R-MA shows improvement in loss

View larger image R-MA's Cooper Bourdon runs with the ball against St. James on Saturday in Front Royal. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Yellow Jackets' Collin McCabe throws the ball to a receiver during the game against St. James in Front Royal on Saturday . Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Yellow Jackets' Donovan Farmer and Austin Hayes, right, tackle St. James' Kevin McCormack during the game in Front Royal on Saturday. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Yellow Jackets' Kevin Slaton runs upfield with the ball during the game against St. James in Front Royal on Saturday . Andrew Thayer/Daily

By Josh Dorsey
sports@nvdaily.com

FRONT ROYAL -- Randolph-Macon Academy lost their third straight game Saturday, this time 42-6 to undefeated St. James.

The Yellow Jackets trailed 35-0 at the half after Saints quarterback Jamie Peterson connected with running back Mike Townes on a long touchdown pass just before the half.

"The game got away from us a little in the second quarter," R-MA head coach Frank Sullivan said.

Despite the lopsided score at halftime, R-MA managed to control the game in the second half by sustaining a drive in which the Yellow Jackets managed to convert two fourth-down attempts and take more than eight minutes off the clock.

The R-MA drive was capped off with a 1-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Collin McCabe.

"It was pretty much the same plays we had been running, but the kids executed a little better," Sullivan said of the second-half drive. "I thought we played much better. The kids are getting better."

One of the main problems in the Yellow Jackets' first two losses of the season was inconsistent play from the offensive line. But their effort was much better against Saint James and may continue to improve once they get players back from injury.

"We've lost three linemen and then we've lost two backups, so we are sort of mixing and matching, and those kids are giving us everything they have," Sullivan said. "And we sort of knew going in that we were up against the wall, but we are going to get some kids back from injury. And we are going to be OK."

One bright spot for R-MA is the play of freshman running back Kevin Slaton, who has had several big runs despite a neck injury that kept him out of most of the first half in the Yellow Jackets' previous game against Greenbrier Christian Academy.

Slaton and fellow running back Cooper Bourdon should benefit greatly from an improved offensive line.

Fortunately for the Yellow Jackets, who are looking for their first win of the season, they will be facing a winless opponent next week in St. Stephen's (0-3).
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