HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – The Yellow Jackets fought hard on the road at Hampden-Sydney, but would fall short 36-27 to the Tigers.
The Basics
Score: (RV) Hampden-Sydney 36, Randolph-Macon 27
Venue: Hampden-Sydney, Va. / Hampden-Sydney College / Lewis C. Everett Stadium
Records: Randolph-Macon (7-3, 5-2 ODAC); Hampden-Sydney (9-1, 7-0 ODAC)
How it Happened
- Hampden-Sydney got the ball first, ran three plays and Connor Creech was picked off on the fourth by Christian Daniel (Willow Springs, N.C./Overhills). Daniel jumped the passing lane and returned the interception into the endzone for a touchdown. The Yellow Jackets took the early advantage at 7-0 with 13:29 on the clock.
- The Tigers got the ball back and drove straight down the field. Terry Hicks capped off a 13 play, 78 yard drive with an eight yard receiving touchdown from Creech. RMC would hold a slim 7-6 lead, following a missed extra point by Hampden-Sydney.
- HSC would have the ball at the quarter break, trailing Randolph-Macon by a score of 7-6.
- The Tigers scored on a Hicks rushing touchdown early in the second quarter, taking the lead 12-7 with 12:44 on the clock.
- Randolph-Macon kept pace with HSC, driving down the field and Mitchell Johnson (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) completed an eight play drive with a one yard touchdown run. RMC missed the extra point and held the lead 13-12 with 8:42 until halftime.
- Hampden-Sydney were stopped in Yellow Jacket territory on third down on the next drive. Hank Webb knocked through a 22 yard field goal and the lead swung back to the Tigers (15-13) with 2:15 on the clock.
- The Lemon and Black had good field position after a great kickoff return. The momentum did not last, as Jake Mulhern (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) was picked off by Jordan Pence and returned the ball to the RMC five yard line.
- HSC only needed two plays, as Creech found Manning Lasso in the back of the endzone for a touchdown. The turnover hurt Randolph-Macon in a big way, as HSC held a 22-13 lead at halftime.
- The Yellow Jackets came out of the locker room with a sense of urgency and multiple explosive plays set up RMC in the redzone. Jaedyn McAdoo (Williamsburg, Va./Warhill) brought Randolph-Macon closer with a 15 yard scamper into the endzone for a touchdown and RMC trailed only by a score of 22-20.
- Momentum did not last long for the Lemon and Black, as Hicks scored his third touchdown of the day on the ensuing drive for HSC. The Tigers increased their lead to 29-20 with 8:50 left in the third quarter.
- Randolph-Macon stuck with its attack on the next drive, moving 65 yards down the field and Johnson ran in a touchdown from three yards out. The game was becoming a shootout and RMC would still trail HSC 29-27 with 4:11 on the clock.
- The Lemon and Black defense finally got a stop on the next drive for the Tigers, forcing a punt. RMC had the ball in Hampden-Sydney territory at the conclusion of the third quarter, trailing 29-27.
- Randolph-Macon had a chance to take the lead back on a Henry Ross (Suffolk, Va./Nansemond-Suffolk Academy) 28 yard field goal. HSC got a piece of the kick to force the ball wide right and HSC held its lead with 11:34 left in regulation.
- Hampden-Sydney produced a 16 play, 80 yard drive, taking over nine minutes off the clock. The Tigers were faced with fourth and goal from the one yard line and Hicks dove into the endzone for a touchdown and HSC increased its lead to 36-27 with 2:12 on the clock.
- RMC was turned away on the following drive and the Tigers ultimately kneeled out the rest of the game, defeating Randolph-Macon 36-27.
By The Numbers
- The Tigers outrushed the Yellow Jackets 191-to-140 in the game.
- Hampden-Sydney had 197 passing yards, compared to Randolph-Macon's 173.
- HSC outgained RMC in total offense 388-to-313.
- Mulhern ended the game going 12-of-20 through the air for 173 yards.
- Johnson led for the stable of running backs, recording 76 yards on 16 carries. The senior scored two rushing touchdowns in the game.
- McAdoo rushed for 18 yards on two carries and scored a touchdown.
- Tristan Overbay (Daleville, Va./Lord Botetourt) led the wideouts with six receptions for 80 yards.
- Khamari Veney (King William, Va./Benedictine) led the defense with 15 tackles and added one tackle for loss.
- Quentin Mankin (Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie) ended the game with 14 tackles for the Yellow Jackets.
- Daniel recorded an interception for a touchdown, going along with 11 tackles.
For the Record
- Johnson scored his 40th rushing touchdown of his career, tying Nick Hale '23 for the most in school history.
