22
Winner Randolph-Macon RMC 3-1 , 1-0
21
Shenandoah SUH 3-1 , 0-1
Winner
Randolph-Macon RMC
3-1 , 1-0
22
Final
21
Shenandoah SUH
3-1 , 0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
RMC Randolph-Macon 6 7 3 6 22
SUH Shenandoah 14 0 7 0 21
FB v RMC

Game Recap: Football | | Matt McIntosh '23

Football Overcome by No. 25 RMC in ODAC Opener, 22-21

WINCHESTER, Va. - The Shenandoah University football team lost 22-21 in an ODAC thriller at home against No. 25 Randolph-Macon College on Saturday afternoon at home. SU became the first ODAC team to hold RMC to 22 points or less since Emory & Henry in April 2021.

The Hornets (3-1, 0-1 ODAC) led 21-16 at the end of the third quarter but a fourth quarter interception led to a touchdown by the Yellow Jackets (3-1, 1-0) with just over six minutes left, giving them the lead for good. RMC then forced a three-and-out before chewing the final 4:33 off the game clock.

RECAP

The Hornets needed a fast start if they were going to get an advantage over the nationally-ranked Yellow Jackets. Luckily for the Hornets, that's exactly what they did. Shenandoah got the ball first and ran six straight pass plays. Steven Hugney completed passes on five of those six plays to set SU up at the RMC four yard line.

On the seventh play of the drive, after passing for 70 yards, Hugney ran the ball in for the opening score, putting SU up 7-0 just minutes into the contest.

A false start backed up the Yellow Jacket's offense, which led to an early 3rd-and-14 from their own 39. However, RMC found receiver Cullen Martin for a 19-yard gain, keeping the opening drive alive. RMC starting quarterback Dante Casicola then broke free for a 36-yard rush as the team then turned to Mitchell Johnson for their first TD of the afternoon.

Quante Redd came up huge for SU on the ensuing point after attempt, as he blocked the kick to keep the Hornets up, 7-6, halfway through the first.

Shenandoah stayed with the passing game as Hugney connected with four receivers on the next drive for 75 more passing yards. On a 2nd-and-11, the QB found Guy Hayes across the middle for 19 yards. One play later it was Braden Domenico across the middle for a gain of 13, setting SU up at the three.

With three yards to the goal, SU handed the rock off to Jalen Redfearn for the second rushing touchdown of the quarter. Scott Martin made the point after as SU now led 14-6 with 0:07 left in the first.

Neither team could score again until an interception by RMC's Quentin Mankin set up a scoring drive for the visitors in the middle of the second. The scoring drive took nearly six minutes off the clock as Casicola rushed into the endzone, cutting the SU lead down to just one. The 14-13 SU lead remained the same as the team's went into the half.

The second half started with a quick three-and-out forced by SU's defense but RMC got the ball back just one play later as a tipped pass led to an interception by the Yellow Jackets' defense.

Liban Farah gained a tackle for loss on the first play of RMC's drive to push the visitors back five yards. One play later, Jamarcus Davis forced a fumble that, unfortunately for SU, bounced right to the feet of an RMC player, to keep the drive alive. A deep incompletion led to a 41-yard field goal by RMC, giving them its first lead of the day at 16-14.

Bryce Buchanan broke free for 34 of his 40 rushing yards on the next SU drive including a five-yard touchdown to give SU the 21-16 lead with five minutes remaining in the third.

Two plays later, Shenandoah got the ball back as Matt Conroy picked up an interception in the middle of the field and put SU's offense at the RMC 34. The Randolph-Macon defense stood tall, however, leading to a 4th-and-1 at the RMC 25. Shenandoah ran an option play which RMC read correctly and forced a turnover on downs.

To end the third quarter Cody Wyatt and Corey Kidwell teamed up for a sack, forcing a punt by RMC which would only travel 17 yards. The misplayed punt gave SU the ball at their own 48 in the fourth. However, for the third time in the game, RMC came up with an interception.

Randolph-Macon went down the field on an 11-play, six-plus minute drive which ended in a rushing TD on a second down to give them the lead. The drive saw RMC convert a fourth down from the SU 42 followed later by a 38-yard one-handed sideline catch, to set them up inside the five.

With SU down 22-21 and under five minutes left, SU faced a 3rd-and-11 and couldn't convert, leading to a punt. The punt gave RMC the ball with 4:33 left. Tackles by Davis and Gabe Sanchez forced a fourth down. On the fourth down, RMC broke free for a seven-yard rush to gain the first and seal the win.

Steven Hugney finished the day with 205 passing yards on 16 completions to eight different receivers. Bryce Buchanan was the top runner for the Hornets, finishing the afternoon with 40 yards and one touchdown.

Matt Conroy and Liban Farah led the Hornets with 11 total tackles each.

UP NEXT

Shenandoah hosts Ferrum next Saturday at home in the final ODAC game between the programs.

#GoSUHornets
 
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Scoring Summary

Scoring Summary
Scoring Play Visiting Team Score Home Team Score
1st Quarter RMC SUH
SUH
11:06 - SUH - Hugney,Steven 4 yd run (Martin,Scott kick), 7 plays, 74 yards, TOP 03:49
0 7
RMC
05:54 - RMC - Johnson,Mitchell 1 yd run ( ), 10 plays, 73 yards, TOP 05:07
6 7
SUH
00:14 - SUH - Redfearn,Jalen 3 yd run (Martin,Scott kick), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:34
6 14
2nd Quarter RMC SUH
RMC
01:53 - RMC - Casciola,Dante 13 yd run (Ihle,Kyle kick), 11 plays, 60 yards, TOP 05:46
13 14
3rd Quarter RMC SUH
RMC
11:27 - RMC - Ihle,Kyle 41 yd field goal 4 plays, -1 yards, TOP 01:36
16 14
SUH
05:05 - SUH - Buchanan,Bryce 5 yd run (Martin,Scott kick), 13 plays, 82 yards, TOP 06:15
16 21
4th Quarter RMC SUH
RMC
06:10 - RMC - Johnson,Mitchell 1 yd run ( ), 11 plays, 62 yards, TOP 06:22
22 21

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