BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Despite holding an advantage in total offense and time of possession throughout the afternoon, the VMI football team fell to Gardner-Webb, 10-7 Saturday in the Big South and regular season finale for both teams.

The Keydets closed out the 2010 campaign with a 3-8 overall mark and 2-4 in the Big South Conference. Gardner-Webb finished 4-7 overall and 2-4 in the league.

VMI could not overcome four interceptions thrown and two unsuccessful field attempts that derailed a chance to close out the season with a road win for first time since 2002. Two of the VMI interceptions led to Gardner-Webb's scoring - a first half field goal and a second half touchdown. The Keydets also came up empty on all three red zone scoring chances.

Bulldog junior receiver James Perry made a leaping grab between two defenders in the left corner of the end zone to haul in a 27-yard touchdown pass with 10:55 left in the fourth quarter that proved to be the deciding score of the contest.  

The Keydets outgained the Bulldogs 271-218 and held a 126-59 advantage on the ground. The 59 rushing yards given up by the Keydets was the lowest allowed an opponent this season. VMI also converted 7 of 15 third down conversions while holding a 32:25 to 25:13 advantage in time of possession.

Gardner-Webb opened the game on offense and moved to the VMI 46 before quarterback Chandler Browning's sideline pass was picked off by junior cornerback Greg Walker at the VMI 41. The Keydets pounded the ball to the Gardner-Webb 6-yard line, using six consecutive rushed by redshirt junior back Chaz Jones for 30 yards. On the next play following a Keydet timeout, senior quarterback Cam Jones attempted throw a slant pattern that was picked off by junior defensive back Chris James in the endzone.

VMI got excellent field position at the GWU 48 after forcing the Bulldogs to punt, and a 21-yard pass from Cam Jones to Josh Favaro on the drive's first play moved the ball to the 27-yard line. One play later, Jones floated a ball down the left boundary to the endzone that was picked off by freshman defensive back Gianni Olivas.

But the Keydet defense was able to keep the Bulldog offense in check throughout most of the first quarter as GWU was unable to cross midfield until the first play of the second quarter. Still the Bulldogs were forced to punt from the VMI 43 after an eight play, 31 yard drive came up empty and the Keydets took over at their own 20 with 13:30 left in the second quarter.

Freshman quarterback Adam Morgan replaced Jones at quarterback and on his first snap from center rifled a ball on a crossing route to redshirt sophomore receiver Aaron Lewis who had the aerial carom out of his hands into the grasp of senior linebacker Jeffrey Williams at the VMI 34.

The Bulldogs ran six plays that moved the ball to the VMI 15, but had to settle for a Ryan Gates 31-yard field goal that put the home team ahead, 3-0 with 10:44 left in the second quarter.

VMI was unable to tally for the remainder of the half and squandered a 17-play drive that consumed 9:01 of second quarter clock time as sophomore Jeff Sexton's 23-yard field goal attempt was blocked by defensive back Bryce Nixonwith 1:43 remaining before halftime.

Kicking off to start the second half, Gardner-Webb attempted an on-side kick that was recovered by VMI's Juan Thrasher at the GWU 43. The Keydets wasted little time capitalizing on the short field and on the fourth play of the possession executed a 31-yard touchdown pass from Morgan down the right sideline to Tracy Hairston, who reached back to snare the ball outside the goal line and turn in for his second touchdown in as many weeks. Sexton's extra point was good and VMI jumped ahead, 7-3, with 13:09 left to go in the third quarter.  

On Gardner-Webb's ensuing possession, VMI junior corner back Byron Allen picked off a Browning pass at the VMI 21 and raced 24 yards up the left sideline to the VMI 45. The Keydets then had back-to-back holding penalties push the ball back to their 26, but Morgan connected with senior wideout Bryan Barnson for a 24-yard gain to put them back in business. Another Morgan pass to senior Mario Scott two plays later moved it to the GWU, but the Keydets had to settle for a 37-yard field goal try from Sexton after three straight incompletions. Sexton's attempt sailed wide right with 6:10 remaining in the third quarter.

The teams exchanged punts twice as the game moved to the final quarter and the Keydets leading, 7-3.

With VMI starting at its own 14, senior running back Gabe Itoka rushed four times to move the ball out to the Keydet 25. On a third and 10, Morgan threw a dump pass over the middle that was intercepted by a diving sophomore Bulldog defensive end Evan Short at the VMI 27. One play later, Browning lofted an arching pass into the left corner of the endzone that Perry snagged between two Keydet defenders. Gardner-Webb kicked a 30-yard extra point following a holding penalty and the Bulldogs retook the lead, 10-7 with 10:55 to play.

VMI's best chance to a comeback score was dashed on its last drive of the game when a second-down and one QB sneak by Morgan at the GWU 46 resulted in a four-yard loss after the ball squirted back following the snap. Morgan recovered the errant exchange, but threw two straight incompletions on the next two plays which ended the possession on downs with 2:33 left.

The Keydets were never able to get the football back as the Bulldogs managed to convert a fourth and one from the VMI 40 and eventually ran out the clock.

Morgan completed 10-of-19 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown while Chaz Jones and Itoka rushed for 66 and 63 yards, respectively. Barnson led the Keydets in receptions with four catches for 38 yards.

Perry hauled in eight catches (seven after halftime) for 78 yards and a touchdown to lead Gardner-Webb in receiving. Browning completed 17-of-31 attempts for 159 yards and a score and was picked off twice.

Defensively, A.J. Gross finished the season with his sixth double-digit tackle performance with 13 stops.

VMI HEAD COACH SPARKY WOODS - "We can't turn the football over - turnovers are the number one determining factor in winning and losing. We turned the ball over with two interceptions that led to scores. We played pretty good on defense and had opportunities early, but we couldn't get the ball in the end zone and it was a shame because the guys played really hard. We ran the ball okay, threw the ball okay, and then we turned it over when we got it close. We can't kick a field goal - can't protect for a field goal. It was certainly a team loss for us and we have improve our pass protection and the quarterback has got to make better decisions, and when we have a chance to make a play, we have to make one.