Yesterday afternoon at the Salem Stadium marked Roanoke College Football’s first-ever ODAC game, matched up against the fearsome Lynchburg Dragons. With the seats filled to the brim, the roars of over 2,000 Maroon fans echoed with anticipation and encouragement.
As the first quarter began, Roanoke kicked off with some intense early action. Although they successfully kept the Dragons back, Noke still suffered a 14-yard loss. Not even a minute later, Lynchburg mishandled a punt near the end zone, giving the Maroons a golden opportunity to slide in and score a touchdown just ten minutes into the game. Unfortunately, shortly afterward, Lynchburg caught the Maroons off guard with a touchdown of their own, slipping past our defense and tying the score at 7–7. Right off the bat, the game was heated between both sides.
The Maroons didn’t give up, however, gradually gaining yards as the quarter continued—until Polo Hill made a mad dash with the ball to score yet another touchdown. Despite Noke having a more inexperienced team composed mostly of freshmen and sophomores, they were still up 14–7 early on.
The second quarter continued with intensity, as the Dragons dropped a return that the Maroons immediately capitalized on. Lynchburg struggled against Roanoke’s efficient interceptions, eventually leading to Grey Deal catching a 30-yard pass from Kam Hill to land an astounding touchdown, bringing the score to 21–7. Noke continued to dominate possession throughout the quarter by forcing more turnovers, while Lynchburg occasionally managed their own interceptions. However, the Dragons were unable to follow through with their plays—their offense shaken as our defense continued to hold them off. The first half ended with Roanoke clearly in control, both in score and momentum.
After a brilliant halftime show from the college’s marching band, cheer team, and champion wrestlers, the third quarter became a showcase of Noke’s formidable defense. Consistently intercepting and stopping the Dragons at key moments, Roanoke prevented them from gaining yards or making progress toward a touchdown. It didn’t help that behavioral flags resulted in further penalties for Lynchburg, halting any traction they tried to build. The quarter was a constant ebb and flow between both sides, ultimately ending with a score of 23–7.
The fourth quarter sealed the Dragons’ fate. Although a series of incomplete passes prevented both teams from scoring again, Noke’s continued interceptions allowed them to reclaim the ball time and time again. Combined with a 15-yard penalty against Lynchburg, victory was clearly within sight. After running out the clock, Roanoke College secured a decisive 23–7 win in their season opener, with the city of Salem erupting in celebration.
Although Roanoke made mistakes in every facet of the game, their determination and unwavering spirit pulled them through. Pair that with fearsome interceptions and impressive gains in yardage, and Noke certainly shows exciting potential to become a legendary football team!
Zachary Bayers
Editor-in-Chief
