Jackson Deaver picked up a key interception for Randolph-Macon as the Yellow Jackets shut out Cortland in the second half. Photo by Mike Atherton, d3photography.com

Utica's first-ever trip to the Division III playoffs will continue into the second round, while Randolph-Macon had a big second half defensively and Mount Union and Delaware Valley rolled in first-round games of the 2021 Division III football playoffs on Nov. 20.

This recap covers games in the bottom left-hand bracket, or the Mount Union bracket. Mount Union will host Utica in the second round, while Randolph-Macon will travel to Delaware Valley. Sites will be formally announced on Sunday.

• Playoff scoreboard
• Updated bracket
• Top left bracket: NACC, ARC send WIAC packing
• Top right bracket: Springfield picks up road win; home teams cruise
• Bottom left bracket: R-MC, Utica get stops; Mount, Del Val win big
• Bottom right bracket: Trinity wins on last-minute TD; Bethel edges Wheaton
• Even more game stories

Drew Campanale threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns, and after he got hit hard and exited the game, the Randolph-Macon defense did its job in shutting down Cortland in the second half of a 35-28 win. Campanale got hit hard on a first-and-goal run late in the third quarter, came out for a play, went back in for a handoff and then was replaced. Andrew Ihle took a direct snap and ran it in for a touchdown to give the Yellow Jackets the 35-28 lead, and Brecht Heuchan finished the day for Randolph-Macon. Meanwhile, the Macon defense got back-to-back sacks to stifle one drive, made a fourth-down stop at midfield, then got a key interception from Alex Biddle at midfield on Cortland's final possession.

Utica won its first-ever playoff game and picked up its 10th win for the first time in the history of the program as the Pioneers picked up a key punt block to set up a touchdown and intercepted a pass late in each half to get away from Susquehanna with a 17-10 win. Eli Douglas' punt block and the return gave Utica the ball on the River Hawks' 10-yard line, after which Braeden Zenelovic found Nate Palmer for a 5-yard touchdown pass, the 20th time those two have connected for a TD this season.

Delaware Valley ran for seven touchdowns and rolled into the second round with a 59-0 victory over Gallaudet. The Aggies scored on their first four possessions with two rushing touchdowns for Jay White and one apiece for Louie Barrios and Tahmir Barksdale. DelVal held Gallaudet's triple option attack to 38 yards rushing and 83 yards overall. Anthony Nobile registered seven tackles, four for loss, for the Aggies. And it was similar for Mount Union, which held the Salisbury spread option offense to just 65 yards and three first downs in a 51-0 win. Braxton Plunk completed 35 of 49 passes for 353 yards and five touchdowns, while Wayne Ruby caught 12 of those for 159 yards and four touchdowns.