Methodist delivered some solid hits, but could not deliver them consistently enough to knock Randolph-Macon off of its game.

  The Yellow Jackets, led by freshman quarterback Zac Naccarato, kept swarming back, amassing 393 yards total offense as they laid low the visiting Monarchs 43-7 in both teams’ season opener at Day Stadium Saturday.

  Naccarato completed 16 of 23 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. The freshman admitted to a few butterflies before the game.

  “I was a little nervous, but if you’re not nervous, you’re not ready to play,” Naccarato said. “But when we got out there and started moving the ball, it just felt like playing football.”

  Randolph-Macon coach Pedro Arruza was pleased with Naccarato’s performance.

  “I think Zac is going to get better and better,” Arruza said. “I was very happy with his composure. I think he did a great job from that standpoint. I think he did a great job of managing the offense. For a first outing, I think he played an outstanding game.”

  Naccarato’s college debut was all the more special for one play – his final touchdown pass of the day was a 2-yarder to his older brother, Jesse.

  “It was pretty cool. We did it in high school a couple of times,” Naccarato said. “It was definitely pretty cool to throw him a touchdown.”

  The Monarchs’ job of containing Naccarato was made all the more difficult by Randolph-Macon’s twin running threats of Drake Sanders and Thaddeus Scruggs, who combined for 24 touchdowns and more than 1,600 yards last year.

  Sanders led Randolph-Macon in rushing and receiving yards with 19 carries for 65 yards and one touchdown rushing and four catches for 43 yards. Scruggs had 12 carries for 45 yards and a touchdown. With a 33-7 lead at the end of the third quarter, both running backs sat out the final 15 minutes.

  Sanders described how the partnership with Scruggs works – by alternating series.

  “He goes in, then I go in. It rests us up for the next series so that we’re fresh when we go in,” Sanders said, adding that fresh legs create fresh opportunities. “That’s one of the key things that Coach Arruza likes to do – pound her up, pound her up – because that opens up so many more options for the whole team.”

  Randolph-Macon jumped out to an early 19-0 lead, but its momentum stalled in the second quarter. Methodist closed the gap with the last score of the first half, a 27-yard pass from Travis Murphy to Nathan Kindley.

  The Monarchs (0-1) began the second half with the ball, but failed to gain any ground on their first possession. Their second possession of the half ended in disaster however, as a bad snap lead to a blocked punt at the goal line. Randolph-Macon’s Kyle Norton recovered the ball in Methodist’s end zone to give the Yellow Jackets a 26-7 lead.

  “The big turning point was when we came out of half time. We had an opportunity to take the ball down field and get right back in the game at 19-7, but we went three-and-out,” said Methodist coach Dave Eavenson. “Obviously the blocked punt … that was a big momentum shift right there.”

Methodist…............ 0   7   0   0—  7
Randolph-Macon 8 11 14 10—43
RMC – Norton 4 pass from ZNaccarato (Norton run)
RMC – Scruggs 4 run (Norton run)
RMC – Storm FG 41
MU – Kindley 27 pass from Murphy (Mosko kick)
RMC – Norton blocked punt recovery in end zone (Storm kick)
RMC – JNaccarato 2 pass from ZNaccarato (Storm kick)
RMC – Storm FG 27
RMC – Boyser 9 run (Storm kick)

RUSHING
Methodist – Flanagan 10 carries 43 yards, Murphy 18-36, Mellon 5-31. Randolph-Macon – Sanders 19-65, Boyser 8-47, Scruggs 12-45, Petrohovich 1-31, Norton 1-0, Z Naccarato 4-8, Knepp 1-0, team 4-(minus 4).

PASSING
Methodist – Murphy 7 completions, 15 attempts, 67 yards, 0 interceptions. Randolph-Macon – Z Naccarato 16-23-153-0, Petrohovich 5-6-39-0.

RECEIVING
Methodist – Talbert 2 reception 11 yards, Kindley 1-27, Thomas 1-13, Bevans 1-9, Cross 1-6. Randolph-Macon – Sanders 4-43, Phillips 4-32, Norton 4-19, Hendren 3-42, Cook 3-34, Midulla 1-17, Boyser 1-3, J Naccarato 1-2.
Records: Methodist (0-1), Randolph-Macon (1-0).