SALEM, Va. – The Yellow Jacket offense collected more than 370 yards of total offense as (RV) Randolph-Macon registered a 35-17 ODAC win at Roanoke on Saturday afternoon.
The Basics
Score: (RV) Randolph-Macon 35, Roanoke 17
Venue: Salem, Va. / Roanoke College / Salem Stadium
Records: Randolph-Macon (4-1, 3-0 ODAC); Roanoke (3-1, 1-1 ODAC)
How it Happened
- In the first quarter, the Yellow Jackets defense would be tested with a Roanoke 17 play drive that lasted almost ten minutes. The Maroons would score on a third and long from the Randolph-Macon 26 but a holding call would negate the touchdown pass.
- The Lemon and Black forced a punt and the offense would be pinned on their own one yard line. Roanoke only allowed one yard and both opening drive for each team resulted in punts.
- The quarter ended with one offensive drive for Randolph-Macon, totalling three plays. Time of possesion was dominated by the Maroons, holding the ball for 13:20 but the score would sit at 0-0.
- Ethan Cyr connected from 30 yards for Roanoke to put them ahead 3-0 with 14:09 left in the second quarter. The ensuing kickoff saw Gracyn Ross (Beaverdam, Va./Patrick Henry) jumpstart the Yellow Jackets with a 71 yard kick return to set up the offense at the Roanoke 27 yard line.
- Randolph-Macon only needed five plays to score a touchdown on a two yard Mitchell Johnson (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) run. The touchdown drive swung the lead back to the Lemon and Black at 7-3 with 13:23 left in the half.
- The next drive for the Maroons only lasted two plays and Quentin Mankin (Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie) made a fantastic diving catch to intercept Kam Hill. Roanoke returned the favor on the next drive, forcing Cameron Chatmon (Willow Spring, N.C./Green Level) to fumble on the one yard line to turnover the Yellow Jackets with 8:36 left in the quarter.
- Randolph-Macon got the ball back with 6:32 left on the clock and conducted a 13 play drive that lasted over five minutes, capped off by a Landon Farriss (New Hanover, N.C./New Hanover) touchdown reception.
- In the final minute of the half, the Maroons moved the ball down the field in only six plays scored on a Hill touchdown run. The score would still be in favor of the Yellow Jackets at 14-10 at halftime.
- In the third quarter, Randolph-Macon struck first with a 21 yard scamper by Dante Casciola (Charlotte, N.C./Weddington) to finish a seven play drive with 8:22 on the clock.
- The final eight minutes of the quarter was dominated by both defenses, not allowing the offenses to move the ball overall. The lone score by the Lemon and Black pushed their lead to 21-10, heading into the final 15 minutes of play.
- Randolph-Macon started the fourth quarter with the ball and Jason Moore (Craven County, N.C./Havlock) jolted the offense with a 42 yard reception, setting up the offense inside the Roanoke 30 yard line. The drive ended with a Chatmon seven yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 28-10 for the Lemon and Black.
- In the middle portion of the final quarter, the Maroons answered the Yellow Jacket touchdown with one of their own with 9:23 on the clock. Hill connected with Grey Deal for a 37 yard touchdown reception to cut the Randolph-Macon lead to 28-17.
- The final four minutes saw the Maroons try to mount a comeback down 11 points. In back-to-back drives to end the game Roanoke had the ball taken away to diminish any comeback chance. Mankin picked off Hill at midfield and on a ensuing Yellow Jacket punt Kindin Richardson (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake) recovered a fumble with 1:51 left in the game.
- Johnson finished the game with his second rushing touchdown with under a minute in the game, putting the final score at 35-17.
By The Numbers
- The Yellow Jackets outrushed Roanoke 174-to-77 in the game.
- Randolph-Macon forced three more turnovers on the afternoon, running its total to 15 on the season.
- Casciola was 11-of-20 for 203 yards through the air, adding a touchdown pass. The senior also carried the ball 15 times for 58 yards.
- Johnson added two touchdowns on the day for the Yellow Jackets, totalling 59 yards on 16 carries.
- Chatmon ended the game 44 yards on eight carries and scored a touchdown.
- Basit Qadri (Ashburn, Va./Rock Ridge) and Moore combined for six catches for 111 yards.
- Mankin led the defense with two interceptions, adding three tackles and a pass break up.
- Christian Daniel (Willow Springs, N.C./Overhills) and Jacob Kyger (Reston, Va./South Lakes) combined for 12 tackles with six tackles each.
For the Record
- This was the first matchup between both institutions since the 1942 season.
- The win marks the 28th straight conference victory for the Yellow Jackets.
- Johnson moves into a tie for sixth all-time in program history in career rushing touchdowns with 29.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will return home to take on Averett on October 11 at 1:00 p.m.
