WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Yellow Jackets capitalized on five Gallaudet turnovers, including a pick-six, and added three safeties to power a dominant 47–7 win over the Bison on Saturday afternoon.
The Basics
Score: #20 Randolph-Macon 47, Gallaudet 7
Venue: Washington, D.C. / Gallaudet University / Hotchkiss Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (7-1, 6-0 ODAC); Gallaudet (1-6, 1-5 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Randolph-Macon started the game with the ball and moved 60 yards down the field, headlined by a Jason Moore (Craven County, N.C./Havlock) 29-yard run. Mitchell Johnson (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) capped off the drive with a three-yard rush, pushing the Yellow Jackets ahead 7-0 with 11:44 left in the first quarter.
- Gallaudet managed to gain one first down on its opening drive but was forced to punt the ball back to the Lemon and Black. Cameron Chatmon (Willow Springs, N.C./Green Level) finished off a seven play, 68-yard drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown. Jake Mulhern (Nokesville, Va./Kettle Run) led the offense down the field going 4-of-4 on passing attempts on the scoring drive, as Randolph-Macon doubled its lead to 14-0 with 4:14 on the clock.
- In the late portion of the quarter, Bison quarterback JeVaughn Sargent fumbled the ball in Gallaudet territory and Caleb Hughes (Glen Allen, Va./Glen Allen) would recover the ball for the Lemon and Black.
- Randolph-Macon was held out of the endzone on the ensuing drive, but Tyler Graham (Wake, N.C./Leesville Road) knocked in a 19-yard field goal, extending the lead to 17-0 for the Yellow Jackets at the end of the first quarter.
- In the early stages of the second quarter, the defense of the Lemon and Black stood up once again with an interception that was returned 49 yards for a touchdown by Hughes. The lead would grow to 24-0 for Randolph-Macon with over 13 minutes left before halftime.
- The turnovers would continue for Gallaudet midway through the second quarter. Parker Funk (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) stripped the ball away from Sargent and Jacob Kyger (Reston, Va./South Lakes) scooped up the ball in Bison territory.
- The Yellow Jackets were kept out of the endzone again by a stingy Gallaudet defensive front, forcing Graham to convert another field goal attempt from 31 yards out. The field goal pushed the lead to 27-0 with just under five minutes until halftime.
- Randolph-Macon punter Jordan Etz (Midlothian, Va./James River) was sent out to punt and booted a 64-yard kick, pinning the Bison on their own three yard line. Carter Johnson tried to get Gallaudet out of the endzone, but Kyger took him down in the endzone for a safety. The two extra points saw the Yellow Jackets head into the locker room with a 29-0 lead.
- The Bison received the ball coming out of halftime, Marcus Gabriel had the snap go over his head and recovered the ball in the endzone for the second safety of the game. The ensuing drive for the Yellow Jackets was capped off by an Avery Chow (Chantilly, Va./Chantilly) 23-yard touchdown run and the lead would grow to 38-0 for Randolph-Macon with 11:40 left in the third quarter.
- In the following drive for Gallaudet, already pinned on its own six yard line, had another bad snap that resulted in the third safety of the game. The score had the Lemon and Black ahead 40-0.
- The final scoring drive of the game for the Yellow Jackets came on a 13-yard touchdown pass by Jack Melton (Naples, Fla./Naples), as he found Trey Barbee (Apex, N.C./Apex) in the back of the endzone. The clock showed 3:36 left in the third quarter and Randolph-Macon leading 47-0.
- Gallaudet would get on the board in the final five minutes of the game, as Gabriel Segovia found Andrae Green in the back of the endzone from 17 yards out. Randolph-Macon defeated Gallaudet by a score of 47-7.
By The Numbers
- The Yellow Jackets outrushed Gallaudet 207-to-16 in the game.
- Randolph-Macon had 106 passing yards to the Bison 61.
- The Lemon and Black held the ball for 35:10, compared to Gallaudet's 24:50 of time of offense.
- Mulhern led the passing game, going 7-of-10 for 78 yards for Randolph-Macon. Melton recorded his first career touchdown pass, along with a completing both of his pass attempts.
- Chow led all rushers with 73 yards on 13 attempts and scored his first career touchdown. Johnson and Chatmon both scored a touchdown in the game for the Lemon and Black.
- Barbee recorded his first career touchdown reception on his only target of the afternoon.
- Jackson Hall (Richmond, Va./Benedictine) and Funk led the team in tackles with five each. Funk also recorded a forced fumble in his time on the field for Randolph-Macon.
- Gavin Solito (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) and Hughes both had one interception each in the game. Hughes also recovered a fumble to add to his stat sheet.
For the Record
- The win marks the 31st straight conference victory for the Yellow Jackets.
- Johnson scored his 31st career rushing touchdown, tying him with Eric Hoy'19 for fifth most in school history.
- The Randolph-Macon forced three safeties in the game, the last time Yellow Jackets forced a safety was against Guilford in 2021.
- The Lemon and Black have now returned four interceptions for touchdowns in the last three games.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will return home for a showdown with Shenandoah on November 1 at 1:00 p.m. for Senior Day
