VMI vs. Samford Gameday Central

LEXINGTON, Va. – Rejuvenated and fresh after a bye week, the VMI football team returns action this weekend to face Samford in a pivotal Southern Conference matchup Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Foster Stadium.

For fans planning to attend the game, information regarding parking, tailgating or other gameday festivities can be found by visiting the following link at vmikeydets.com.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

VMI Athletics is hosting a Halloween Costume Contest during halftime. Only children ages 13 and under can enter. Participants are allowed to wear masks and headwear into the stadium, but in conjunction with VMI's clear bag policy, cannot bring in objects such as plastic weapons, props, etc. All those planning to participate will be asked to report to the end zone near the cannon with two minutes remaining in the second quarter. Parents of participants may accompany their child onto the track during halftime. The winner will be based on applause from the fans in attendance and will receive a prize! By participating in the contest, parents are giving consent for VMI to use photos and/or video of the children in the contest.

Links to the broadcast, radio and live stats are listed below in addition to other links that provide gameday information for both programs.

Attending the Game
Tickets | Weather | Directions
Broadcasts
Watch on ESPN+
Live Audio (96.7 3WZ)
Live Stats
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VMI (5-2, 3-1 SoCon)
Roster
Coaching Staff
Schedule/Results
Statistics
Game Program
Game Notes
2021 Fact Book
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Samford (3-4, 2-3 SoCon)
Roster
Schedule/Results
Coaching Staff
Statistics
Game Notes
Media Guide
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THE SERIES: This will be the ninth meeting in the rivalry and Samford holds a 6-2 lead in the rivalry. The Bulldogs claimed the first six matchups before the Keydets broke through overtime wins in 2019 in Lexington (48-41, OT) and in in Birmingham last spring (38-37 OT). The teams first met in 2001 in Lexington (Samford, 46-28) and the series resumed in 2014 when VMI rejoined the SoCon and the teams have met each year since.

KEYDETS RETURN HOME TO FACE SAMFORD – VMI returns home for its final game in the month of October when it faces conference rival Samford Saturday at Foster Stadium. It will be the fourth of five home games scheduled in the 2021 fall season and the Keydets will be looking to keep their undefeated home mark unblemished. The Keydets are 3-0 at home this season and have not reached four home wins in a season since 2008 when they were 4-2. VMI has won seven of its last eight home games at Foster Stadium.

OVERTIME, ANYONE – The last two meetings between the VMI and Samford resulted in overtime. The Keydets were able to come out on top in both shootouts with a 38-37 come from behind win in Birmingham last March and a 48-41 victory in 2019 on Family Weekend in Lexington.

BACK IN THE RANKINGS – Following an impressive 45-7 road win over Mercer October 16, the VMI football team returned to the FCS top 25 national polls after a two-week absence. In the rankings released Monday, October 18, the Keydets were No. 21 in the Stats Perform Top 25 FCS poll and No. 23 in the AFCA FCS coaches poll. After being idle last Saturday with a bye week, VMI is now no. 18 in both polls.

FIVE WIN MARK ATTAINED AGAIN – The win over Mercer October 18 secured VMI its fifth win for the third consecutive season – something that hasn't been attained in program history since the 1960 through 1962 campaigns when VMI went 7-2, 6-4, and 6-4 in successive years.

RUSHING RAMPAGE – VMI's 45-7 win over Mercer October 16 featured an outburst in the rushing attack with 306 of VMI's 436 total yards coming on the ground. It was the most rushing yards by the Keydets since rolling up 422 against Old Dominion on November 21, 2009 when VMI employed a triple-option attack.

A VMI Win over Samford would ...
---Be VMI's third consecutive win in the series.
---Move VMI to 4-0 at home this season.
---Clinch back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1961-62.

VMI RADIO NETWORK: 96.7 FM (Lexington, Lynchburg), WJFN – 820 AM, 92.7 FM, 107.7 FM (Richmond), WPMH 1010 AM, 100.5 FM, 96.9 FM (Hampton Roads). A free audio broadcast of the game is available at 3wzfm.com. Jeremy Franklin will call the play-by-play and Rick Cruze will be color commentator.

TELEVISION/ VIDEO STREAMING: Saturday's game can be seen on ESPN+. Wade Branner will handle the play-by-play and Chip Tarkenton will serve as analyst.

OLIVER PICKS A PAIR - Sophomore cornerback Alex Oliver's two interceptions against Mercer October 16 was the second time this season a Keydet had two interceptions in a game. Aljareek Malry had two in the opener against Davidson September 4. Oliver's pick six for a TD return on the first play of the game was VMI's first since Tyren Cloyd returned one against Chattanooga on Oct. 27, 2018.

MORE RICE – Redshirt sophomore Jerry Rice has been a model of consistency this season his 26-yard field goal at Mercer made him 11 for 13 in field goals and he is now 26 for 26 in PAT attempts. Five of his field goals have come from 40 yards or longer including the career-high 49 yarder against Chattanooga.

TWO CENTURY MARK RUSHERS – Redshirt freshman running back Rashad Raymond and true freshman running back Hunter Rice both had career-high rushing days in the win over Mercer. Raymond had a career high 163 yards including an 80-yard touchdown run against the Bears while Rice rushed for a career-high 112 yards 17 carries and three touchdowns. The last time VMI had two 100-yard rushers in a game was 2009 vs. Army (Howard Abegesah-111 and Cam Jones-100).

DEFENSE DOMINATES VS BEARS – VMI's defense led the way in the 45-7 win at Mercer October 16 as the Keydets limited Mercer to 23 yards rushing after the Bears entered the game averaging 280 yards on the ground - fifth in FCS. Mercer was limited to 9 first downs and converted just 2 of 14 in third down conversions while the Keydets had 10 TFL for 52 yards. VMI's defense entered the Mercer game with just two sacks in the season and had three for 19 yards during the afternoon in Macon.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Tyren Cloyd: LB; 6' 3"; Senior

#1 Aljareek Malry: DB; 6' 0"; Junior

#11 Alex Oliver: DB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#5 Rashad Raymond: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman

#93 Jerry Rice: K/P; 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore

#24 Hunter Rice: RB; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#9 Tyren Cloyd
: 6' 3"; Senior
: LB

#1 Aljareek Malry
: 6' 0"; Junior
: DB

#11 Alex Oliver
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: DB

#5 Rashad Raymond
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB

#93 Jerry Rice
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore
: K/P

#24 Hunter Rice
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: RB

VMI Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned