LEXINGTON, Va. - Weather brought a premature end to the VMI football final spring scrimmage of 2012, but head coach Sparky Woods used the occasion to set the tone and focus of the coming campaign this fall.

"I reminded our team as we went in the locker room today of the Delaware State opener last year," said Woods. "We went into our locker room in that game during a thunderstorm delay ahead, and ended up losing the ballgame. I reminded them that we have to be mature enough to regroup and come back out knowing that a break sometimes dampens the enthusiasm of the fans, but we can't let it happen to us."

Despite the rain and lightning that limited Saturday's scrimmage to 17 plays, the Keydets were able to get almost a full compliment of drills in the final session including a pass skeleton period and some one-on-one with both defensive and offensive line.

"I thought it was a really good spring," Woods summarized. "They came in every day focused. We didn't have one day where we had to challenge them to work-they came out every day. I think our leadership was outstanding. I was really happy about the improvement of our defense."

During the scrimmage, rising junior quarterback Eric Kordenbrock completed nine-yard passes to sophomore Dexter Bridge and Jabari Turner. Redshirt junior A.J. Augustine completed an eight-yard pass to redshirt freshman Zach Jones.

Sophomore Jabari Turner led all rushers with three carries for 27 yards. The offensive units generated four five downs in the 17 snaps. 

Defensively, redshirt junior Adam Morgan had three tackles and a pass break-up.

VMI opens the 2012 season September 1 at Delaware State.

OTHER NOTES - The September 22 VMI-Navy game in Annapolis will kickoff at 3:30 p.m., Navy Athletic Communications announced this week.  The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network cable channel.