Sep 09, 2023
ASHLAND, Va. – No. 15 Randolph-Macon registered 712 yards of total offense, the second-highest total in program history, and sat through a weather delay of 2:25 during halftime in a 59-14 home victory over Catholic on Saturday afternoon at Day Field.
The Basics:
Score: Randolph-Macon 59, Catholic 14
Location/Venue: Ashland, Va./Day Field
Records: Randolph-Macon 2-0, Catholic 1-1
How it Happened:
- The Yellow Jackets drove 90 yards on their first drive, with senior running back Nick Hale (Vinton, Va./William Byrd) scoring from six yards out to give RMC a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the contest.
- The Cardinals leveled the score with a TD midway through the first period to make it 7-7.
- RMC answered with a 69-yard scoring drive, capped by a three-yard touchdown by Hale, as the Yellow Jackets reclaimed the lead at 14-7 with four minutes left in the first quarter.
- On the first play of the second period, senior tailback Kwesi Clarke (Reigelwood, N.C./North Brunswick) found the end zone from 27 yards out to put the home team up 21-7.
- Following a CUA punt, Hale sprinted for an 83-yard touchdown run to put RMC on top 28-7 three minutes into the second quarter.
- Sophomore running back Mitchell Johnson (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) powered through the middle and scored on an 18-yard TD run as the advantage grew to 35-7 with 6:23 remaining until halftime.
- Following an interception by senior linebacker Jackson Deaver (Fayetteville, N.C./Terry Sanford), RMC drove 91 yards in six plays, with senior quarterback Drew Campanale (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) hitting senior wide receiver David Wallis on a 26-yard scoring strike as the Yellow Jackets led 42-7 at the break.
- Halftime was halted at 2:35 p.m. ET as lightning was detected in the area. Play was not resumed until 5 p.m. CUA was forced to punt on its first possession of the third quarter. Junior Kyle Ihle (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) kicked a 21-yard field goal that pushed the lead to 45-7 with eight minutes remaining in the third period.
- Johnson had a 17-yard scoring run with 4:32 left in the third quarter as the Yellow Jackets went up 52-7.
- The Cardinals found the end zone one minute into the final period to make it 52-14.
- Sophomore running back Cameron Chatmon (Willow Spring, N.C./Green Level) had a 28-yard touchdown with 5:41 left to make the final 59-14.
By The Numbers:
- The only time RMC collected more than 712 yards of total offense was on Sept. 12, 2015, when the Yellow Jackets rolled up 716 yards in a 49-28 win at Averett.
- The Yellow Jackets registered 428 rushing yards, including 250 yards on the ground in the first half. Hale had eight carries for 149 yards and three touchdowns, while Johnson rushed 13 times for 104 yards and two scores.
- RMC had 284 yards through the air. Campanale went 10 for 13 for 186 yards and one score. Senior Brecht Heuchan (Tallahassee, Fla./Maclay) completed seven of nine tossed for 98 yards.
- Wallis had six catches for 97 yards and one TD. Senior Zach Bowman (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) had four receptions for 89 yards.
- The Cardinals 11 rushes for eight yards.
- Senior linebacker Drake Schaeffer (Moneta, Va./Liberty) had nine tackles, including seven solo stops. He had one quarterback sack for -7 yards.
- RMC held the ball for 35:40, compared to 24:20 for CUA.
For The Record:
- RMC reached 50 points in each of its first two games of the season for the first time in program history. The Yellow Jackets won 51-9 last Saturday at N.C. Wesleyan.
- The Yellow Jackets have scored at least 30 points in each of their past 20 games, the longest stretch in program history.
Up Next:
- Randolph-Macon will travel to Southern Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 16 for a 1 p.m. contest to complete the non-conference portion of the schedule.