Nov 25, 2023
ASHLAND, Va. – No. 8 Randolph-Macon collected 565 yards of total offense, including 388 on the ground, and held the ball for more than 42 minutes while senior cornerback Brandon Evans (Frederick, Md./Frederick) picked off three passes in the first half in a 46-0 victory over No. 19 Ithaca in the second round of the Division III Football Championship.
The Basics:
Score: Randolph-Macon 46, Ithaca 0
Location/Venue: Ashland, Va./Day Field
Records: Randolph-Macon 12-0, Ithaca 9-3
How it Happened:
- The Bombers picked up a pair of first downs on their first possession but were forced to punt. The Yellow Jackets took over on their own 17 and drove 83 yards in 11 plays, with senior running back Nick Hale (Vinton, Va./William Byrd) scoring from two yards out as RMC went up 6-0 with six minutes remaining in the first period. It was the ninth time this season RMC scored a touchdown on its first possession of the game.
- Evans recorded his first interception on the second play of the ensuing drive, returning the ball to the IC15. A six-yard scoring run by Hale gave the Yellow Jackets a 12-0 edge with 3:31 left in the first quarter.
- Evans' second theft early in the second period gave RMC the ball on the IC20. A missed field goal ended that drive.
- Senior quarterback Drew Campanale (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) hit senior tight end Brandon Woolridge (Fredericksburg, Va./James Monroe) on a 53-yard scoring strike as the advantage grew to 19-0 with 4:24 remaining in the second quarter.
- Evans' third pick gave the ball to the Yellow Jackets on the IC10. That led to a 21-yard field goal by junior Kyle Ihle (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) with 1:16 left before the break as RMC led 22-0 at intermission.
- The Yellow Jackets had the ball four times in the second half and scored on all four possessions. RMC took the second-half kickoff and drove 79 yards in 14 plays, eating up nearly nine minutes off the clock. On a fourth-and-two play from the IC12, sophomore wide receiver Jason Moore (Craven County, N.C./Havlock) ran a sweep around the left side for a touchdown as the lead grew to 29-0 with six minutes left in the period.
- Early in the fourth quarter, Campanale hit senior wide receiver David Wallis (Cedar Point, N.C./Croatan) with a 10-yard TD pass to cap a 13-play, 90-yard drive that took 7:39 as RMC went up 36-0 with 11:21 remaining.
- Ihle booted a 36-yard field goal with 3:12 left.
- RMC's final points came on an 81-yard touchdown run by sophomore Mitchell Johnson (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) with 1:22 remaining to make the final score 46-0.
By The Numbers:
- The 565 yards of total offense and 388 yards on the ground were the second-highest totals for RMC this season. The Yellow Jackets had 716 yards overall and 432 rushing in the 59-14 win over Catholic.
- Johnson carried 13 times for a career-high 145 yards and one touchdown. Hale rushed 17 times for 102 yards and two scores. It was the second time the Yellow Jackets had a pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game. Hale had 149 and Johnson added 103 in the win over Catholic.
- Campanale completed 12 of 19 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns.
- The Yellow Jackets held the ball for 42:11. RMC entered the game sixth in the nation in time of possession at 34:18.
- The RMC defense held Ithaca to 103 yards of total offense, including 14 in the second half.
- Senior tackle KU Htoo (Knightsdale, N.C./Broughton) had four tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss (-13 yards) and one quarterback sack for a 10-yard loss. Junior tackle Wade Grubbs (Providence Forge, Va./New Kent) also had four tackles with one quarterback hurry. Senior cornerback Coleton Payne (Mechanicsville, Va./Lee-Davis) recorded four tackles.
For The Record:
- RMC earned its 12th win, the most in program history. The Yellow Jackets are the third ODAC team with 12 victories and second to start 12-0. Bridgewater went 9-0 in the regular season in 2001 and won three playoff games before losing to Mount Union. The Eagles finished 12-2 in 2003.
- The Yellow Jackets reached the third round of the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history. RMC is the first ODAC team to reach the quarterfinals since Bridgewater in 2005.
- The Yellow Jackets scored the most points in program history in an NCAA Playoff contest and recorded their first post-season shutout. It was the second playoff shutout in ODAC history. Emory & Henry blanked Thomas More 17-0 in 1992.
- Hale's two rushing touchdowns raise his career total to 40, a program record.
- Wallis has 32 career receiving touchdowns, snapping a tie for the program record with Keith Gilliam (1982-85).
Up Next:
- Randolph-Macon will face Johns Hopkins (12-0) in the third round of the NCAA Championship on Saturday, Dec. 2. The NCAA will announce start time and location soon. The 12-0 Blue Jays won 39-17 over Union in their second-round matchup.