ASHLAND, Va. – Senior
Kwesi Clarke (Wilmington, N.C./North Brunswick) rushed for 108 yards and one touchdown in leading No. 15 Randolph-Macon past Ferrum 35-7 on Saturday afternoon to clinch the ODAC Championship, the third straight title and 15th overall for the Yellow Jackets.
The Basics:
Score: Randolph-Macon 35, Ferrum 7
Venue: Day Field
Records: RMC 8-1, 6-0 ODAC; FC 4-5, 2-4 ODAC
How it Happened:
- The Yellow Jacket defense stopped the Panthers on downs at the RMC 42 on the first drive of the contest. RMC moved 58 yards in six plays to reach the end zone, as junior Mitchell Johnson (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) scored from five yards out to give the Yellow Jackets a 7-0 lead six minutes into the game. RMC has scored on its opening drive in seven straight contests.
- Ferrum was forced to punt on its second possession. RMC took over on its own 29 and drove 71 yards in 12 plays, as Johnson reached the end zone from one yard out to make it 14-0 late in the first period.
- The Yellow Jackets had a 13-play drive early in the second quarter, moving 75 yards to the end zone. Senior quarterback Dante Casciola (Charlotte, N.C./Weddington) ran it in from the 1 to make it 21-0 with 5:34 left until intermission.
- Casciola hit junior Cullen Martin (Moore, N.C./Pinecrest) with a 56-yard pass that put RMC at the FC 20. Three plays later, Casciola scored on a 13-yard run to extend the lead to 28-0 with 1:17 left in the second period.
- The Yellow Jackets took the second-half kickoff and went 75 yards in eight plays, as Clarke scored on a 35-yard scamper to make it 35-0 five minutes into the third quarter.
- Ferrum would score late in the third period to make the final score 35-7.
By The Numbers:
- RMC held the ball for 42:41, its second-highest total of the season. The Yellow Jackets had the ball for 43:21 last week at Washington and Lee. RMC entered the game ninth in the nation in time of possession at 33:59.
- The Yellow Jackets amassed 474 yards of total offense, their second-highest total of the year.
- RMC ran the ball 58 times for 312 yards. Clarke carried 10 times for 108 yards. The Yellow Jackets had five runners with at least 40 yards on the ground.
- Casciola completed 9 of 13 passes for 131 yards. Martin had four catches for 85 yards.
- Senior linebacker Daniel Eliasek (Midlothian, Va./Trinity) topped the defense with five tackles.
For The Record:
- Senior kicker Kyle Ihle (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) went 5 for 5 on extra points and broke the ODAC record for career extra points made with 173, passing the previous record of 172 held by former Yellow Jacket Chris Vidal (2017-21).
- RMC has won 24 consecutive ODAC contests, dating back to the 2021 season.
- The Yellow Jackets have won five straight meetings with the Panthers.
Up Next:
- Randolph-Macon will conclude the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m. at Hampden-Sydney for the 129th edition of The Game.
