Nov 30, 2024
ASHLAND, Va. – Junior Mitchell Johnson (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan) rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns and junior Jason Moore had 125 receiving yards and one score as No. 15 Randolph-Macon shook off a 14-0 first-quarter deficit and scored 17 points in the final 2:18 of the second period in defeating No. 23 Washington and Jefferson 38-22 in the second round of the NCAA Championship.
The Basics:
Score: Randolph-Macon 38, Washington & Jefferson 22
Venue: Day Field
Records: RMC 10-1, W&J 9-2
How it Happened:
- The Presidents posted a pair of touchdowns in the first period to take a 14-0 lead.
- The Yellow Jackets started on their own 23 late in the first quarter and drove 77 yards in 13 plays, all on the ground, taking eight minutes off the clock. Johnson scored from three yards out to pull RMC within seven at 14-7 four minutes into the second period. Johnson had nine carries on the drive for 61 yards.
- The RMC defense forced a W&J punt as the Yellow Jackets took over on their 20. RMC moved the ball to the 39 when senior Dante Casciola (Charlotte, N.C./Weddington) hit a wide-open Moore down the middle of the field for a 61-yard TD strike, tying the game 14-14 with 2:18 left in the second quarter.
- Junior Brandon Watson (York, Pa./Central York) forced a fumble and sophomore Quentin Mankin (Dinwiddie, Va./Dinwiddie) recovered on the W&J 13. Casciola ran for five yards before Johnson reached the end zone from eight yards out to give RMC its first lead at 21-14 with 1:04 left until halftime.
- On the next play from scrimmage following a touchback on the kickoff, senior Daniel Eliasek (Midlothian, Va./Trinity) picked off a pass and returned it to the W&J 7. That led to a 24-yard field goal by senior Kyle Ihle (Apex, N.C./Middle Creek) with 32 seconds left as the Yellow Jackets led 24-14 at the break.
- The Presidents took the second half kickoff and moved to the RMC 8 on a 14-play, 72-yard drive, but missed a 25-yard field goal to keep the score at 24-14.
- RMC went on a seven-minute drive, going 80 yards in 12 plays as Casciola rolled to his left and threw back to his right to junior tight end Landon Farriss (New Hanover, N.C./New Hanover) in the end zone for a six-yard TD, making it 31-14 with 2:28 left in the period.
- Senior Jackson Deaver (Fayetteville, N.C./Terry Sanford) had an interception on the first play of the subsequent drive, giving the Yellow Jackets the ball on the W&J 42. A missed field goal ended the nine-play drive.
- Senior Wade Grubbs (Providence Forge, Va./New Kent) had a sack for a 10-yard loss on third down, forcing another punt by the Presidents. RMC went 38 yards in five plays, as Casciola scored from the five to put RMC on top 38-14 with 9:23 remaining.
- W&J went 75 yards in nine plays to score and added a two-point conversion to make it a two-score game at 38-22 with 6:17 left.
- RMC would pick up one first down on its next possession and punted to the W&J 8 with 2:10 remaining. The Presidents used 17 plays to go 57 yards to the RMC 23. On the final play of the series, senior Owen Arruza (Ashland, Va./Patrick Henry) recorded his second sack of the drive to turn the ball over on downs with five seconds remaining. Casciola took a knee as RMC recorded the 38-22 victory.
By The Numbers:
- The Yellow Jackets held the ball for 34:13. RMC entered the game fourth in the nation in time of possession at 34:20.
- RMC finished with 357 yards of total offense.
- The Yellow Jackets ran the ball 50 times for 220 yards. Johnson ran 27 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns, while Casciola had 13 carries for 83 yards and one TD.
- Casciola completed 7 of 14 passes for 137 yards and two scores.
- Moore had four catches for 125 yards and one touchdown. He had 76 yards after the catch.
- Eliasek and Arruza led the defense with seven tackles each. Eliasek had one interception and one pass breakup, while Arruza had three tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks and three QB hurries. Grubbs had six tackles, with 2.5 tackles for loss, one QB sack and one quarterback hurry.
For The Record:
- RMC evened its record at 6-6 in NCAA Playoff contests. The Yellow Jackets have won four consecutive games in the Round of 32.
- The Yellow Jackets are 2-4 all-time against Washington & Jefferson, including 1-1 in post-season play. The Presidents edged RMC 22-21 in the quarterfinals in 1984.
Up Next:
- No. 15 Randolph-Macon will play at No. 3 Salisbury on Saturday, Dec. 7, at noon in the third round of the NCAA Championship.