ASHLAND, Va. – Senior defensive tackle
Wade Grubbs (Providence Forge, Va./New Kent) had a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown, but it was not enough as Berry topped No. 9 Randolph-Macon 28-24 on Saturday afternoon.
The Basics:
Score:Â Berry 28, Randolph-Macon 24
Venue:Â Day Field
Records:Â Randolph-Macon 2-1, Berry 2-1
How it Happened:
- The Vikings moved into RMC territory on their first possession but were forced to punt. The Yellow Jackets drove 80 yards in six plays, as senior quarterback Dante Casciola (Charlotte, N.C./Weddington) sprinted 45 yards for a score, giving the home team a 7-0 lead with 9:23 left in the opening period.
- The teams traded punts through the rest of the first period before Berry found the end zone on the first play of the second quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed as RMC held a slim 7-6 edge.
- The Vikings faced 3rd and 8 when senior Dylan Watson (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) hurried a pass and Grubbs grabbed the ball out of the air and rumbled 60 yards for a touchdown as the lead grew to 14-6 near the midway point of the second period.
- Berry crafted an 82-yard scoring drive in nine plays to pull within two at 14-12 with 3:33 remaining until intermission.
- Senior cornerback Brandon Evans (Frederick, Md./Frederick) picked off a pass at the Berry 39 that led to a 45-yard field goal by senior Kyle Ihle (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) as time expired to give the Yellow Jackets a 17-12 advantage at the break.
- Following a scoreless third period, Berry blocked a punt early in the fourth quarter that went out of bounds at the RMC 1. The Vikings scored on the next play to take their first lead at 18-17.
- A fumble near the sidelines was recovered by Berry at the RMC27. It led to a 42-yard field goal as the visitors extended their lead to 21-17.
- RMC would drive 71 yards in 10 plays as Casciola hit junior Jason Moore (Craven County, N.C./Havelock) on a 15-yard scoring pass. The Yellow Jackets went up 24-21 with five minutes remaining.
- The Vikings answered with a 75-yard scoring drive, punching it in from one yard out with 1:16 left to reclaim the lead at 28-24.
- The Berry defense forced and recovered a fumble on a sack and ran out the clock to claim the 28-24 victory.
By The Numbers:
- RMC had 17 points in the first half, its highest total so far this season. The Yellow Jackets were held to seven points before halftime in each of their first two contests.
- Senior Coleton Payne (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) led the RMC defense with eight tackles, seven solo stops and one tackle for loss.
For The Record:
- This was the first meeting between RMC and Berry.
- The Yellow Jackets had their 28-game regular season win streak snapped. It was the fourth longest in the nation at all levels.
- RMC had also won 12 consecutive non-conference regular season contests.
Up Next:
- Following its bye week, Randolph-Macon will travel to Shenandoah on Saturday, Oct. 5, for a 1 p.m. contest to kick off ODAC play.
