Randolph-Macon College football wins ODAC championship in shortened spring season
ASHLAND, Va. (BVM) — The game-winning touchdown did not go the way the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jackets football team drew it up, but it didn’t matter when the team got the ball into the endzone. When Yellow Jackets sophomore quarterback Presley Egbers bobbled the snap after a bad handoff exchange in overtime, it seemed as though Randolph-Macon was headed for a loss against Emory & Henry during the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship game on April 3. However, almost miraculously, the ball hung in the air long enough for Egbers to track it down, secure it and run it in for the game-winning score in the 13-10 overtime win. Egbers was dogpiled by his teammates following the decisive touchdown.
Relive the walk-off TD that gave the Jackets their 12th ODAC title! pic.twitter.com/5O0oxFBN0a
— 𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗣𝗛-𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 (@RMCfootball) April 3, 2021
The game had been neck-and-neck between the Yellow Jackets and Wasps throughout the day. In a defensive battle, neither team would make it onto the scoreboard until the fourth quarter when Egbers hit senior Tim Hanratty on a six-yard TD pass to give the home team a 7-0 lead with 9:37 remaining. Inspired perhaps by their opponent’s score, the Wasps scored on their next drive using 12 plays to drive 76 yards to tie the game at 7-7 with 4:21 left. Though the Wasps defense would get an interception on the next drive, the offense again couldn’t get on the board and the teams headed to overtime.
After winning the toss, the Yellow Jackets elected to play defense and held the Wasps to a 22-yard field goal attempt which the team converted to take the 10-7 lead. After a nine–yard Egbers carry and a three–yard sweep by sophomore running back David Wallis, the Yellow Jackets faced a first-and-10 at their own 13. The next down, Egbers made the stunning game-winning play to bring the ODAC Championship home with the Yellow Jackets.
Goodnight from the champs! pic.twitter.com/EgPMxKKW1R
— 𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗣𝗛-𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 (@RMCfootball) April 4, 2021
The title marks the team’s fourth ODAC Championship under head coach Pedro Arruzathe and 12th overall for the Yellow Jackets program, the most of any school in the conference. The win also secured an undefeated season for the Yellow Jackets at 5-0, the team’s first unbeaten season since 1968.
With a number of successful seasons, and a pinch of good luck, it seems that the Yellow Jackets are squarely in the ODAC driver’s seat come next football season. Hopefully with a return to fall football there will also be a return to the ODAC Championship for Randolph-Macon.
2020 O D A C C H A M P I O N S 💍
RMC wins it's 12th ODAC championship, most in the conference, and 21st conference title overall.
We couldn't be more proud of the resilience our players have shown over the past year.
TOUGHNESS ALWAYS WINS pic.twitter.com/clwkmxn95v
— 𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗣𝗛-𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗢𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟 (@RMCfootball) April 3, 2021
