ASHLAND, Va. – No. 21 Randolph-Macon forced five Dickinson first half turnovers to carry them to a 48-34 victory on Friday evening to kick off the 2025 season.
The Basics
Score: Randolph-Macon 48, Dickinson 34
Venue: Ashland, Va. / Randolph-Macon College / Day Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (1-0, 0-0 ODAC); Dickinson (0-1, 0-0 CC)
How it Happened
- Dickinson started the game forcing a turnover by the Yellow Jackets, setting up ideal field position for its offense. Randolph-Macon returned the favor on the first offensive possession by the Red Devils, as Christian Daniel (Willow Springs, N.C./Overhills) jumped a comeback route to intercept the first pass of his career.
- The rest of the first quarter would be dominated by the defense of each team, resulting in four straight punts between both sides. Mitchell Johnson (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) shot some life into the Lemon and Black offense in the final three minutes of the quarter, ending the first fifteen minutes with 21 yards in two plays.
- Randolph-Macon kept grinding out yards on the ground to begin the second quarter, pushing an almost six minute drive down to the Dickinson one yard line. The Red Devils kept the Yellow Jackets out of the endzone on a fourth and one, as Joaquin Acuna tripped up Johnson to leave the RMC offense with an empty drive.
- The defense of Randolph-Macon stood up once again on the ensuing Red Devil drive, creating a fumble that was recovered by Quentin Mankin (Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie). The second Dickinson turnover would set up the Lemon and Black offense on its own ten yard line with 11:26 left in the half.
- In just two plays, RMC managed to find the endzone for the first time in the 2025 campaign. Basit Qadri (Ashburn, Va./Rock Ridge) took a jet-sweep handoff into the endzone, giving the Lemon and Black a 7-0 lead.
- It would not take long for Randolph-Macon to find the endzone again to double its lead at 14-0. Dickinson's Ben Klassen threw an out route that was tipped and gathered by Brandon Watson (York, Pa./Central York), returning the interception 30 yards for the touchdown.
- The Red Devils answered on the next drive, as Klassen found Frederik Fjeldseth in the endzone for a 24 yard touchdown pass with 5:30 left in the half. Gracyn Ross (Beaverdam, Va./Patrick Henry) swung momentum back to the Yellow Jackets, returning the ensuing kickoff 71 yards to set up RMC deep in Dickinson territory.
- Johnson got the ball four straight plays and punched the ball into the endzone with 3:53 on the clock, stretching the lead to 21-7 for the Yellow Jackets.
- Randolph-Macon forced the fourth Red Devil turnover of the first half, as Daniel recorded his second pick of the game. The Yellow Jacket offense worked the ball down the field and with :30 seconds on the clock extended their lead to 28-7 on another Johnson rushing touchdown.
- Dickinson almost cut the deficit in half to end the half, but Daniel Eliasek (Midlothian, Va./Trinity) forced a fumble that Daniel recovered in the endzone, ending the first half with a 28-7 lead for Randolph-Macon.
- The Yellow Jackets used the air attack to grow their lead to 34-7 in the third quarter. Dante Casciola (Charlotte, N.C./Weddington) found Qadri in the back of the endzone for a 24 yard touchdown pass.
- The Red Devils scored on a 65 yard run by Keesean Campbell to cut the RMC lead to 34-14 with 6:23 left in the third quarter.
- Casciola led Randolph-Macon down the field in the final moments of the quarter, capping the drive off with a touchdown pass to Jason Moore (Craven County, N.C./Havlock).
- Dickinson scored on back-to-back drives to cut the deficit to 41-27 with 10:50 left in the game. The final score for the Yellow Jackets was on a Casciola rushing touchdown with 5:51 left on the clock.
- In the final five minutes of the game the Red Devils scored once more, but Randolph-Macon ran off the final three minutes of the game its season opener 48-34.
By The Numbers
- The Yellow Jackets outrushed Dickinson 325-to-146 in the game.
- Randolph-Macon forced five turnovers on the night.
- Casciola was 11 of 15 for 107 yards and two touchdowns. The senior also ran for a touchdown.
- Johnson rushed for 116 yards on 19 carries and recorded two touchdowns.
- Qadri had three catches for 46 yards and one TD. The junior also rushed for a touchdown in the game.
- Moore led the receiving core in overall yards with 48 on five receptions and a touchdown.
- Daniel was elite on the defensive side of the ball for Randolph-Macon, picking off two passes and recovering a fumble.
- Watson ended the night with an interception that was returned for a touchdown and added two tackles.
For The Record
- The Yellow Jackets have won six straight season openers.
- RMC is 7-0 all-time against Dickinson
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will head to Central College in Pella, Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 2 p.m.
