Nov 02, 2024
LEXINGTON, Va. – The Yellow Jackets held the ball for more than 43 minutes, and the RMC defense held the Generals to 89 yards on the ground, as Randolph-Macon posted a 20-7 victory at Washington and Lee on Saturday afternoon in a battle for first in the ODAC.
The Basics:
Score: Randolph-Macon 20, Washington and Lee 7
Venue: Wilson Field
Records: RMC 7-1, 5-0 ODAC; WLU 5-3, 4-1 ODAC
How it Happened:
- The Generals won the coin toss and elected to receive. The Yellow Jacket defense held WLU without a first down and forced a punt. RMC scored on its first possession for the sixth straight game. The Yellow Jackets went 77 yards in 21 plays, taking 13 minutes off the clock. Senior quarterback Dante Casciola (Charlotte, N.C./Weddington) scored on a 4th-and-1 from the WLU 1 on the first play of the second quarter as RMC took a 7-0 lead.
- Sophomore safety Quentin Mankin (Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie) recovered a fumble on the RMC 39 with 10:46 left in the second period. The Yellow Jackets used 14 plays and 8:33 to move to the WLU 4, where senior kicker Kyle Ihle (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) nailed a 21-yard field goal to put the visitors up 10-0 with 2:13 remaining until intermission.
- The Generals drove to the RMC 31. Senior linebacker Daniel Eliasek (Midlothian, Va./Trinity) batted down a pass on the final play of the half as RMC led 10-0 at the break. The Yellow Jackets held the ball for 21:33 in the first half.
- RMC took the second half kickoff and drove 63 yards in 12 plays to the WLU 12. Ihle hit a 29-yard field goal to extend the advantage to 13-0 midway through the third period.
- A big hit by freshman cornerback Collin Farmer (Waldorf, Md./North Point) forced a fumble that was recovered by senior safety Coleton Payne (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) at the WLU 37. The Yellow Jackets were unable to pick up a first down and were forced to punt.
- The Generals turned a short pass into a 63-yard touchdown to make it 13-7 with 10:47 left in the fourth quarter.
- RMC took over on its 25-yard line and drove 75 yards in 14 plays, taking nine minutes off the clock. Casciola scored from one yard out to put the Yellow Jackets on top 20-7 with 1:47 remaining.
- The Yellow Jackets kept the Generals from picking up a first down on their final possession and RMC was able to run out the clock in the 20-7 triumph.
By The Numbers:
- RMC held the ball for 43:21, a season high.
- The Yellow Jackets ran 70 plays for 285 yards. The Generals had 41 plays for 187 yards.
- RMC ran the ball 47 times for 141 yards. Senior tailback Kwesi Clarke (Reigelwood, N.C./North Brunswick) carried 11 times for 55 yards. Casciola carried 16 times for 48 yards and two scores.
- Casciola completed 17 of 23 passes for 144 yards. Clarke had seven receptions for 38 yards.
- Senior linebacker Tony Skinner (Spotsylvania, Va./Riverbend) paced the RMC defense with 11 tackles, while senior defensive tackle Wade Grubbs (Providence Forge, Va./New Kent) recorded seven stops while combining on one tackle for loss.
For The Record:
- RMC has won 23 consecutive ODAC contests, dating back to the 2021 season.
- The Yellow Jackets have won six of the past eight meetings with the Generals.
- Ihle made both PAT kicks to move into sole possession of second place in ODAC history with 168 career PAT kicks. He trails former Yellow Jacket Chris Vidal, who had 172 during his collegiate career.
- RMC is ranked No. 24 in the AFCA Top 25.
Up Next:
- Randolph-Macon returns to Ashland on Saturday, Nov. 9, for a 1 p.m. ODAC contest with Ferrum for Senior Day.