The win snapped a five-game skid for the Keydets and gave them their first road victory since the 2007 season and their first Big South Conference road win since a 10-7 win over Liberty on October 1, 2005. VMI moved to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the Big South while PC fell to 0-7, 0-2 BSC and saw its losing streak extended to 10 games.

The Keydets piled up a season-high 424 yards rushing and averaged 6.1 yards per rush on the afternoon. Abegesah posted his 11^th career 100-yard rushing game and was joined over the century mark threshold by senior quarterback Kyle Hughes who gained 108 yards on 13 carries. It marked the first time this season that VMI had produced twin 100-yard rushers in a game and the first time since senior back Tim Maypray and Abegesah performed the feat in a 41-27 win over PC in the season finale at Foster Stadium last season.   

VMI overcame four turnovers with two takeaways (both interceptions) and limited Presbyterian College to 36 yards rushing. The Blue Hose generated 302 yards passing, but the Keydets held a commanding 36:37 to 23:30 advantage in time of possession and limited PC to 4 of 13 in third down conversion attempts.

VMI never trailed in the contest and jumped to a 7-0 lead on its second possession of the first quarter when Tim Maypray sliced in virtually untouched from the PC 1 capping a 10-play, 73-yard drive that was keyed by a 17-yard rush by junior slotback Michael Rainey-Wiles and Abegesah's 41 rushing yards.

A 16-yard interception returned to the Presbyterian College 16 by redshirt junior safety Kyle Nikmard set up the first of Abegesah's three scores - a one-yard burst that pushed VMI's lead to 14-0 with 2:05 remaining in the first quarter. The Keydets fumbled the ball away on their next two possessions, the later setting up a fake 46-yard field goal try that was converted to a 27-yard touchdown pass from Myron Gray to Parker Fleming that halved the PC deficit to 14-7 with 4:26 left I the second quarter.

VMI responded quickly with a lightning burst two-play, 82-yard drive that opened when Hughes rambled 45 yard option keeper to the PC 37 followed by a 37-yard straight ahead burst to the endzone by Abegesah to push the VMI lead to 21-7 at halftime.

The Keydets had piled up 251 yards rushing by intermission averaging just over eight yards a crack on running attempts in the first half and far surpassing the 214.2 rushing yards per game average heading into the game.

VMI extended the lead to 28-7 late in the third quarter following a bizarre turn of events that saw a 15-play, 54-yard drive end on a block field goal attempt only to see the Keydets get the ball back on the same play when PC's Darryl Ash coughed up possession of the ball  at the Blue Hose 21-yard line after scooping and returning 10 yards after the block. An alert Terrell Lynch smothered the ball giving VMI new life. Two plays later, Abegesah raced in from 12 yards out for his third rushing touchdown of the day.

Presbyterian pulled within 28-14 with 12:20 left in the fourth quarter when quarterback Tim Webb, who had relieved PC starting QB Brandon Miney, completed five-of-six passes for 59 yards and helped engineer a nine-play, 90-yard drive that ended with a Trandon Dendy two-yard TD rush.

But the Keydets chewed off more precious fourth quarter time with a nine-play, 66-yard drive that was sparked by Hughes 35-yard pass to Mario Scott to the PC 46 on the first play of the possession. A 15-yard facemask penalty at the end of the play further aided the drive. VMI had to settle for a 32-yard field goal by Jeff Sexton to push the lead to 31-14 with 6:52 remaining.

Presbyterian again turned to a gadget play to produce its final score when receiver Sam Wilson executed a hook-and-ladder flip to teammate Sean Adegola who raced 68 yards to the VMI 1. Lance Byrd slammed in for the touchdown one-play later but the extra point was missed.

Down 31-20, PC attempted an onsides kick, but the Keydets recovered at the Blue Hose 45-yard line and ran three plays before fumbling the ball away near mid-field. PC quickly converted a 23-yard pass to Adegbola to the VMI 30 and moved to the VMI 10, but a seven-yard sack of Webb by senior defensive end Pat McKinney forced a 34-yard field goal attempt by Aaron Mayes that sailed wide right and squelched any hopes for a homecoming comeback.

Defensively, the Keydets generated six tackles-for-loss and was led by redshirt sophomore Emilio Calvin who posted nine total tackles including four for loss totaling 18 yards.

VMI returns home next Saturday to face Charleston Southern at 1:30 p.m. at Foster Stadium. It will be Hall of Fame Weekend as seven former VMI athletic figures will be inducted in ceremonies Friday and recognized at halftime.

QUOTES -

VMI head coach Sparky Woods

"I was glad to win. PC had their homecoming and had an extra week to prepare for us. I was proud of our guys. I thought we stepped it up a bit, and defensively we got some hands on the ball. We were still plagued with turning the football over, if we don't turn the football over, I think it would have been an easier victory for us. I thought we stepped it up in the kicking game pretty well, but had some flaws there with a blocked field goal, but overall, I thought our guys ran to the football and played hard and played relentless, and made some plays when we had to. It sure is easier going back to work after a win rather than a disappointing loss."

--- With 108 yards, Kyle Hughes became the fourth VMI quarterback to rush for over 1,000 yards in a career in Big South Conference history.

---Tim Maypray now has 68 career kickoff returns which moves him into fourth place on the VMI career list.