Randolph-Macon College Football

Game 9 – October 30, 2021

SU (5-2, 2-2) at R-MC (7-1, 3-1)

Series vs. Shenandoah

R-MC is 11-3 all-time against Shenandoah. The Yellow Jackets have won three straight and 11 of the past 12 meetings after the Hornets claimed the first two encounters.   R-MC is 5-2 at home and 6-1 on the road against the Hornets. This past spring, R-MC outscored SU 52-38 in Winchester. The Yellow Jackets won the most recent meeting in Ashland, 35-14 on Oct. 12, 2019.

Past Meetings

03/19/21    A      *       W        52        38

10/12/19    H      *       W        35        14

10/13/18    A      *       W        45        14

09/28/17    H      *       L          38        51

09/30/16    A      *       W        24        19

10/31/15    H      *       W        31        13

11/01/14    A      *       W        47        23

11/02/13    H      *       W        42        7

10/27/12    A      *       W        27        24

09/17/11    H               W        36        29

09/18/10    H               W        42        14

09/19/09    A               W        17        14

09/17/05    A               L          10        20

09/18/04    H               L          20        24

2021 R-MC Results/Schedule (7-1, 3-1)

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*                      W 58-0

10/23   Apprentice                        W 49-7

10/30   Shenandoah*                    1:00 pm

11/13   Hampden-Sydney*           1:00 pm

Beat 'em by 100

Over the past two games, R-MC has outscored its opponents by 100 points (107-7). It is the first time since 1985 that the Yellow Jackets have had a scoring margin of at least 100 points in consecutive games.

11/2/85 at Maryville 73-14

11/9/85 Bridgewater 49-7

Last Meeting

Presley Egbers rushed for more than 100 yards for the second straight game, threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as   R-MC outscored Shenandoah 52-38.

How it Happened:

• Neither team could score on its first two possessions. R-MC started its third drive on the SU 41. Justin DeLeon capped the drive with a 19-yard TD run as R-MC led 7-0 with 56 seconds left in the first.
• After forcing a third Hornet punt, Egbers directed a 13-play scoring drive. Nick Hale found the end zone from eight yards out as the Yellow Jackets went up 14-0 midway through the second quarter. SU would score the next 17 points to lead 17-14 with 2:24 remaining in the half. R-MC would drive 79 yards in 1:41 with Egbers scoring from eight yards out as the visitors led 20-17 at intermission.
• The Hornets would score on their first possession of the third period to reclaim the lead at 24-20. Egbers would scamper for a 25-yard TD run as R-MC went up 27-24 with 8:54 left in the third quarter. A 41-yard field goal by Chris Vidal extended the lead to 30-24 with four minutes remaining. SU answered quickly and led 31-30 after three.
• Egbers would conduct a 14-play scoring drive, hitting David Wallis on a one-yard TD pass. Egbers would find JoJo Marinella on a two-point conversion pass as R-MC took a 38-31 edge with 10 minutes remaining. Egbers connected with Joey Hunt on a 12-yard scoring toss as the lead grew to 45-31 with seven minutes left. After holding SU on downs, Hale scored from seven yards out to give R-MC a 52-31 advantage with 2:30 left. SU would add a TD with one minute left to make the final 52-38.
• R-MC had nearly 500 yards of total offense, gaining 336 yards on the ground and 153 through the air.
• Egbers completed 15 of 25 passes for 153 yards and two TDs. He ran the ball 19 times for 174 yards and two scores.
• Hale had a career-best 102 rushing yards with two touchdowns.

Last Time Out

R-MC amassed 300 yards on the ground with 6 TDs in a 49-7 win over Apprentice.

How it Happened:

• The Yellow Jackets took the opening kickoff and drove 68 yards in six plays, as Justin DeLeon started the drive with a 47-yard run and finished with a two-yard scoring run as R-MC took a 7-0 lead three minutes into the contest.
• After an interception by Stephen Richardson, DeLeon would find the end zone again from one yard out to give the Yellow Jackets a 14-0 lead with five minutes left in the first.
• R-MC would add a pair of TDs in the final 2:29 of the second period. Presley Egbers had a three-yard TD run with 2:29 left and Brecht Heuchan hit David Wallis with a 22-yard scoring strike with 36 seconds left as the Yellow Jackets led 28-0 at the half.
• The Builders would drive 75 yards and score on their first possession of the third quarter to pull within 28-7.
• Kwesi Clarke answered quickly with a 57-yard TD run as the lead grew to 35-7 midway through the third period.
• Clarke added a 13-yard scoring run with three minutes left in the third to make it 42-7.
• Aaron Acevedo had a 55-yard TD run a minute later to make it 49-7. Neither team would score in the final period.

