LEXINGTON, Va. – Coming off a 27-24
upset of the No. 14 Western Carolina Catamounts, VMI Football's
Evan Eller and
Hunter Rice were named the Southern Conference Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week on Monday.
The Lord Botetourt teammates played major roles in VMI's season-ending win on Saturday, as Eller had a game-high 16.0 tackles and Rice a career-high four touchdowns.
A senior, Eller capped off his Keydet career in a big way, leading VMI with a game-high 16.0 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception as the Keydets took down Western Carolina Saturday. Eller – whose interception in the third quarter was the first of his four-year career – helped the defense come up with one last stop to secure the victory over the Catamounts (27-24). Eller finishes the season second in the conference in tackles and 16
th in the country in that category, amassing 235 tackles during his time in a Keydet uniform.
Much like he has been all year, Rice was an absolute force Saturday, rumbling for 138 yards and a career-high four touchdowns as the Keydets took down No. 14 Western Carolina. Rice punched in a seven-yarder to get VMI on the board in the second quarter, but the second half is when the junior took over, scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter including a 63-yard scamper up the middle. Rice's fourth touchdown of the day – which gives him a league-best 14 on the season – proved to be the difference maker as VMI held on for a three-point win (27-24). Rice's 14 touchdowns on the ground currently ranks fourth in all of FCS Football.
To view the SoCon release, visit
soconsports.com/sports/football.
