Randolph-Macon Secures NCAA Division III Semifinals Spot with Late Field Goal: The Virginian-Pilot

Randolph-Macon clinched a thrilling victory on Saturday, securing a spot in the NCAA Division III semifinals with a narrow 39-36 win over Johns Hopkins. The game was decided in the final moments when Kyle Ihle’s 34-yard field goal snuck just inside the left upright, creating an electrifying atmosphere at Homewood Field in Baltimore.

With this win, R-MC’s perfect record now stands at 13-0 and they are set to take on New York’s Cortland (12-1) in the next round. Johns Hopkins’ season came to an end with a commendable 12-1 record.

Drew Campanale of the Yellow Jackets delivered an impressive performance, completing 15 of 27 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns, two of which were caught by David Wallis. Despite one interception, Campanale’s contributions were pivotal to the team’s victory.

Mitchell Johnson showcased his skill on the field, rushing for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, while Kwesi Clarke added 63 yards on six rushes for R-MC.

However, Johns Hopkins’ Bay Harvey put up a strong fight, throwing for 367 yards and three touchdowns, two of which were caught by Will Leger. Despite the loss, Harvey’s performance was noteworthy. Geoff Schroeder added 58 yards on 13 carries for the Bluejays, with Spencer Uggla contributing 57 yards on 12 attempts.

The game remained closely contested, with R-MC leading for the majority of the match. Johns Hopkins managed to even the score at 36 with just 1:32 remaining, but Campanale’s exceptional leadership guided the Yellow Jackets to the winning drive.

FCS PLAYOFFS

Albany 41, Richmond 13: Albany’s Reese Poffenbarger led the team to a dominant 41-13 victory over Richmond in the second round of the playoffs. Poffenbarger showcased his versatility by throwing for two touchdowns and running for two more, propelling Albany to the next round.

Following this impressive win, Albany is now set to face the winner of the matchup between Southern Illinois and fourth-seeded Idaho.

Poffenbarger’s stellar performance included completing 12 of 23 passes for 170 yards, while Griffin Woodell contributed 96 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries for the Great Danes (10-3). Richmond’s quarterback Camden Coleman completed 15 of 20 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns, with Nick DeGennaro catching 13 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, and Jerry Garcia Jr. securing the other scoring pass for the Spiders (9-4).