By The Numbers

• R-MC had 37 rushes for 300 yards. DeLeon had 11 carries for 97 yards and two TDs. Clark had 89 yards on seven carries with two scores. Acevedo carried six times for 76 yards and one TD.
• Heuchan completed 15 of 24 passes for 140 yards and one TD. Wallis had three catches for 45 yards and one score, while Joey Hunt had four receptions for 43 yards.
• Tyler DeBerry led the Yellow Jacket defense with five tackles, including two tackles for loss.
• Richardson had two interceptions.

Head Coach Pedro Arruza

Pedro Arruza is in his 18th season as head coach at Randolph-Macon. He has compiled an overall record of 111-67 (.624) and now owns the top spot on R-MC's career list with those 111 victories. Ted Keller previously headed the list with 105 wins in 18 seasons (1964-81). Over the past 12 seasons, R-MC is 84-33 (.718) 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 46-11 overall (.807) and 31-6 in ODAC play (.838). Both marks are the best in the conference. Over the past 15 seasons, the Yellow Jackets are 104-44 overall (.703) and 67-28 in league play (.705). Both records also lead the ODAC.

Net Punting

R-MC is first in the ODAC and fourth in the nation in net punting at 40.2. Chris Vidal has punted 17 times for 46.2 yards per kick. He has put six inside the opponent's 20 and seven have been 50 yards or more.

Potent Passing

The Yellow Jackets are first in the ODAC and seventh in the nation in team passing efficiency at 179.1. R-MC is completing 66.3% of their passes for 1,736 yards and 15 passing touchdowns.

Hold the Flags

The Yellow Jackets are third in the country in fewest penalties per game at 3.2. R-MC is fifth in the nation in fewest penalty yards per game at 31.7. The Yellow Jackets had just one penalty for 10 yards in the win over E&H and one penalty at Ferrum for 5 yards.

Beat the Clock

R-MC is first in the ODAC and 10th in the nation in time of possession at 34:14. The Yellow Jackets have had the advantage in time of possession in seven of their first eight games this season. Apprentice won time of possession over R-MC. The Yellow Jackets held the ball for 40:05 at Dickinson and 40:05 at Ferrum.

ODAC Standings       ODAC Overall

Washington & Lee         4-0             6-1

Randolph-Macon         3-1             7-1

Hampden-Sydney          3-1             3-4

Ferrum                            2-2             5-2

Shenandoah                   2-2             5-2

Bridgewater                   0-4             3-5

Guilford                         0-4             1-5

Saturday, Oct. 30

*Shenandoah at Randolph-Macon 1 pm

Hampden-Sydney at Apprentice 1 pm

Washington & Lee at Emory & Henry 1 pm

*Guilford at Ferrum 2 pm

Saturday, Nov. 6

*Ferrum at Washington and Lee 1 pm

*Bridgewater at Hampden-Sydney 1 pm

Emory & Henry at Guilford 1 pm

Apprentice at Shenandoah 1 pm

Strong Offense

R-MC recorded at least 500 yards of total offense in three of the past four games and four times this fall. Over the past nine seasons, R-MC has not had more than two such games in any single season.

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. Vidal is first in the ODAC and seventh in the nation in field goal percentage at .889. He had made eight of nine attempts this season.

Potent on PATs

Chris Vidal now owns the program record for PATs made at 162. Josh Storm (2009-12) held the previous mark at 137. Vidal has the second-highest total in ODAC history. Matt Seals of E&H (2016-20) is first at 166.

Strong on the Ground

Justin DeLeon leads the ODAC and is 16th in the nation in rushing yards at 729. He tops the conference with 104.1 rushing yards per game, 10 rushing touchdowns, 11 total touchdowns and 66 points.

Positive Runs

The Yellow Jackets are tops in the ODAC and seventh in the country in tackles for loss allowed at 3.0 per game.

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.

Day Field Drama

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 and the final two at Guilford. His brother, senior Andrew, was the holder for those five 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.