Box Score N. CHARLESTON, S.C.- Despite setting season high-marks in total offense and total defense, VMI fell to Charleston Southern, 27-22, Saturday afternoon at CSU Stadium in N. Charleston, S.C.

CSU's 11-game win streak appeared in serious jeopardy when VMI moved to the CSU 23-yard line in the final minute of play, but Jonathan Wilson's pass to Tim Maypray at the CSU 10-yard line on a fourth and eight call was ruled incomplete with :59 seconds left and the Bucs (7-0) were able to run out the clock and extend I-AA's second longest active win streak.

VMI (1-7) rolled up a season-high 449 yards total offense and allowed the Bucs offense just 279 yards, the lowest by a VMI opponent this season. The Keydets managed to control the clock, winning the time of possession battle 34:30 to 24:31. The defense also forced a season-best four turnovers, picking off Bucs quarterback Collin Drafts four times, but were only able to capitalize with nine points off those turnovers.

Freshman defensive back Christian Kelly picked off three Drafts' passes and became the first VMI player since Gene Williams in 1973 (The Citadel) to intercept three passes in a game.

Wilson, seeing his first action after missing three games with a separated shoulder, completed 15 of 21 passes for 256 yards and one TD and also rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown. His 346 yards total offense was the fourth best by a VMI player in a game.

Placekicker Barrett Way converted field goals of 30, 38, and 39 yards, and has connected on his last five attempts.

Way's third field goal from 38 yards out pulled VMI to within 21-15 with 2:06 left in the third quarter. But the Bucs responded on their next drive with an 80-yard TD pass play to Maurice Price and extended the lead to 27-15 with 1:25 left in the quarter.

The Keydets pulled within 27-22 when Wilson and the VMI offense engineered an eight-play, 69-yard drive capped by Wilson's four-yard TD run with 13:24 left in the game.

VMI's defense was able to keep CSU off balance in the fourth quarter stopping one drive with Christian Kelly's third interception of the day, and halting another when a corner blitz by junior Marcus Brown tossed Drafts for a 10-yard loss which forced the Bucs to punt.

The Keydets had another fourth quarter drive end at the CSU 36 when Wilson's fumble was recovered by linebacker Jada Ross with 9:08 left.

The Keydets jumped out of the gate quickly, thanks in part to a pair of interceptions by Kelly. After his first of the day, the Keydets marched 95 yards down the field in 3:20, capped off by a 74-yard catch and throw from Wilson to Maypray. The score was the Keydets' longest offensive touchdown of the season.

Maypray, who has earned consecutive Big South Freshman of the Week honors, caught two passes for 91 yards in the game for a Keydets' season-high receiving total. The speedy back now has 662 all-purpose yards on the year.

After the two teams traded possessions, CSU responded with a 12-yard touchdown strike from Drafts to senior wideout Drew Rucks. The drive, which started on the VMI 37, was set up by a 38-yard punt return by C.J. Hirschman.

The Bucs added to their lead in the second quarter after Drafts hooked up with wide receiver Maurice Price for a 10-yard reception, pushing their lead up to 14-6.

The Keydets would bounce back before halftime though, as they added a pair of Way field goals (39 & 30 yds.) to cut the lead to 14-12 before the half.

VMI will stay on the road as they travel to Boiling Springs, N.C. to face Gardner-Webb (5-2, 1-0 Big South) next week at Spangler Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES

---Senior quarterback Jonathan Wilson returned to action with a bang Saturday against CSU, completing 15 of 21 passes for 256 yards and a 74-yard touchdown and leading the team in rushing with 90 yards on 20 carries and a four-yard touchdown. His 346 yards total offense was the fourth most total offense yards in a game in school history, surpassed only by Dave Brown (400, Appalachian State, 1986), Dave Brown (399, East Tennessee State, 1986), and Al Comer (365, Marshall, 1985).

Wilson had missed 3- plus games after sustaining a separated shoulder against William & Mary. His performance Saturday was his 12th 200-yard passing game, moving him within one game of tying Joey Gibson (1999-2002) who tossed thirteen 200-yard games.

---Freshman defensive back Christian Kelly became the first VMI defender since Gene Williams against The Citadel in 1973 to pick off three passes in a game.

---Junior placekicker Barrett Way nailed all three field goal attempts Saturday, extending his string of successful field goal attempts to five. Way connected from 39, 30, and 38 yards and is now seven of nine on the year for 77.8 %. Way led the Big South in field goal accuracy in 2005 with an 84.6% success rate.

---VMI's 449 yards total offense was season high and the 279 yards allowed was a season-best for the VMI defense. It was the most yards generated by a VMI offense since 527 yards were rolled up in the 55-52 loss to Gardner-Webb on October 22, 2005. It was the fewest yards allowed by a VMI defense since 273 yards were given up in a 10-7 win at Liberty on October 1, 2005.

---Freshman Tim Maypray's 74-yard TD reception from Jonathan Wilson was VMI's longest play from scrimmage this year and was a career-long pass for Wilson, who also threw a 71-yard TD strike to Willie Bell against Norfolk State in week two (Sept, 9, 2006).

---VMI's +3 turnover margin against CSU moved the Keydets takeaway mark to +6 on the season.