LEXINGTON, Va. - The VMI Keydets scored first and led wire to wire, but had to survive a late rally from the Charleston Southern Buccaneers to earn their first win of the season, 21-17, in Big South football action Saturday at VMI's Foster Stadium in Lexington, Va.

The Keydets (1-5, 1-1 Big South) scored first on a Chaz Jones touchdown run in the opening quarter, and held a 14-0 lead at the half. CSU (0-6, 0-1) had managed just 54 total yards in the first two quarters, but the Bucs rallied late, despite being stopped on fourth-and-goal from the VMI 1-yard line on their opening drive of the half.

After a third quarter field goal cut the deficit to 11, two fourth quarter touchdowns, the last coming with 1:04 left, made it a four-point game. CSU's onside kick was recovered by VMI, and despite needing a fourth-down conversion to run the clock out, the Keydets held on for the 21-17 victory.

Jones ran for 96 yards on a career-high 28 carries, and had two scores to pace the VMI offense. Eric Kordenbrock was 16 for 28, and threw for a second quarter score to Will Lucas, but also had two interceptions. CSU's Chris Kuzdale and Zac Johnston each had 12 tackles, and Mike Davis had six catches for 81 yards.

The game began under clear skies, with a wind gusting as high as 25 miles per hour. Neither team could score on the opening handful of drives, until the Keydets took advantage of a short field midway through the first quarter. A short punt gave VMI the ball at the Bucs' 24, and four straight runs by Jones, including two of over 10 yards, got the ball in the endzone. The spurt was capped by a one-yard TD run at the 6:22 mark, and Jeff Sexton's point after gave VMI the 7-0 advantage. That would be the only score of the first period, as the teams combined for five punts in the frame.

The home team notched its second scoring drive late in the second quarter, beginning at the VMI 12. Kordenbrock completed six straight passes, including a 22-yarder to Lucas on third down, to orchestrate a 15-play, 88-yard drive that was capped with just 1:34 left in the half, when Kordenbrock hit Lucas for a five-yard score. The point after made it 14-0, VMI.

That would be the halftime margin as well, as the Keydets took the lead to the locker room for the first time this season. Bucs' quarterback Malcolm Dixon was just 3 of 13 in the opening half, while Kordenbrock threw for 103 yards to lead VMI.

As the teams came out for the third quarter, VMI was driving into the wind and that immediately played a role. After a roughing the kicker penalty gave VMI a first down, CSU's Kuzdale picked off a Kordenbrock deep pass, giving the visitors the ball with the day's first turnover.

They nearly took advantage, marching 10 plays in 57 yards to get to the VMI 1-yard line. On a third and goal, quarterback Dixon threw an incomplete pass, setting up a fourth down attempt. The Bucs ran into the middle, but Emilio Calvin and Byron Allen combined to stop B.J. Hackworth, and the visitors came away with no points.

CSU did, however, get on the board on its next drive. The Bucs took over with 5:39 left in the quarter and marched eight plays, including a 28-yard pass by Dixon to Nathan Perera, to notch a 43-yard field goal by Andy Brown. With 2:29 left in the period, CSU had cut the deficit to 11, which is where the score stood after three quarters.

The teams exchanged punts once again to open the final quarter, giving CSU the ball with 12:29 to play. The visitors gained two first downs, helped by back to back pass plays of over 20 yards, but a fourth-down attempt from the VMI 20 fell incomplete, ending the drive and giving VMI the ball in its own territory.

Jones then took five straight handoffs before a Kordenbrock incompletion, setting up fourth down. Cameron Murray lined up to punt, but a low snap allowed Corvaughn Archie to sneak in and block the kick. The ball ricocheted away and directly into the hands of Austin Wald, who returned it 22 yards for a touchdown. That cut the lead to 14-9, and Dixon threw a two-point conversion to Kevin Glears, making it 14-11 with 5:59 to go.

CSU then stopped the Keydets on the ensuing drive, and appeared to have all the momentum with just over three minutes to go. Murray punted from the Bucs' 48, and returner Charles James tracked the ball as it drifted, however, forcing him to attempt an over-the-shoulder grab. He muffed the catch and the ball fell free, allowing James Fruehan of VMI to pounce on it and give the Keydets the ball at the CSU 7-yard line. One play later, Jones scampered into the endzone to put the Keydets up, 21-11, with 3:15 to go.

The game was not over yet, however, as CSU marched 69 yards in 13 plays, a drive highlighted by two fourth-down conversions and capped by an eight-yard touchdown pass, Dixon to Kareem Givens, with 1:04 to play. Brown missed the point after, making it 21-17 as the teams lined up for the onside kick.

The attempt was recovered by VMI, and the Keydets ran the ball on first down, forcing CSU to use a timeout. VMI was then whistled for a false start, and chose to throw on second down. The swing pass to Hardy Temoney was complete, but he was forced out of bounds by Kuzdale, stopping the clock with 50 seconds remaining. A Jones run on third down caused the Bucs to use their final timeout, and set up a fourth-and-one. Jones ran into the line, but bounced off the initial tacklers and surged for two yards, giving VMI the first down and allowing the Keydets to run the clock out.

Allen had five tackles for VMI, but was extremely active in the passing game, as he was credited with four pass breakups. All told, the Keydets broke up nine Dixon pass attempts and had eight tackles for loss. Johnny Wimbish led VMI with nine tackles.  

VMI will be back in action next Saturday, as the Keydets play host to the Stony Brook Seawolves at Foster Stadium. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m.

QUOTES - VMI Head Coach Sparky Woods

"Congratulations to Charleston Southern. They really played tough. We thought we had a chance to put the game away, or at least, get to the point where we had some comfort, but they rose to the occasion."

"I thought we did some good things on offense, but we had a tough time running the ball. I thought Eric Kordenbrock played decently, and he made some clutch throws that he had to make. I thought our defense played hard and pressured their quarterback, as well as contained the running game decently. We still have to stop those slant routes and the posts."

"Overall, we played well in the kicking game with the exception of the catastrophic blocked punt. Obviously, their dropped punt was huge as well, and I'm glad we were able to put that in right away."

"I thought it was a good team victory for us today. You can't say that just the offense or defense won it. We all took turns in doing good things and bad. I just feel good for our team and VMI that we were able to smell some oxygen. Getting that win feels like an anvil off the chest."