Oct 28, 2023
ASHLAND, Va. - The Washington and Lee University football team saw its six-game winning streak come to an end as the Generals fell to No. 9 Randolph-Macon College 35-12 on Saturday afternoon at Day Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter | 7-6 RMC
- On the Generals first drive, Senior Quarterback Stephen Murrin hit a streaking Jacob Romerofor a 31-yard gain. Initally, it looked like Romero dove into the end zone for a score but was hit out of bounds at the one yard line by Alex Biddle.
- Anthony Crawford capped off the ten-play, 75-yard drive with a one yard rushing touchdown to score the game's first points. After a RMC penalty on the extra point attempt, the Generals elected to go for two and were stopped short, giving them a 6-0 lead.
- The Yellow Jackets first drive seemed promising but Drew Campanale's pass was intercepted by Charlie Fleming, halting their 54-yard drive. Despite the turnover, the RMC defense stood tall and forced a three and out on the Generals next drive.
- Senior running back Nick Hale capped off the Yellow Jackets' nine-play, 69-yard drive with a one yard scamper to give RMC a 7-6 lead.
Second Quarter | 21-6 RMC
- Randolph-Macon's Jackson Deaver stuffed Romero's rushing attempt of 4th and 1, giving the ball back to the high powered Yellow Jackets offense. Hale capped off yet another drive with a six-yard rush to put the home team up 14-6.
- On 4th and 5, Murrin looked for Randolph Smith near the sideline but Cade Jones broke up the pass to force another turnover on downs.
- With 22 seconds remaining, Campanale found David Wallis in the end zone for a seven-yard score to take a 21-6 lead heading into halftime.
Third Quarter | 28-12 RMC
- The Yellow Jackets wasted no time on their first possession of the second half as Hale punched it in from one-yard out for his third score of the game to put RMC up 28-6.
- The Generals offense responded right away as Murrin connected with Burke Cigelske for a 41-yard score to cut the deficit to 16 with 7:33 remaining in the half.
Fourth Quarter | 35-12 RMC
- Washington and Lee elected to go for it on 4th and 5 but once again turned the ball over on downs as Ian Evans was stopped short of the sticks by Elijah Fuentes.
- Randolph-Macon increased their lead off of the turnover as Kwesi Clarke punched it in from three-yards out to cap off an eight-play, 65-yard drive.
- The Generals moved the ball all the way down to the RMC 1-yard line but on 4th and 1, Murrin tried to find the end zone but the ball slipped out of his hands and fell into the arms of Coleton Payne, securing the 35-12 win for the Yellow Jackets.
W&L GAME NOTES
- The Generals fall to 6-2 on the season while dropping their first game in conference play. Today's loss marks the second-straight loss to the Yellow Jackets as they fell 35-21 last season in Lexington.
- W&L recorded 353 yards of total offense, rushing for 203 while gaining 150 in the air. The Generals averaged 3.8 yards per carry on their 53 rushes while gaining 10.7 yards per completion.
- Washington and Lee were 7 of 16 (44%) on third downs while only converting twice on fourth down in their seven attempts. The Blue and White could only find the end zone once on their two trips.
- The Generals defense recorded one sack while picking off one pass. They recorded seven tackles for loss this afternoon.
RANDOLPH-MACON GAME NOTES
- The ninth-ranked Yellow Jackets moved to 8-0 on the season while claiming the top-spot in the ODAC.
- RMC outgained the Generals by two yards as they had 355 yards of total offense. Their running game only produced 140 yards but accounted for four of their five touchdowns. They averaged 14.3 yards per completion as they threw for a game-high 215 yards.
- Randolph-Macon possessed the ball for 30:12 while converting on six of their 11 (54%) third downs attempts. They were a perfect one of one on fourth down while scoring in all five of their trips to the red zone.
- The RMC defense held the Generals rushing game, who averages 300 yards per game, to only 203 yards.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Drew Campanale completed 15 of his 23 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown while tossing an interception. Stephen Murrin completed 14 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown.
- Jacob Romero led all rushing with 91 yards on 26 attempts, averaging 3.5 yards per carry. Nick Hale rushed 18 times for 76 yards and three scores.
- JoJo Marinella caught three passes for 88 yards while David Wallis hauled in a touchdown pass. Burke Cigelske hauled in one pass for 41 yards and a touchdown.
- Cade Jones led all players with 12 tackles while Neftali Reyes recorded ten tackles, three solo and seven assisted. Hunter Hawk led the Generals with eight solo tackles and two tackles for loss.
- Will Mahmud recorded five tackles while earning his 3.5 sack this season. Charlie Fleminghauled in his second interception of the season while picking up four tackles.
UP NEXT
- The Generals return to Wilson Field for the final time as they host Bridgewater College on Saturday, Nov. 4. Prior to a 2 p.m. kickoff, W&L will honor their 12 senior members.