SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Wofford Terriers pounded out 441 rushing yards and held off a fourth quarter VMI rally to post a 38-23 non-conference win over VMI before 5,111 spectators at Gibbs Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The loss snapped VMI's two game win streak and dropped the Keydets to 3-4 overall. The 2-0 record in the Big South will be put to the test when Gardner-Webb visits Lexington next Saturday afternoon. Wofford won its second straight game and moved to 4-3 overall on the year.
The Keydets were limited by 47 rushing yards, a figure hampered by eight Wofford sacks for -34 yards. VMI's offense, which hadn't committed a turnover the previous two games, turned the ball over three times on the day while generating two takeaways.
VMI trailed 21-10 at half, but cut the deficit to 24-17 with 12:46 left in the fourth quarter when Zohn Burden caught a seven-yard dump pass over the middle for a touchdown. VMI attempted a sky kick on the ensuing kickoff that was fumbled by Wofford's Cody Garland and recovered by the Keydets at the Wofford 36. But VMI couldn't capitalize as quarterback Jonathan Wilson, pressured by a heavy rush, sailed a pass into arms of Wofford linebacker Jim Thurman one play later.
Wofford on its next snap took a reverse sweep pitch to Brandon Berry 65 yards to the VMI 14. Six plays later, Terrier quarterback Josh Collier connected with back Adrian Young in the right corner of the end zone for a six-yard score to give Wofford a 31-17 lead with 9:36 left.
The Terriers forced VMI on a three-and-out next possession, and took over at its own 43. On the third play of the drive, reserve quarterback Ben Widmyer raced 45 yards down the right sideline for a score, giving the Terriers a 38-17 cushion with 7:31 left. The score capped a 14-point Wofford scoring burst over five minutes.
VMI managed an 18-play, 80-yard scoring drive ended by Burden's second touchdown catch of the day, a four-yarder from Wilson at the 2:44 mark that provided the games final margin.
The Keydets only lead of the day came early in the first quarter when VMI took the opening drive and marched 76 yards in seven plays. Wilson scored on a two-yard run around the right side to put VMI up, 7-0 at the 11:42 mark.
Wofford tied the game on Collier's one-yard dive with 14:21 left in the second quarter, then took the lead for good when fullback Micheal Hobbs busted up the middle from nine yards out to give the Terriers a 14-7 advantage with 6:43 left in the half.
VMI cut the lead to 14-10 when Barrett Way knocked through a 37-yard field goal with 2:40 left in the half. It was Way's seventh successful field goal in nine tries this season.
But the Terriers struck at the :05 mark of the half when Collier found Matt Beavin in the left corner of the end zone for a 13-yard scoring pass play that put Wofford up 21-10 at the break.
VMI faces Gardner-Webb next Saturday at noon in Lexington in a game that will be televised by Comcast Sports Net Mid Atlantic. Wofford plays host to Appalachian State at 1:30 p.m.
VMI head coach Cal McCombs - "I thought we played hard, but to win a football game you have to play well. We didn't rush the ball like we thought we were going to be able to. We felt like we had to rush the football to win and the last two games we've been able to do that, but today we didn't get 100 yards. When we had to go back and throw, they just started getting upfield and Jonathan (Wilson) was running for his life today. He did a great job getting the balls out to some guys but he had pressure on him all day. Some of that pressure was probably cause of some turnovers. We gave those guys some big plays. We got them backed up and they ran a reverse for a big gain. It was hard to jump back in because every time we look like we were getting back in it, they had a big play against our defense. I was very disappointed with our performance today because I felt we could come down and compete with Wofford College. I still think we can, but the way we played today, we couldn't compete with them. I really thought we had a chance to win."
VMI Notes
--Jonathan Wilson completed 26 of 40 passes for 260 yards against Wofford. The 26 completions was a career-high and ties him with two others for the #2 spot in single game completions. It was Wilson's ninth career passing game (2nd this season) and puts him in the #2 spot on the career list for most 200-yard passing games. Joey Gibson (1999-2002) holds the mark with 13 200-yard passing games in his career. Wilson move past the 300 career completion mark, the fifth VMI quarterback to do so in Keydet football history.
--Senior wide receiver Zohn Burden (8 catches, 100-yards vs. Wofford) now has 141 career receptions which places him 12 catches behind Ronnie Moore (1973-76) on the VMI career list. With two touchdown receptions against Wofford (his first two of the season), Burden now has 12 career TD receptions which ties him for third place on the career list. Burden also became the all-time Big-South career reception leader with 130 passes caught in BSC competition.
--VMI continued to execute in the red zone by going four for four against Wofford. On the season, VMI is now 23 of 25 when moving inside the opponents 20-yard line.
---VMI's 260 yards passing against Wofford was a season-high. The 47 yards rushing against The Terriers was a season low.
--Wide receiver Gary Price caught seven passes for 86 yards and now has 104 receptions- the seventh VMI receiver to amass 100 or more receptions in a career.
--Zohn Burden and Gary Price extended their consecutive games reception streak to 30 contests.
---Two Keydets sidelines by injury returned to action Saturday against Wofford. Offensive right guard Adam Reel returned from a sprained knee that sidelined him two games and the Lexington, Va. native started on Saturday at right guard. Junior defensive tackle Steel Nardozzi saw his first action of the year after being sidelined with a knee injury sustained near the end of last year.
