WINCHESTER, Va. – Senior quarterback
Dante Casciola (Charlotte, N.C./Weddington) threw for 119 yards and rushed for 97, while the Yellow Jacket defense came up with three interceptions and a key stop on fourth down late in the third period, as No. 25 Randolph-Macon pulled out a 22-21 win at Shenandoah on Saturday afternoon to kick off ODAC play.
The Basics:
Score: Randolph-Macon 22, Shenandoah 21
Venue: Glo Fiber Field at Shentel Stadium
Records: RMC 3-1, 1-0 ODAC; SU 3-1, 0-1 ODAC
How it Happened:
- The Hornets won the coin toss and elected to receive. They drove 74 yards in seven plays to take an early 7-0 lead four minutes into the contest.
- The Yellow Jackets responded with a 73-yard scoring drive in 10 plays, Casciola had a 36-yard scamper to set up on one-yard scoring run by junior Mitchell Johnson (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan). The extra point was missed as SU led 7-6 with six minutes left in the first period.
- SU went 80 yards in 10 plays for a second TD as the Hornets led 14-6 with 14 seconds left in the first quarter.
- Sophomore safety Quentin Mankin (Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie) had a diving interception at the RMC 40 midway through the second period. The Yellow Jackets took 11 plays to find the end zone, as Casciola scored on a 4th and 2 from the SU 13 as RMC pulled within one at 14-13 with 1:53 left until intermission. That would be the score at halftime.
- Senior cornerback Brandon Evans (Frederick, Md./Frederick) snagged a tipped pass for an interception early in the third quarter that led to a 41-yard field goal by senior Kyle Ihle (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) as the Yellow Jackets took their first lead at 16-14 with 11:27 left in the third period.
- SU drove 82 yards for a touchdown to reclaim the lead at 21-16 with 5:05 left in the third quarter.
- The Hornets grabbed an interception on the RMC 34 less than a minute later. On 4th and 1 from the RMC 25, senior defensive end Owen Arruza (Ashland, Va./Patrick Henry) stopped the quarterback for a two-yard loss as the Yellow Jackets took over on the RMC 27 late in the third period.
- SU had the ball near midfield early in the fourth quarter when senior Coleton Payne (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) grabbed an interception at the RMC38 with 12:32 remaining. Facing 3rd and 10 at the SU 40, Casciola hit sophomore Basit Qadri (Ashburn, Va./Rock Ridge) with a 38-yard pass to the SU 2, Qadri's first collegiate catch. Johnson would take the ball in from one yard out as RMC took a 22-21 edge with 6:10 left.
- The Hornets picked up three yards on first down, but a bad snap on second down set up 3rd and 11 from the SU 24. Evans broke up a pass, forcing a punt. RMC took over on its own 41 with 4:33 left. The Yellow Jackets picked up one first down and faced 4th and 2 at the SU 39 with 1:49 remaining. Casciola ran left and picked up the first down. RMC ran out the clock to seal the victory.
By The Numbers:
- Casciola completed 11 of 21 passes for 119 yards. He carried 16 times for 97 yards and one score.
- Johnson also had 16 rushes for 46 yards and two touchdowns.
- Junior linebacker Daniel Eliasek (Midlothian, Va./Trinity) paced the defense with eight tackles. Evans had two tackles, two pass breakups and one interception.
For The Record:
- RMC has won 19 consecutive ODAC contests, dating back to the 2021 season.
- The Yellow Jackets are 15-3 all-time against Shenandoah. RMC has won seven straight and 15 of the past 16 meetings with the Hornets.
- RMC has won seven straight ODAC openers.
Up Next:
- Randolph-Macon returns to Ashland on Saturday, Oct. 12, for a 1 p.m. ODAC encounter with Guilford for Family Weekend.
