LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI Keydet Football Team will wrap up the 2024 season Saturday at home, kicking off against ETSU at noon from Foster Stadium.
SENIOR DAY/TICKETS
Prior to the game, VMI will honor its 17 seniors along with its fifth-quarter players who returned for the 2024 season.
VMI will also wear its grey uniforms, which were debuted in 2022 and worn once a year. Additionally, for the first time, VMI will have the word "Keydets" branded on the sides of their helmets instead of the VMI logo.
"This the last game of the season, last game for the seniors," said Head Coach Danny Rocco. "It's a really quality group of young men that are committed to the Institute, the team and each other, so this game is dedicated to the senior class. Our performance and effort is dedicated to this group and those that are potentially playing the last game of their careers."
How to Follow
ESPN+ / Radio - 96.7 FM 3WZ / Live Stats / SoCon Notes
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VMI Keydets (1-10, 1-6 SoCon)
Roster / Schedule / Last Week – L, 28-58 @WCU/ Stats / Notes
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ETSU Bucs (6-5, 4-3 SoCon)
Roster / Schedule / Last Week – L, 21-24 vs. Furman / Stats / Notes
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LAST TIME OUT
While VMI outscored Western Carolina in two of the four quarters, the second quarter was the tale of the game on Saturday, as the Catamounts blanked the Keydets 35-0 and took all the control of the game they would need. Hunter Rice had perhaps his strongest game of the season with 109 yards and two rushing touchdowns, while JoJo Crump had 138 yards and a passing touchdown in the second half.
SCOUTING THE BUCS
ETSU's roster features 42 transfers on this year's squad as Tre Lamb brough many over from Gardner-Webb after the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. Stopping the run (102.2 ypg) and rushing the quarterback (3.18 sacks per game) have been strengths of the Bucs, ranking fourth at the FCS level in both of those categories, with their total defense of 314.0 ranking 18th. Turnovers have haunted ETSU this year, giving opposing teams the ball 24 times on the year. Five quarterbacks have appeared in nine or more games, with Jaylen King (1,536 yards, 9 TDs) and Gino English (761 yards, 7 TDs) getting the bulk of the time under center.
SERIES HISTORY
Although ETSU has the edge (18-11) it's been a competitive series as VMI has won seven of 15 matchups in Lexington. Last year in Johnson City, the game came down to the last play as the Bucs moved inside the 10-yard line but the Keydet defense would survive four straight pass attempts to clinch the game 31-24.
