ASHLAND– Behind the explosive ground game of running backs Thaddeus Scruggs and Drake Sanders, Randolph-Macon College beat Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion Hampden-Sydney 48-34 on Saturday to claim the 117th edition of The Game.

  Scruggs, a senior, had 16 carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets (8-2, 4-2), and he caught a 60-yard strike in the third quarter from freshman quarterback Zac Naccarato.

  Scruggs finished off the drive with a 13-yard run to give Randolph-Macon a 33-21 lead.

  “We just executed,” Scruggs said. “We’re not doing any special plays, we’re not doing anything spectacular. We’re just doing what we do.”

  Sanders, a junior who was Scruggs’ teammate at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, ran 21 times for 126 yards and a score. He also had a 72-yard scoring reception.

  “The offensive line has just done a great job of opening up holes for (Scruggs and Sanders),” Naccarato said. “Those guys are tough. They are always going hard every play.”

  Naccarato finished 13-of-19 for 266 yards and two scores. He added a 1-yard TD run.

  “I’m really proud of that kid,” said Yellow Jackets coach Pedro Aruzza. “To win eight games with a freshman quarterback, that’s an accomplishment. The credit goes to him and the guys around him.”

  Behind senior linebacker and former Matoaca standout Jeremy Bowry (nine tackles, interception), the R-MC defense turned on the pressure early, stripping the ball from H-SC (8-2, 5-1) senior quarterback Travis Lane (32-of-62, 402 yards, two TDs) on the fourth play of the contest.

  “They had a good game plan and executed well,” said Lane, a Mills Godwin alumnus. “I give them credit.”

  The Yellow Jackets took control on the Tigers’ 22, where Naccarato handed off to Scruggs, who scrambled 22 yards for a 6-0 lead.

  R-MC went up 13-0 on a Vance Hendren (Powhatan) 2-yard TD run with 6:18 remaining in the first quarter before HS-C started to hit its stride.

  On the ensuing drive, Lane connected with former Clover Hill standout Sean Cavanagh (8 receptions, 119 yards) on a 28-yard TD pass to cut the Tigers’ deficit to six.

  H-SC forced a fumble on R-MC’s next possession and cashed in with a 4-yard TD run from senior running back Kirk Rohle (Hanover) to give the Tigers their first of two short-lived leads.

  Despite the loss, H-SC’s season continues. The Tigers will travel to Centre College in Danville, KY this Saturday to open the Division III playoffs.
  “We’re playing with house money now,” said Tigers coach Marty Favret. “We’ll just go out there and give it the best we got.”

  For the Yellow Jackets, the victory was a hard-earned happy ending.
  “The dynamic on this team has been extremely positive,” Aruzza said. “Our kids have battled through a ton of things. I couldn’t be prouder as a coach.”

  Nathan Madden is a staff writer for the Richmond Times Dispatch.

H-SC…..................... 7 14   6 7 — 34
R-MC….................. 13 13 15 7 — 48
R-MC — Scruggs 22 run (kick failed)
R-MC — Hendren 2 run (Storm kick)
H-SC — Cavanagh 28 pass from Lane (Prizzia kick)
H-SC — Rohle 4 run (Prizzia kick)
R-MC — Sanders 72 pass from Naccarato (pass failed)
H-SC — Rohle 5 run (Prizzia kick)
R-MC — Sanders 5 run (Storm kick)
R-MC — Scruggs 13 run (Storm kick)
H-SC — Vance 10 pass from Lane (kick failed)
R-MC — Midulla 9 pass from Naccarato (Williamson pass from Naccarato)
R-MC — Naccarato 1 run (Storm kick)
H-SC — Lane 1 run (Prizzia kick)

RUSHING: R-MC- Thaddeus Scruggs 16 carries 130 yards; Drake Sanders 21-126; Vance Hendren 7-36; Zac Naccarato 6-9;  Joe Pricone 1-4; Team 2- minus 4. H-SC- Kirk Rohle 13-49; Evan King 2-12; John Michael Sparagna 1-6; Scott Cheney 1-5; Dallas Steelman 1- minus 5; Travis Lane 5- minus 12.

PASSING: R-MC- Naccarato 13 completions19 attempts 266 yards 2 interceptions.  H-SC- Lane 32-62-402-1.

RECEIVING: R-MC- Christian Cook 6 catches 67 yards; Luke Sellers 3-42; Sanders 2-88; T. Scruggs 1-60; Zach Midulla 1-9.  H-SC- Kyle Vance 11-140; Sean Cavanagh 8-119; Rohle 5-43; Eric Gorsline 4-53; Mike Goad 3-33; King 1-14.