Saturday was the defense’s day at Randolph-Macon’s Day Field.

  While the Yellow Jacket offense struggled to get traction through much of the game, the defense checked a potentially explosive Shenandoah offense with four turnovers – three of which led to Randolph-Macon touchdowns – as the Yellow Jackets prevailed 36-28.

  Despite the fact that Randolph-Macon (3-0) managed only one first down in the first quarter the Yellow Jackets scored first after linebacker Jeremy Bowry intercepted Shenandoah quarterback Daniel Wright’s fourth pass of the game. Bowry returned the ball 48 yards to the Hornets’ 12-yard line. Two plays later, Randolph-Macon freshman quarterback Zac Naccarato scored from the 8.

  Bowry said the defense expects to give the Yellow Jackets’ young offense a helping hand.

  “We’ve been thinking all this year – since we’ve got a young offense – that we basically need to get the ball back for them as many times as we can,” Bowry said. “This time is a time for them to develop.”

  The Yellow Jackets’ second score was likewise set up by an interception. This time, safety Andrew Leonard was the picker, nabbing Wright’s pass at the Randolph-Macon 26 and returning it to the 31.

  The offense, boosted by Thaddeus Scruggs’ rushing, drove the 69 yards to score on Scruggs’ 14-yard run.

  Cornerback Chris Pace made the third pick of the afternoon for Randolph-Macon. Wright’s pass slipped through the hands of Shenandoah wide receiver Qiydaar Murphy and into Pace’s. He nearly scored himself but was tripped up by Murphy at the Hornets’ 1-yard line. One play later, Naccarato carried the ball across the goal line.

  “I was so anxious. I saw daylight, so I ran, but he caught me,” Pace said. “I was so happy I got the ball back for the offense, though.”

  Despite the interceptions – and a fumble late in the third quarter – Shenandoah amassed 393 years total offense. Wright accounted for 274 of those yards in the air, completing 15-of-36 passes for three touchdowns.

  The Hornets (1-2), a future ODAC member, took a 29-28 lead in the fourth quarter following a safety and a touchdown on a 1-yard run by Ignatius Perry. They tried a 2-point conversion, but the Wright’s pass fell incomplete.

  “We knew it was what we do that counts,” said Shenandoah coach Paul Barnes. “When you have a game like this, you take care of business … unfortunately they made a nice drive at the end and we couldn’t come back.”

  The Yellow Jackets’ final scoring drive was set up by Will McGhee’s 32-yard kickoff return to the Shenandoah 49. Drake Sanders carried the ball five times to the Hornets’ 15, then Scruggs came in and took two plays to cross the goal line. Scruggs ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 36-29.

  “It took us a while to get going. We just weren’t able to run the ball early,” said Randolph-Macon coach Pedro Arruza. “Obviously some credit has to go to Shenandoah. They did a great job slowing us down.”

  But the Hornets could not keep the Yellow Jackets down. The offense began to find its feet. Randolph-Macon, led by Scruggs with 119 yards rushing, finished with 259 yards total offense.

  Arruza praised his defense.

  “I thought our defense played really, really well,” he said. “They made some big plays, created some turnovers. I knew that was going to have to happen for us to have a shot.”

  Leonard said the key factor was Randolph-Macon’s ability to keep its cool despite the setbacks.

  “They adjusted to us,” Leonard said. “We adjusted right back. We never lost composure. We did a really good job all over the field.”

  This Saturday, R-MC travels to Frostburg for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The Yellow Jackets return home on October 1 to begin ODAC play versus Emory & Henry.
 
Shenandoah….........  0 14 7 8—29
Randolph-Macon…  7 7 14 8—36

RMC –ZNaccarato 8 run (Storm kick)
SU – Wallace 27 pass from Wright (Lloyd kick)
RMC – Scruggs 14 run (Storm kick)
SU – Murphy 15 pass from Wright (Lloyd kick)
SU – Wallace 53 pass from Wright (Lloyd kick)
RMC – ZNaccarato 7 run (Storm kick)
RMC – ZNaccarato 1 run (Storm kick)
SU – Safety (Scruggs tackled in end zone)
SU – Perry 1 run (pass failed)
RMC – Scruggs 3 run (Scruggs run)

RUSHING
Shenandoah – Joseph 32 carries 87 yards, Wright 4-19, Hopkins 1-12, Perry 1-1. Randolph-Macon – Scruggs 29-119, Sanders 16-58, ZNaccarato 5-17, Cook 1-10, Team 2-(minus 2).

PASSING
Shenandoah – Wright 15 completions 35 attempts 274 yards, 3 interceptions, Wallace 0-1-0-0. Randolph-Macon – ZNaccarato 7-20-57-2.

RECEIVING
Shenandoah – Murphy 7 reception 99 yards, Wallace 5-145, Feldman 2-29, Joseph 1-1, . Randolph-Macon – Hendren 2-20, Sanders 2-9, Sellers 1-13, Midulla 1-8, Crouch 1-7.

Records: Shenandoah (1-2), Randolph-Macon (3-0).