Roanoke College

The Game Facts:
Scores: (RV) Hampden-Sydney 39, (RV) Roanoke 33
Location: Salem, Va. – Salem Stadium

The Short story: Despite two long touchdowns from junior KJ Bratton, the Roanoke College football team fell Saturday to visiting Hampden-Sydney College 39-33 in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) game played in rainy and wet conditions. It was the Maroons first loss of the 2026 season, and RC has still outscored its foes 202-84 this year. 

Both teams received votes this week in the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) top 25 poll.

How it happened:
*Bratton took the opening kickoff 38 yards to give RC good field position and Ethan Cyr capitalized with a 33-yard field goal.
*The Tigers answered with a short touchdown pass and two-point conversion to go up 8-3.
*Ethan Graves put Roanoke ahead with a six-yard run just before the first quarter ended.
*Bratton ran 42 yards to the end zone late in the second quarter to give RC a 17-15 advantage.
*The Tigers capped a high scoring first half as Terry Hicks ran it in from 15 yards out and H-SC took a 22-17 lead at intermission.
*After a Tiger field goal to open the second half, a 91-yard Bratton kickoff return and successful two-point conversion tied the game at 25-all.
*H-SC went ahead 32-25 after a 15-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter and took a 14-point edge with another Hicks score with 6:39 on the game clock.
*The Maroons quickly struck back, capping an eight-play 62-yard drive in just 2:24 with Linwood Johnson finding Grey Deal from 12 yards out. The Tigers were able to run out the clock with eight-straight running plays.

Inside the numbers:
*Bratton gained 56 yards rushing with 199 on five kickoff returns.
*Jerrett Shepherd had 72 all-purpose yards on the day.
*Johnson connected on 11-of-20 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown.
*Ethan Mapstone made 15 tackles, including eight solos.
*Landon Altizer had 11 stops while Brayden Andrews made seven tackles, including one for loss.
*Lane Shoemaker recorded an interception and added five tackles.
*Hicks gained 217 yards rushing for H-SC (4-1/2-0) on 37 carries and two scores. Manning Lasso caught 12 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.      

Up Next: The Maroons (4-1/1-1 ODAC) travel to Shenandoah University Saturday at noon in another conference tilt.