Box Score The Game Facts:
Scores: Roanoke 37, Virginia University of Lynchburg 7
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (City Stadium)

The Short story: The Roanoke College football team led nearly the entire game and pulled away in the second half to open the 2026 season with a 37-7 win at the Virginia University of Lynchburg (VUL) in non-conference play.
 
How it happened:
*Ethan Cyr connected on a 23-yard field goal to open the scoring midway through the first quarter.
*Linwood Johnson made the score 10-0 early in the second quarter with a three-yard TD pass to Cole Chizuk and RC went into halftime with the 10-point lead.
*VUL took advantage of a turnover early in the third period with a 13-yard scoring pass.
*Jerrett Shepherd broke numerous Dragon tackles after a toss from Johnson and went 39 yards to the end zone to push the Maroon lead to 17-7.
*VUL attempted to make it a one score-game later in the third period, but Eddie Brach blocked the chip-shot field goal attempt.
*Johnson and Shepherd each had one-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to put the  game out of reach.
*DeAngelo Walker put icing on the cake with a 34-yard interception return to the end zone with 4:34 left in the contest.

Inside the Numbers:
*Johnson connected on 13-of-23 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns, and also gained 32 yards on the ground.
*Polo Hill gained 132 yards on just 16 carries and Shepherd added 48 on seven carries.
*Ethan Mapstone led the defense with six stops and one pass breakup. 
*Tandom Smith had five stops and one sack.  

Up Next: Roanoke (1-0) hosts to Greensboro College Saturday, September 12 at 2 p.m. at Salem Stadium. It is the program's Suicide Awareness Game and a Maroon Out.