October. The tenth month of the year. Transition from summer heat to autumn chill. And college football is in full gear where Saturdays take shape and could make or break a campaign.
Here are ten October moments in VMI Football history that helped define the legend and lore of the program.
 
October 5 and 12, 2019 – VMI Reclaims the Shako and Recharts History Versus Teams Named Bulldogs
It was a two-week magical period that helped define the 2019 season. VMI first rolled into Charleston and claimed the Silver Shako for the first time in 12 meetings with a 34-21 victory over The Citadel Bulldogs. Wide receiver Jakob Herres had a career-high eight catches for 175 yards and snagged the game clinching 61-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Reece Udinski was surgical completing 25 of 35 passes for 335 yards and three TDs and the defense held The Citadel's option rushing attack to 78 yards.

The Keydets rolled into Parents Weekend at Foster Stadium the next Saturday and prevailed in a 48-41 overtime win over the Samford Bulldogs for their first ever in the series. Alex Ramsey set a school record with six rushing touchdowns and the game was sent into overtime when Grant Clemons kicked a 56-yarder – the second longest in school history. Jakob Herres posted another career-high in catches with ten receptions for 172 yards. Freshman Aljareek Malry made his first college start and posted a career-best 11 tackles.

October 12, 2002 – Keydets Upset Ranked Wofford
Wofford journeyed into Parents Weekend in Lexington ranked 12^th in the country and sights set on the I-AA playoffs. The Keydets had other ideas sending a message on the opening kick when a jarring hit by Tripp Smith set the tone for the afternoon and a 27-16 victory. After the teams traded first quarter field goals, the Keydets took control with 17 second quarter points including a pair of Joey Gibson touchdown passes to Gary Price and T.J. Snelling.  VMI negated Wofford's Wing-T ground attack by controlling the time of possession almost 36 minutes. The upset sparked a three-game October win streak which led to a six-win VMI season in 2002.

October 14, 1995 and October 19, 1996 – Haskins Runs Wild over Mocs
Running back Thomas Haskins finished his illustrious Keydet career with ten 200-yard rushing games. Two of them game in October contests against Chattanooga. In 1995, Haskins rambled on the Alumni Memorial Field turf for a then school record 266 yards with two touchdowns as VMI defeated a Chattanooga squad that had NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, 17-12. Haskins was at it again one year later at venerable Chamberlin Field when he sparked the Keydets to a 28-14 win by rushing for 227 yards and three touchdowns igniting a stretch of games where he would finish the 1996 season as I-AA's all-time leading rusher.
 
October 11, 1986 – Dave Brown and Receivers Play Long Ball
VMI's passing attack under quarterback Dave Brown took full flight at Johnson-Hagood Stadium in Charleston with a 47-30 win over The Citadel. Keydet All-American wide receiver Mark Stock hauled in Brown TD strikes of 72 and 76 yards in the first half which helped the Keydets take the Silver Shako back for the first time in five years. The Bulldog defense keyed on Stock the rest of the game which allowed Brown to connect with wideout Keith Washington for third quarter touchdown passes covering 76 and 46 yards. Brown finished the day with just eight completions, but totaled 320 passing yards in the contest.

October 26, 1985 – Keydets Outlast Tribe in Alumni Memorial Field Classic
Running back Dan Monahan dashed for a 66-yard touchdown on VMI's opening drive and the shootout between these state rivals was on. The game was tied at 14-14 at the break and VMI jumped ahead 31-28 early fourth quarter lead when quarterback Al Comer threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Trent Bridges but William & Mary responded with ten unanswered points. Comer rallied the Keydets back as scored his third touchdown of the day on a three-yard rush as time expired. There was no overtime in those days, so the Keydets went for the win and converted a two-point end around rush by receiver James Wright to set off a wild celebration. "You can't play it any closer than that," VMI head coach Eddie Williamson told the media after the game.

October 10, 1981 – VMI Moves to 4-0 with Oyster Bowl Blanking of The Citadel
The Keydets returned to Norfolk's Oyster Bowl Classic for the second straight year and the defense pitched the first of two shutouts that year with a 14-0 win over The Citadel. Defensive end Barry Smith was named MVP of the game after being credited with six tackles, four for loss for 22 yards, and also tipped a pass leading to an interception which led to a VMI touchdown. The other VMI shutout that season? 6-0 at Virginia Tech in the 1981 season finale.

October 5, 1974 – VMI Triumphs in '74 Tobacco Bowl Victory over Virginia Tech
The Hokies were looking to avenge a 22-21 loss to the Keydets in the '73 season finale, but VMI held the upper hand for the second straight year taking a 22-17 Tobacco Bowl win at City Stadium in Richmond. The Keydets built a 20-3 lead after three quarters on a 16-yard pass from quarterback Tony Farry to wide receiver Ronnie Moore and Farry added a one-yard TD sneak that followed a pair of Rick Tufaro field goals. Hokie quarterback Mitchell Barnes replaced the injured Bruce Arians (Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach) to rally Tech to two four quarter touchdowns and make it 20-17 but the Keydet defense, led by sophomore linebacker John Willison who was named AP National Defensive Player of the Week, had the final say with a safety by end Terry White in the final two minutes of the game that was set up by a Ron Bongiovanni punt at the Tech two-yard line.

October 15, 1960 – VMI Tops Virginia to Extend October Streak
One of the reasons Coach John McKenna's teams were so successful is that they dominated in the month of October. The Keydets dispatched the Cavaliers at Scott Stadium 30-16 to extend their unbeaten streak in October games to 17 games dating back to the 1956 season. That steak would be extended to 18 games the following week in a 14-14 tie at Boston College. In the 1960 VMI-Virginia game, quarterback Howard Dyer led the VMI attack throwing for 205 yards and a touchdown.

October 19, 1957 – VMI Edges William & Mary to Remain Unbeaten
Every undefeated team has its one "squeaker" and for 1957 VMI football, this was it. On a cloudy afternoon at Cary Field in Williamsburg, VMI slipped past William & Mary 14-13 to run its record to 4-0-1. William & Mary was driving for the winning score before Sam Horner's interception in the end zone preserved the victory and helped the Keydets to an undefeated 9-0-1 record and 20^th national ranking in the final AP poll. 
 
October 23, 1920 – VMI Shocks Penn, 27-7
The game may be listed at the end of this feature, but it was probably the most significant win in program history. Col. Thomas W. Davis' VMI athletic history book The Corps Roots the Loudest suggests "it could easily be called VMI's greatest football triumph".  VMI took a 4-0 record into Franklin Field and behind first half scores by College Hall of Famer Jimmy Leech and Jere Bunting, the Keydets build a 20-0 lead at halftime. Penn was coached by football legend John Heisman who was quick to praise the VMI play after the game that day. The 1920 team, known as the "Flying Squadron", would go on to post a 9-0 record and become VMI's only unbeaten, untied team in the 20^th century.