ASHLAND, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College football team fell to Randolph-Macon 46-6 on Saturday to open ODAC play.

Bridgewater got the ball first to start the contest, but was forced to punt after an incompletion on third down. The BC defense opened the game with an exclamation point as Oscar Whitely stopped the Yellow Jackets’ first play from scrimmage behind the line. The TFL set RMC behind the chains, and the BC defense forced a punt.

The boot from RMC was a dart and rolled out of bounds at the one-yard line, backing BC deep. The Eagles were able to move the ball forward slightly, but were forced to punt after a three-and-out. The Eagles’ defense stood tall on the opening two plays of the RMC drive that followed, but a 14-yard completion moved the chains. RMC slowly chipped down the field and faced a third down and goal from the four. A hard count drew the BC defense offside, and the Yellow Jackets capitalized on the free play as Johnson made a grab in the end zone for an RMC touchdown. The PAT was good to make it 7-0 with just over four minutes to play in the opening quarter.

Bridgewater opened the next series with a six-yard gain by Tommy Nelson, but the drive stalled after a loss and an incompletion. Aiden Grefe was brought on to punt again, and RMC took over in their own territory. The Yellow Jackets opened the series with a 32-yard connection and moved into BC territory. The Bridgewater defense forced a fourth down deep in its own end to start the second quarter. A six-yard rush by Bryant moved the chains, and three plays later Brown punched it in for a score. Ross’s PAT was true to make it 14-0.

BC’s next drive was a three-and-out, and Grefe’s punt was fair caught at the RMC 20-yard line. The Eagles defense gave BC a spark on the second play of the series as Mulhern’s pass was intercepted by Munashe Gwashavanhu. The BC linebacker took the interception back to the RMC 15-yard line. The Eagles cashed in three plays later as Parker Burke connected with Zain Queen in the end zone for a Bridgewater touchdown. The PAT was no good, making it a 14-6 game with nine minutes to go in the opening half.

RMC got the ball back and marched down the field. A 33-yard rush by Johnson put the Yellow Jackets in BC territory. The BC defense recovered and forced a third down inside the red zone, but a 14-yard connection by Mulhern and Overbay found the end zone as the screen pass broke open to make it 21-6 after the PAT.

After a Bridgewater punt, Randolph-Macon looked to put together a two-minute drill, but the Eagles’ defense stood tall as a rush by Baylor Jones forced an incompletion and a turnover on downs just before the half. The Eagles looked to get some offense going before the break, but a holding call stymied the drive and forced a Grefe punt as RMC took a 21-6 lead to the intermission.

The Yellow Jackets got the ball to start the second half and put together a methodical drive. BC had a chance to get off the field on fourth down, but an eight-yard completion moved the chains inside the red zone. RMC polished off the 13-play series with an 18-yard touchdown pass. The PAT attempt that followed was unsuccessful as Jamari Lewis blocked it and Ty Johnson picked it up. Johnson made it all the way to the RMC 35-yard line before he was taken down after a 60-yard return.

BC’s following drive ended prematurely as RMC recovered a fumble at the Bridgewater 10-yard line. The BC defense held its ground until fourth down and goal at the one. Brown bulldozed his way in from three feet out to make it 34-6 after the PAT was good. Bridgewater got the ball back and moved the chains early in the series after a rush by Nelson. The drive stalled after a pair of short gains. Bridgewater went for it on fourth down, but the screen play was stopped short of the line to gain, resulting in a turnover on downs.

RMC got the ball back and put together another methodical drive. A two-yard rush by Brown capped off the double-digit play drive. The PAT was no good, making it 40-6 midway through the fourth quarter. Bridgewater’s next drive went three-and-out and RMC looked to add to the lead. The Yellow Jackets put together another 12-play drive that chewed over six minutes of game time, capped off by an Overbay rushing score. The Bridgewater special teams got in on the action again on the point-after attempt. This time Isaac Davis got a hand on the kick and blocked it, making it 46-6. BC got the ball back with under two minutes to play, but was forced to punt as time expired.

Burke was 10-of-16 passing for the Eagles on the afternoon, with a touchdown to Queen. Queen was BC’s top receiving target, catching three passes for 21 yards. Defensively, the linebacking core led the way for the Eagles. Whitely matched his career-high with 14 tackles, while CJ Milazzo and Joey Strong each made 12 stops.

The Eagles are back in action as they head to Guilford on Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.

— BC Athletics —