LEXINGTON, Va. – After facing the preseason No. 2 ETSU Bucs last week, the VMI Football team has another tough test this weekend, visiting nationally-ranked Chattanooga on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
 
VMI TOPPED BY PRESEASON NO. 2 ETSU – VMI was able to strike first against ETSU, before the Bucs jumped out to a 27-7 lead. Per usual, VMI fought until the end, getting two touchdowns from Leroy Thomas (receiving, rushing) to cut the deficit to 13, but a late fumble returned for a TD locked up the win for ETSU.
 
SCOUTING THE MOCS – The preseason favorite to win the SoCon, Chattanooga has lived up to the billing thus far, posting a 4-1 record with its lone loss coming at FCS Illinois. Because of their strong play at the FCS level, the Mocs are ranked No. 9 in the Coaches Poll and No. 10 in the Stats Perform Top 25. Chattanooga will also be fresh, coming off their bye week.
 
HOW THEY RANK – While the offense can't be overshadowed, the defense has put up strong numbers this season, ranking sixth in FCS in fourth down conversion defense (0.167), ninth in tackles for loss (7.8 per game) and 11^th in scoring defense (16.2). Chattanooga also ranks in the top 20 in punt return defense (14^th), team passing efficiency defense (15^th), team sacks (15^th, 3.2 per game) rushing defense (17^th, 108.4 ypg) and kickoff return defense (18^th, 15.67). On top of this, the Mocs are an extremely disciplined team, committing just 19 penalties on the season (3^rd, FCS), ranking 4^th in penalties per game 20^th in fewest penalty yards and 22^nd in fewest penalty yards per game (42.80).
 
Jay Person is averaging nearly two tackles per loss per game (6^th), with six sacks while preseason Defensive Player of the Year Devonnsha Maxwell has 5,5 tackles for loss, 3-5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. The ground game is the strength of the Chattanooga offense, as back Ailym Ford's eight total touchdowns rank 9^th among FCS players and his rushing yards per game 13^th (104.8). Preston Hutchinson does a good job at quarterback, averaging 8 yards per pass attempt (29^th), 13.45 passing yards per completion (21^st), with four rushing touchdowns on the year.
 
THE SERIES – Chattanooga has the all-time edge in the series, with a 17-9-1 record. On the road, VMI has gone 3-10-1, having last played at Finley Stadium in 2018. The Keydets enter Saturday riding a two-game win streak over the Mocs, winning a 37-34 overtime thriller in which Jerry Rice hit five field goals and Korey Bridy ran for 165 yards to knock off the No. 19 Chattanooga squad.
 
A VMI Win over UTC would ...
--Be just the 4^th Keydet victory in Chattanooga
--Be the third straight win in the series for VMI
--Give the Keydets their first win over a top 25 team since last year's victory against Chattanooga

NATIONAL NUMBERS – Defensively, Stone Snyder and Evan Eller continue to lead the way, ranking 8^th (10.6 tackles per game) and 14^th (10.0) among FCS players in tackles per game. Christian Dunn has gotten after the quarterback all season, averaging nearly a sack per game (0.80 – 24^th, FCS). While most known for his stats in the run game, senior Korey Bridy has been the go-to guy on kick returns all season, with his 222 total yards ranking 39^th nationally in that category.
 
STATS AMONG THE SOCON – Rookie Jahleel Porter and junior Alex Oliver have been a great tandem in the secondary, averaging a pass defensed a game, tied for 4^th among SoCon defensive backs. The Keydet defense is still holding strong, ranking fifth among SoCon teams in total defense, pass defense efficiency and interceptions, while pacing the league in fourth-down defense, holding teams to just 2-of-10 on fourth down opportunities. Chance Knox (3^rd) and Leroy Thomas (T-7^th) both rank in the top 10 in receptions per game (5.8, 4.0), while Knox is 8^th in receiving yards per game with 55.2. Defensively, Snyder is only second to ETSU's Chandler Martin in tackles with 54 thus far, while Evan Elller's 50 puts him in third. Christian Dunn's ability to get after the quarterback has him third with three sacks and is eighth in tackles for loss (5.0).
 
THOMAS FOR THE TD – Thomas had one of the best games of his career against ETSU, scoring both a rushing and receiving TD in the second half. Thomas gave VMI life late, hauling in a 21-yard touchdown before taking an end around in for the score to make the game a two possession contest. With 20 catches on the year, Thomas has at least two catches in every game this season.
 
CAREER DAYS – Thomas' counterparts had good outings as well, with Andre Cooper posting a career-high 4 catches and 53 yards and Jack Caussin had a career-high three receptions including a career-best 18-yard catch.
 
TWO-DEEP NOTES – With Collin Ironside and Seth Morgan out due to injury, freshman quarterback Collin Shannon will get his first collegiate start under center. Fellow freshman Wyatt Hagan – who spelled Morgan for a series last week – will serve as backup. Malachi Mills backs up John "Tommy" Inge at right guard while Jahleel Porter will take the field with Korey Bridy on kick returns.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS – Sending the 31^st field goal of his career through the uprights at Western Carolina, Jerry Rice is now tied for second place at VMI for career field goals, matching Wade Hawkins' 31. Rice is now fourth all-time at VMI with 75 PATs, passing Mike Harris, with Jeff Sexton sitting in third place (86).