ASHLAND, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College football team’s winning streak came to a close with a 49-16 loss at No. 24 Randolph-Macon on Saturday.

Randolph-Macon received the opening kick and marched down the field, but the BC defense forced a fourth down and three in their own territory. The Yellow Jackets converted on a 10-yard pass from Dante Casciola and the RMC QB punched it in a few plays later to get the Yellow Jackets on the board. The Kyle Ihle PAT made it 7-0 RMC with 5:29 to go in the opening quarter.

BC’s offense went to work and got into Randolph-Macon territory before Jaicere Bateman was sacked on third down and stalled out the drive. The Yellow Jackets responded after the punt with a big play and then a 30-yard strike from Casciola to Jackson Currie for the score. Ihle’s kick made it 14-0.

The Eagles were able to pick up another first down on the next possession, but again the tenacious RMC defense came up with a stop. BC was finally able to force a RMC punt after the secondary held its own on a deep strike attempt by the Lemon and Gold. The Eagles offense started to get its legs under it and drove down the field after a pair of big completions to Freddie Watkins and Ian Browne. Sitting in RMC territory Bateman dropped back to pass, but his attempt was intercepted and taken the distance for a 69-yard pick-six.

Now in front by three scores, the RMC defense forced a three-and-out and marched back down the field as Casciola connected with Jason Moore from 19 yards away for a touchdown to make it 28-0. Randolph-Macon added to the scoring a few moments later as Bateman had another pass intercepted and taken back for a score to make it 35-0 at the break after Ihle’s kick.

Out of the half, the Bridgewater offense marched down the field and capitalized as Bateman scampered in from five yards away to get the Eagles on the board at 35-7 after Jack Hendren’s PAT. The BC defense got a stop, and the offense started rolling again after a 15-yard dart from Bateman to Evan Welsh, but the drive quickly stalled.

RMC got the ball back and exploded for a 60-yard strike to DJ James and capitalized shortly after another Casciola passing TD to make it 42-10.

Bridgewater responded right away with a grueling five-minute drive capped off with a 12-yard pass to Kyle Beck to cut into the lead. BC failed on the two-point try, leaving the score at 42-16. Both sides traded stops most of the fourth with RMC tagging on one last score to make it 49-16.

Casciola only went 10-of-16 passing but tossed for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Bateman went 32-of-58 passing with a touchdown and two interceptions. The RMC rushing attack saw contributions from all over the roster as Jackson Mitchell’s 60-yard afternoon led the Yellow Jackets, while the BC rushing game was suffocated. The Eagles were limited just 18 yards rushing and 286 yards of total offense.

Aaron Moore and Demarco Fleming led the BC defense with eight total tackles. Fleming also tossed in a tackle for loss and Donal Brooks III tallied an interception.

Bridgewater falls to 5-2 and 3-1 in ODAC play and returns home to host Hampden-Sydney on Saturday at 2 p.m.

— BC Athletics —