ASHLAND, Va. – The Yellow Jackets used a potent ground attack to run in four touchdowns and total 268 yards, defeating Shenandoah 31-14 on senior day and staying perfect in conference play.
The Basics
Score: #18 Randolph-Macon 31, Shenandoah 14
Venue: Ashland, Va. / Randolph-Macon College / Day Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (8-1, 7-0 ODAC); Shenandoah (6-2, 4-2 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Shenandoah started the game with the ball and converted on its first fourth down opportunity with a Jalen Redfearn six yard rush. The Yellow Jackets stepped up defensively two plays later, as Daniel Eliasek (Midlothian, Va./Trinity) picked off Mekhi Brown and set up Randolph-Macon in Hornet territory.
- The Lemon and Black needed seven plays to punch the ball into the endzone. Gracyn Ross (Beaverdam, Va./Patrick Henry) took the sweep handoff from four yards out to give Randolph-Macon a 7-0 lead with 8:18 left in the first quarter.
- Shenandoah was forced to punt after just three short plays, giving the Yellow Jackets the ball at midfield. The Lemon and Black drove 56-yards in nine plays, taking five minutes off the clock and a Dante Casciola (Charlotte, N.C./Weddington) three-yard touchdown run doubled the lead for Randolph-Macon to 14-0 with 2:18 left in the quarter.
- The ensuing drive for the Hornets ran over into the second quarter, moving the ball into Yellow Jacket territory. Shenandoah was forced into a fourth and short, Aidan McCloskey was stopped short of the line to gain by Alex Biddle (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) and Jarren King (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax). The stalled drive turned the ball back to Randolph-Macon with 13:03 left in the half.
- The Hornets continued to play tough defense, as Jake Mulhern (Nokesville, Va./Kettle Run) was picked off by Jaren Mitchell and returned 65-yards to the endzone. The defensive touchdown cut the Lemon and Black lead in half at 14-7 with 9:49 on the clock.
- The Yellow Jackets did not let the short shot of momentum last long for Shenandoah. Casciola capped off a 12-play drive that lasted over six minutes and totaled 70-yards. The senior quarterback ran in his second touchdown of the afternoon from six yards out, pushing the lead to 21-7 and with only 1:39 left in the half.
- The Hornets tried to get some points to end the first half, rushing down the field through the air. Tim Semisch (Midlothian, Va./Benedictine) ended any threat of scoring with a huge sack of Brown as time expired. Randolph-Macon would use the defensive stand to head into the locker room with a 21-7 lead.
- Momentum carried over into the third quarter for the Lemon and Black, as Jason Moore (Craven County, N.C./Havelock) took a jet sweep handoff 66-yards to the house on the first play of the quarter. The senior wideout jolted Randolph-Macon into a 28-7 advantage.
- Explosive plays did not carry into the rest of the quarter, as the defenses stepped up for both sides and saw the scoreboard at the end of the quarter show 28-7 with the Yellow Jackets ahead.
- The final quarter had Randolph-Macon with the ball and the drive ended with a Trever Luther (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Senior) 23-yard field goal. The Lemon and Black grew their lead to 31-7 with 11:16 left on the clock.
- Shenandoah would score on a Redfearn 1-yard run with 5:37 on the clock to shrink the Yellow Jacket lead to 31-14. Randolph-Macon ran out the final five minutes of the game to defeat the Hornets by a score of 31-14.
By The Numbers
- The Yellow Jackets outrushed Shenandoah 268-to-34 in the game.
- Randolph-Macon had 121 passing yards to the Hornets 132.
- The Lemon and Black held the ball for 39:15, compared to Shenandoah's 20:45 of time of offense.
- Casciola ended the game going 8-of-9 through the air for 56 yards, adding to his 11 carries for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
- Chatmon was the leader in stable of running backs, recording 108 yards on 23 carries.
- Moore ended the game with 137 all-purpose yards for the Yellow Jackets. The senior was responsible for the 66-yard rushing touchdown, totaling 76 yards on four carries.
- Neftali Reyes (Falls Church, Va./Justice) led the team in tackles with 12 overall on the day.
- Brandon Watson (York, Pa./Central York) ended his day with seven tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass break up.
- Eliasek recorded his first interception of the season, going along with his six overall tackles.
- Semisch had a stellar game for the Yellow Jacket defense. The sophomore ended the day with three tackles, one tackle for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries.
- Quentin Mankin (Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie), Christian Daniel (Willow Springs, N.C./Overhills), Brady Kinloch (Leesburg, Va./Tuscarora), Biddle and Watson all recorded pass break-ups.
For the Record
- The win marks the 32nd straight conference victory for the Yellow Jackets.
- Randolph-Macon has now recorded at least one interception in each of its nine games played this season.
- The Lemon and Black have now won eight straight games against the Hornets, dating back to 2018.
Up Next
Following its bye week, Randolph-Macon will host the 130th Edition of "The Game" against rival Hampden-Sydney on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1:00 p.m.
