LEXINGTON, Va. – The Yellow Jackets fought hard on the road at Washington and Lee, but would fall short 20-17 to the Generals.
The Basics
Score: Washington and Lee 20, #23 Randolph-Macon 17
Venue: Lexington, Va. / Washington and Lee University / Wilson Field
Records: Randolph-Macon (3-2, 1-1 ODAC); Washington and Lee (4-1, 2-0 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Randolph-Macon began the game with a bang, constructing an opening 11 play scoring drive. Mitchell Johnson (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) capped off the drive with an 11 yard rushing touchdown and the Yellow Jackets would take a 7-0 lead with 8:54 left in the opening quarter.
- The Generals drove down the field on their opening drive to create a scoring threat. RMC stood tough on its own 26 yardline, forcing two straight incompletions and turning WLU away offensively.
- Randolph-Macon used the opening scoring drive to carry a 7-0 lead and the ball into the second quarter.
- Washington and Lee were forced a punt and held the ball for over 11 minutes. The Generals ended the 23 play drive with a Ryan Clemens three yard rushing touchdown. WLU missed the extra point and with :29 seconds left in the half, RMC led 7-6.
- The Yellow Jackets had points on their mind, as Jake Mulhern (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) started the drive with a 16 yard pass to Johnson. Mulhern connected on a 36 yard bomb to Malakiah Moore (Richmond, Va./Varina), setting up RMC on the Generals 13 yard line. Henry Ross (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond-Suffolk Academy) banged through a 31 yard kick with one second left on the clock. Randolph-Macon used clutch plays down the stretch to take a 10-6 lead into halftime.
- Both teams were caught with the penalty bug on their opening drives of the second half and forced to punt. The Lemon and Black still held a slim 10-6 lead halfway through the third quarter.
- Washington and Lee found its groove after the RMC punt. Ty Collins finished a eight play 50 yard drive with an 11 yard touchdown run. The Generals took the lead for the first time in the game at 13-10 with 3:21 left in the third.
- The Yellow Jackets ran six plays and went into the final 15 minutes with the ball on the Washington and Lee 41 yard line.
- Randolph-Macon completed a 13 play, 76 yard drive to score on a Mulhern pass over the middle to Moore. RMC took the lead back at 17-13 with 11:05 left in regulation.
- Collins and the General offense would respond with a 13 play, 75 yard touchdown drive, as Collins ran in from 15 yards out for the score. Washington and Lee would take the lead back at 20-17 with 3:10 left in regulation.
- The Yellow Jackets had one more chance in the final three minutes, got the ball to midfield but could not convert on a fourth down play. WLU needed one first down to ice the game, as Clemens converted on a third and short with just over a minute left. The Generals ended up sealing a 20-17 victory over the Lemon and Black.
By The Numbers
- The Generals outrushed the Yellow Jackets 304-to-116 in the game.
- Randolph-Macon had 169 passing yards, compared to Washington and Lee's 34.
- WLU outgained RMC in total offense 338-to-285.
- Mulhern ended the game going 13-of-19 through the air for 162 yards with one touchdown pass.
- Johnson was the leader for the group of running backs, recording 87 yards on 18 carries. The senior also rushed for his 35th touchdown of his career in the game.
- Moore led the wideouts with seven receptions for 92 yards and added a touchdown.
- Quentin Mankin (Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie) led the defense in tackles with 17 overall.
- Christian Daniel (Willow Springs, N.C./Overhills) and Matthew MacNichol (Roanoke Rapids, N.C./Roanoke Rapids) both had double digit tackles. Daniel finished with 16 and MacNichol recorded 14.
Up Next
Randolph-Macon will stay on the road at Averett on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3:00 p.m.
