PARKS CROMWELL | HAMPDEN-SYDNEY | CB
Cromwell, a sophomore from Charlotte, N.C., put together a strong outing in helping Hampden-Sydney open the 2025 campaign with a 38-9 win at Delaware Valley University, an outfit that was receiving votes towards the D3football.com Preseason Top-25 Poll. Cromwell posted five tackles (all solo) and broke up three passes from his cornerback position, but it was in the turnover game where his biggest contributions occurred. On the Aggies' first possession of the afternoon and driving inside H-SC territory, Cromwell came off the edge for strip-sack, securing the first turnover of the contest. The Tigers cashed in the advantage with quarterback Carter Sido hitting Mason Cunningham with a 40-yard touchdown pass three plays later. In the second quarter with DVU on the Tigers' 38-yard line, Cromwell thwarted a potential Aggies' scoring play. Cromwell tracked with a DVU receiver along the sideline and hauled in the intended pass at the H-SC 2-yard line to preserve the Tigers' 17-9 lead with just 0:48 showing on the second quarter clock. For Cromwell, the sack marked the first of his career, while the interception accounts for his third career pick.

IAN BROWNE | BRIDGEWATER | WR
Browne, a senior from Owings Mills, Md., put together a career-day in Bridgewater's tight 32-27 season-opening loss to Stevenson University on Saturday evening. Browne scored three touchdowns with two receiving and one rushing, bringing his career total for touchdowns to five when combined with his two receiving scores in 2023. Browne posted career-highs with 10 catches and 123 receiving yards against the Mustangs and registered the first two touchdowns of the game to stake the Eagles to a 14-0 lead before the end of the first quarter. He notched his first ever rushing TD on his lone carry of the game, a 6-yard reverse around the right-side with 10:26 showing on the opening frame clock. Then, with just 22-seconds to play in the first quarter, connected with quarterback Jaicere Bateman on a 53-yard catch-and-run where Browne caught the ball over the middle at the SU 43-yard line and out-paced the Mustangs' defense to paydirt. After Stevenson had gone ahead of Bridgewater in the second half, Browne pulled the Eagles to within a touchdown with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. He caught a 5-yard corner pass for his third TD to make the score 26-21 SU after the extra point.

TANDOM SMITH | ROANOKE | LB
Smith, a sophomore from Wytheville, Va., had a big day both on special teams and defense in helping Roanoke post a 23-7 victory over Virginia University-Lynchburg in the Maroons first varsity football game since 1942 on Saturday afternoon in Salem Stadium. Smith set the stage for the program's first touchdown in 83 years as he blocked a Dragons' punt that was recovered by Brayden Andrews in the end zone with just 1:46 off the first quarter clock. Smith posted a team-high nine tackles on the day in eight solo and two on special teams. He joined Andrews on a tackle for a loss of 14 yards on that first VUL drive, setting the Dragons back to their own 9-yard line to set up the blocked up. Smith also broke up one pass.

