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Football

VMI vs. Western Carolina Gameday Central

LEXINGTON, Va. – After two weeks on the road, the VMI football team returns home this weekend to face Western Carolina in a Southern Conference battle to wrap up the 2021 regular season.
 
Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m.- an hour earlier than usual - at Foster Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

For fans planning to attend the game, information regarding parking, tailgating and other gameday festivities can be found at vmikeydets.com.

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 | Tailgating Info
Broadcasts
Watch on ESPN+
Live Audio (96.7 3WZ) 
Live Stats
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VMI (6-4, 4-3 SoCon)
Roster
Coaching Staff
Schedule/Results
Statistics
Game Program
Game Notes 
2021 Fact Book
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Western Carolina (3-7, 3-4 SoCon)
Roster
Schedule/Results
Coaching Staff
Statistics
Game Notes
Media Guide
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THE SERIES - Saturday's meeting between VMI and Western Carolina will be the 27th meeting between the schools with the Catamounts holding a 22-4 advantage. VMI snapped a 17-game losing streak to the Catamounts following a 30-7 win in Cullowhee on March 6, 2021. Western Carolina has claimed eight straight in games played in Lexington with VMI's last win coming on November 9, 1991, 27-25. The series began in 1978 and has featured many close games with three of the last four meetings between 2016-19 decided by an average of 4.3 points.

KEYDETS AND CATAMOUNTS TO KICKOFF AT 12:30 SATURDAY - The season finale with Western Carolina was moved to a 12:30 pm start from its original 1:30 kickoff to avoid possible issues with darkness later that afternoon. Foster Stadium does not have lights and sunset for Lexington that day will be 5:03 pm. The gametime change was announced in September. 

SENIOR DAY AT FOSTER STADIUM – Fifteen seniors will be honored in pregame ceremonies prior to Saturday's Western Carolina game. The group has played a part in the resurgence of VMI football that has included the first conference championship in 43 years, first FCS playoff appearance in program history, national rankings for the first time since 1957, and back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1961-62. 

JACKSON HAS BIG DAY IN GREENVILLE – With a VMI receiving corps that was missing two top receivers in Jakob Herres and Leroy Thomas, senior wide receiver Michael Jackson stepped up and helped fill the void with a career day in Saturday's 37-31 loss at Furman. Jackson caught 13 passes for 177 yards and three touchdowns – all career highs. The 13 receptions on the day tied the fourth best mark in school history while the 177 yards receiving was the tenth most in a single game in VMI history. Jackson's three TDs marked the first time that has happened since Jakob Herres against Wofford on March 27, 2021.  Jackson now leads the team in all three receiving categories - receptions (51), yards (695), and receptions (8). 

RICE CONTINUES ACCURACY – Sophomore kicker Jerry Rice continued his outstanding season with a 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter against Furman making him 16 of 18 on the season including six field goals of 40 yards or longer. One week earlier at ETSU, Rice booted field goals of 48 and 37 yards. Rice is also 36 for 36 in extra points in 2021.    

A VMI Win over Western Carolina would ...
---Make VMI 5-0 at home for the first time since 1977
---Move VMI to the seven-win mark for the first time since 1977
---Be the first home win over Western Carolina since 1991

VMI RADIO NETWORK: WWZW – 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. 

MORGAN CONTINUES AIR QUEST – With 33 completions on a career-high 56 attempts for 415 yards and three touchdowns at Furman November 13, Seth Morgan produced his second 400-yard passing game this season – a feat that has only been attained six times in program history. His 427 yards total offense against the Paladins was the fifth most in a single game in program history. Morgan also moved past the 3,000-yard career passing threshold and now has 3,364 in just 18 games played. 

SNYDER HAS BIG DAY IN GREENVILLE – Junior linebacker Stone Snyder racked up 14 tackles at Furman November 13 for his sixth double digit tackle game of the season and 12th of his career. Snyder currently leads the SoCon in tackles with 111 total for 11.1 per game and is vtying to lead the league in tackles for the second straight season after topping the SoCon in the 2020-21 spring season with 11.0 per contest.

SACK ERUPTION – VMI posted a season high four sacks at Furman November 13 after entering the game with seven over the first nine games of 2021. Saturday's performance continued a string of sack success against Furman as the Keydets generated nine sacks against the Paladins last season. 

HERRES CLOSES IN ON ALL-TIME MARKS – With nine catches for 90 yards against ETSU November 6, senior wide receiver Jakob Herres now has 226 career catches - 8 behind all-time leader Aaron Sanders who had 234 between 2013-16. Herres also has 3006 career receiving yards which is 85 yards behind Mark Stock (1984-88) for the all-time #1 spot. Herres also has a 27-game reception streak and already holds the career mark for touchdown receptions with 26. 

CHART WATCH – Junior wide receiver Leroy Thomas caught six passes for 45 yards against ETSU now stands seventh all-time in career receptions with 127 which stands seventh all-time at VMI. Redshirt sophomore Seth Morgan posted his eighth 220-yard passing game (248 yards) against ETSU and is now tied with Dave Brown (1985-88) for fifth most in school history.

 
 
 


 
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Players Mentioned

Jakob Herres

#14 Jakob Herres

WR
6' 4"
Senior
Michael Jackson

#11 Michael Jackson

WR
6' 2"
Senior
Seth Morgan

#4 Seth Morgan

QB
6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
Jerry Rice

#93 Jerry Rice

K/P
5' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore
Stone Snyder

#5 Stone Snyder

LB
6' 3"
Junior
Leroy Thomas

#15 Leroy Thomas

WR
5' 11"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jakob Herres

#14 Jakob Herres

6' 4"
Senior
WR
Michael Jackson

#11 Michael Jackson

6' 2"
Senior
WR
Seth Morgan

#4 Seth Morgan

6' 3"
Redshirt Sophomore
QB
Jerry Rice

#93 Jerry Rice

5' 7"
Redshirt Sophomore
K/P
Stone Snyder

#5 Stone Snyder

6' 3"
Junior
LB
Leroy Thomas

#15 Leroy Thomas

5' 11"
Junior
WR