Under the Friday night lights at Bauer Field, the Rams edged out Mendham 21–14 in a dramatic finish, closing out the night and the season in storybook fashion. The showdown marked the swan song for the team’s seniors, a fitting farewell filled with grit, emotion and one final home-field triumph.
“Leave it all out on the field—for all of us but three, it will be our last football game ever,” senior Kevin Kuridza said before the game. “So, the main goal is to make sure we have no regrets when the clock hits zero.”
As the game started, the Rams defense held strong against Mendham’s run-oriented offense, forcing a three-and-out, getting the hungry Rams offense back on the field. Randolph’s offensive game plan was apparent: get senior captain Jackson Magley the ball. Reading the defense, Magley found an open space and put the Rams on the board, 7-0, with a 45-yard rushing touchdown to cap off the first quarter.
Mendham, however, was not going out without a fight. The Minutemen moved down the field methodically, punching in the score to bring the game back to a draw at 7-7.
Fueled by pure will and determination, Magley used his QB power to break through, following a key block from senior captain Ben Quinn. Cutting up the field with a burst, Magley exploded into open space and raced to the end zone for the touchdown, electrifying the student section once again, making the score 14-7 heading into halftime.
“There were no major adjustments at halftime, but the point of emphasis was keeping our foot on the gas and not getting comfortable with the lead,” senior Greg Ford said.
The third quarter was at an offensive standstill, highlighting the defense of both squads.
Mendham broke the scoreless half by pounding the ball on the ground, steadily wearing down Randolph’s defensive line. The Minutemen’s relentless rushing attack eventually broke through for a hard-fought touchdown, shifting the momentum.
As the fourth quarter progressed, Randolph turned over the ball inside the red zone to Mendham in the final two minutes. Randolph’s defense held strong and gave the Rams offense one more chance to seal the game in regulation. With just 30 seconds left on the clock, Magley broke free for the game-winning touchdown. His clutch run sealed a thrilling 21–14 victory and delivered one more win in the final game of the Rams season.
“I’m so proud of how we played and how we left everything on the field,” Magley said. “It’s been a blessing to share the field with these seniors—not just over the past few years, but ever since our Bulldogs days started, more than a decade ago.”
For the team’s seniors, the night was more than just the end of a game—it was the end of an era, punctuated by heart, unity and one last win under the lights.
