LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Football hit the Foster Stadium turf Saturday morning for the first time since winning the SoCon football championship last April, and head coach Scott Wachenheim was pleased with the two-hour practice that incorporated live scrimmage elements.

"I like the way our team ran around and did some good solid tackling," said Wachenheim. "We had some really good hardnose running and I think we'll improve from watching the tape and the work we did today."

The scrimmage incorporated several specific scenarios including third-down conversions, goal line offense and defense, and special teams.

"We had to practice some things that had to be practiced live today – short-yardage, goal-line, four- minute offense. We have one more scrimmage that we'll have coming out to work on other situations. There's no way to practice goal line or short yardage without doing it live and I thought there were a lot of good lessons to be learned for our football team."

Wachenheim noted several performances, especially among freshmen, that caught his eye on Saturday morning.



"I liked the way Hunter Rice today ran downhill. I thought he had good vision and had a good day out here and stepped up and made some plays. Kaleb Washington, another freshman, has been eye-opening at wide receiver and making solid plays for us as well. I think our defense is improving every day and there are some really good young linebackers that are stepping up each practice especially Daryl Overton. Another freshman in the secondary, Noel Innocent from Colonial Forge, is really showing some bright spots."

Washington, a freshman wide receiver out of Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte, N.C. turned in one of the top plays of the scrimmage by hauling in a 51-yard TD strike down the left sideline from quarterback Seth Morgan.

Other offensive highlights included a 31-yard rip of the middle for a touchdown by sophomore running back Rashaad Raymond on a third-and-one short yardage snap.

The defensive turned in several top plays as well including an interception that was returned 14 yards by sophomore defensive back Austin White.

As with most college teams in the region, high heat temperatures have been a practice factor that coaches have had to deal with throughout August camp.

"It was really hot yesterday, today wasn't bad. Like every team we have some conditioning to do, but we have three weeks before we play and I'm confident that our players will be ready. The focus for next week is to keep moving forward just like it has been the whole training camp. We'll make some depth chart decisions after today's scrimmage and look at things and just keep adding the install for offense and defense and then get on to prepare for Davidson."

Saturday morning practice was attended by VMI all-time leader rusher Thomas Haskins '97 who addressed the team Friday night and worked with the Keydet running backs through Saturday drills. Haskins rushed for 5,349 career yards from 1993-96 and was then the #1 all-time rusher in I-AA (FCS) at end of his college career. Haskins later went on to a successful CFL career with the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Elks. 

VMI, ranked 17^th in the Stats Perform FCS preseason poll, opens the 2021 fall season on September 4 in Lexington against the Wildcats coached by former Washington & Lee head coach Scott Abell. Season and individual tickets are available at vmitickets.com or by calling 540-464-7266.