum 13 pts.

7 Guilford 6 pts.

ODAC Titles

For the 2020 season, played this past spring, R-MC claimed its 12th ODAC title and third in five years. The Yellow Jackets won ODAC crowns in 1976, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2008, 2016, 2018 and 2020. In the 46-year history of the ODAC, R-MC has won the most championships with 12. Pedro Arruza has led the Yellow Jackets to four titles, while Ted Keller and Jim Blackburn followed with three ODAC titles as R-MC head coach. Scott Boone and Joe Riccio both led the Yellow Jackets to one title.

Returning All-Conference Performers

R-MC returns several All-ODAC selections from this past spring.

Off. Player of the Year: QB Presley Egbers

First Team

QB Presley Egbers

OL Will Jackson

OL Nehemiah Nixon

PK Chris Vidal

DL Tyler DeBerry

LB Matt Vergara

DB Cade Jones

Second Team

WR David Wallis

OL Connor Denning

OL Tre Fortune

DB Stephen Richardson

All-Americans

This past spring, kicker Chris Vidal and offensive lineman Will Jackson were All-America Second Team by D3football.com.

Double Century Mark

Twice last season, R-MC had two players rush for more than 100 yards in the same game. Against Bridgewater, running back Justin DeLeon had 22 carries for 109 yards and quarterback Presley Egbers rushed 24 times for 103 yards. At Shenandoah, Egbers rushed for 174 yards on 19 carries. Running back Nick Hale ran 18 times for 102 yards.