Randolph-Macon Runs by Bridgewater 40-18 Saturday Afternoon in ODAC Football Action

ASHLAND, VA – Randolph-Macon got 175 yards on the ground from Zak Thornton and the Yellow Jackets sacked Bridgewater quarterbacks six times as R-MC topped BC 40-18 Saturday afternoon in ODAC Football action in Ashland.

Randolph-Macon(5-4 / 3-2 ODAC) racked up 388 yards of total offense, including 295 via the ground game on 55 carries, which helped R-MC to 34:41 of possession time. The Jackets defense was stingy holding the Eagles to 111 yards on the ground and just 13-of-26 in the air. R-MC held BC (3-6 / 2-3 ODAC)  to 4-of-13 on third down, caused a pair of turnovers and blocked a punt.

After a scoreless first quarter, R-MC scored with 11:06 to go in the half when quarterback Austin Faulkner scampered 34 yards to put the Jackets up 6-0 after the extra point was blocked.

Following a blocked punt by Darius Harris gave the R-MC offense the ball on BC’s 20 with just over nine minutes to go in the half, Faulkner teamed up with Earl Peoples three plays later to put R-MC up 12-0 with just under eight minutes to go.

The score stayed that way until 8:23 to go in the third quarter when Faulkner hit tight-end Stuart May on a 24-yard scoring pass that extended the Jackets lead to 19-0.

BC got back in the game on its ensuing possession, diriving 60 yards on five plays, getting a 30-yard scoring scamper from David Argaud to make the score 19-6 after a failed extra point.

On R-MC’s next possession, Thornton ran for 38 yards on seven carries, setting up a four-yard toss from Faulkner to May to make the score 27-6 with 42 seconds left in the third quarter.

On BC’s ensuing possession, Tristan Carr intercepted BC quarterback Vince Reese and returned the ball to the Eagles’ 20, setting up a four-yard run by Faulkner three plays later to put R-MC up 34-6.

Argaud scored on a 16-yard run and a 16-yard catch in the fourth quarter for Bridgewater, but Steve Mathews sandwiched a one-yard plunge for R-MC down the stretch to seal the win for the Jackets.

Faulkner was 8-of-13 for 94 yards and three scores on the day. H-Back Alex Ramirez pulled in four balls for 41 yards.

Argaud finished the day with 57 yards on six carries and one TD, and two catches for 18 yards and a score. Tyler Beiler made three catches for 87 yards, while Hagen Driskell and Rees went a combined 13-of-26 for 189 yards and one score through the air.

Defensively for R-MC, Gabe Jones had a team-best eight tackles, forced a fumbled and recovered a fumble on the day, while Christian Stahl had seven tackles and a sack. Jaryd Grimsley had a pair of sacks on the day for R-MC as well.

Chris Killian led BC with 10 stops and a sack. Brandon Mitchell and T.J. Montague each had nine tackles for the Eagles in a losing effort.

R-MC will close out regular season play next weekend at Hampden-Sydney. The 114th edition of “The Game” is slated for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff. Bridgewater will travel to Catholic for a 1:00 p.m. game next Saturday as well.

-Yellow Jackets-

(1108/5:02/cmk)