WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Catholic University football team took a second-quarter lead over 20th-ranked Randolph-Macon before falling in Saturday afternoon's contest at Cardinal Stadium. The Cardinals fell to 1-1 with the loss while the Yellow Jackets improved to 2-0.
Randolph-Macon opened the scoring on their second drive of the contest, driving 50 yards for the opening score. Drew Campanale found David Wallis for a 19-yard touchdown on 3rd and 13 with 5:24 to play in the first. However, Tyler Graham's extra point try was unsuccessful allowing the Cardinals to take advantage early in the second.
The Yellow Jackets took over from the 20 with 11:43 remaining in the second quarter, but the drive didn't last long as senior Dieter Kerat forced a Nick Hale fumble on second down and sophomore Aidan Long returned it 19 yards for a game-tying score. Senior Fabrizio Reilly put the Cardinals ahead with an extra point and the Cardinals led it 7-6 with 10:53 to play in the first half.
The Yellow Jackets retook the lead after a 4:30 drive as Campanale found Zach Bowman for a 24-yard score. Randolph-Macon traveled 65 yards in seven plays to take a 13-7 lead.
Catholic charged back, moving to the Randolph-Macon 35-yard line, getting a 27-yard completion from junior Madden Lowe to senior Preston Jeffrey along the way. On 4th-and-3 from the 35, Lowe's pass attempt for junior Derrick Aikens fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs.
The Yellow Jackets went 65 yards in eight plays, scoring again before the half to take a 20-7 lead as Campanale hit Joey Hunt for a 13-yard touchdown.
Randolph-Macon kept the Cardinals out of the end zone in the second half, outscoring Catholic 21-0 in the final 30 minutes. Lowe threw for 182 yards in the loss but remains one touchdown shy of 30 for his career. Jeffrey was the leading receiver once again for Catholic, catching four balls for 62 yards.
Defensively, Noah Miller led Catholic with 12 tackles while sophomore Carson Henry and senior Joe Nazzaro had nine and eight tackles respectively. Miller, Henry, and Kerat all recorded tackles for loss in the contest.
Catholic hosts Kean next weekend in Washington, D.C. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. inside Cardinal Stadium.