• OFFENSE
  • Averett quarterback Ethan Ross accounted for both of the Cougars touchdowns with runs of 10 and 14 yards.
  • Bridgewater receiver Ian Browne accounted for BC's first three touchdowns with two receiving and one rushing, finishing with 123 yards on 10 receptions and six yards on his lone carry. Quarterback Jaicere Bateman threw for 326 yards and three scores. Receiver Tate Leach caught four passes for 89 yards and a score.
  • Gallaudet quarterback JeVaughn Sargent connected with Marcus Gabriel on the first TD of the Bison's ODAC-era.
  • Guilford quarterback Caleb Robles accounted for the Quakers touchdown with an 8-yard scoring run.
  • Hampden-Sydney quarterback Carter Sido threw three touchdown passes and ran for 33 yards, while running back Terry Hicks carried the ball 27 times for 128 yards and a score. Receiver Mason Cunningham returned to the gridiron following a year lost to injury with four catches for 101 yards including TD receptions of 40 and 42 yards for the Tigers' first two scores of the game.
  • Randolph-Macon ran for an ODAC-high 315 yards and four TDs on 54 carries. Four players ran for more than 45 yards led by Mitchell Johnson's 108 yards and two TDs. Quarterback Dante Casciola threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran one in.
  • Roanoke commanded possession for 34:03 of game time, second-most in the ODAC. Running back Tyson Miller registered 139 all-purpose yards with 85 rushing and 49 receiving. Running back Polo Hill posted the Maroons first offensive touchdown as part of a seven-carry 69-yard rushing day.
  • Shenandoah running back Jalen Redfearn crossed 1,000-yards rushing for his career with 77 yards on 20 carries. He also caught five passes for a career-best 64 yards. Receiver Roge't Walker caught two passes for 94 yards including an 87-yard scoring play.
  • Washington and Lee posted three rushing touchdowns led by Anthony Crawford's 139 yards and a score on 28 carries. The Generals led the ODAC in week one with 34:36 of possession time.
• DEFENSE
  • Bridgewater linebacker Aaron Nice was ever-present in the Mustangs backfield, posting an ODAC-best 4.5 TFLs that cost Stevenson 18 yards of offense and also included a quarterback sack. Linebacker Oscar Whitely posted two TFLs and forced a fumble.
  • Gallaudet defensive back Braxton Heffelfinger picked off a pass and was one of five players with a team-high five tackles.
  • Guilford linebacker Travis Burton made eight stops including an ODAC-high 3.5 sacks that cost Greensboro 19 yards of offense. He also had four quarterback hurries along with linebacker Nick Iannone, who posted a league-best 10 tackles. Defensive back Tristan Bailey intercepted the 13th pass of his career. Defensive lineman Zy'Quan Williams made 2.0 TFLs including a sack.
  • Hampden-Sydney cornerback Parks Cromwell had a day with a strip-sack, an interception at the Tigers' 2-yard line, and three pass breakups to go with five tackles (all solo). Mitch Ladamus – who tied for team-high honors with six tackles – was joined by Eddie Allen and Frank Brewer in recovering fumbles.
  • Randolph-Macon forced five turnovers with cornerback Daniel Christian picking off two passes and recovering a fumble and safety Brandon Watson registering a 31-yard pick-six and a forced fumble.
  • Roanoke defensive lineman Parker Hardy registered 2.5 sacks that cost VUL 26 yards of offense, the latter figure marking the most in the ODAC. Defensive backs Javier Waldron and Lane Shoemaker intercepted passes.
  • Shenandoah linebacker Ryan Apietu registered three career-firsts – a sack, an interception, and a safety – to go with five tackles. Linebacker Matt Conroy led with eight tackles and was joined by Devin Keasey with 1.5 sacks. Xavier Brewer and Pheonix Andes also collected 1.0 quarterback sacks.
  • Washington and Lee defensive back Gabe Joyner intercepted a pass, while defensive end Cole Sheppard registered a strip-sack that Salisbury recovered. Linebackers Mac Palmer and Brennan Stout led with nine tackles each.
• SPECIAL TEAMS
  • Bridgewater punter Aiden Grefe punted five times for a 41.2 average with two downed inside the 20-yard line including one at the SU 2-yard line. Running back Brendan Robinson returned three kickoffs for 97 yards, while receiver Tate Leach returned two punts for 30 yards.
  • Gallaudet punter Ryan Ortega helped GU in the field position game with four punts for an average of 41 yards with one downed inside the 20-yard line.
  • Guilford defensive back Tristan Bailey returned two kickoffs for 75 yards with a long of 58.
  • Hampden-Sydney kicker/punter Camden Richardson made a 24-yard field goal and punted three times for a 38.7 average with one downed inside the 20-yard line. Defensive lineman Wyatt Croson blocked a PAT in the second quarter.
  • Randolph-Macon receiver Gracyn Ross returned five kickoffs for 149 yards with a long of 71, setting up a second quarter touchdown.
  • Roanoke linebacker Tandom Smith not only led RC with nine tackles defensively, but he also set up the program's first touchdown since 1942 with a blocked punt that Brayden Andrews recovered in the end zone less than two minutes into the contest.
  • Shenandoah kicker Carson Gallant made a 27-yard field goal, while punter Luke Hirchfield posted a 44.0 average on three punts with a long of 59 yards and one down inside the 20-yard line.