WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The 2024 VMI Football season got underway on Thursday night in Williamsburg, as the host No. 15/16 William & Mary would take the opener 41-7.
The Tribe, who were ranked 15th in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Poll and 16th in the AFCA Preseason Poll, lived up to the billing, totaling 446 yards and three scores on the ground.
"This was a tough one," said VMI Head Coach Danny Rocco. "But we need to get ready to come back home and play Bucknell. Holistically, I like this group, I like this team, I like these young men and I expect us to play a lot better next week."
Key Stats
- William & Mary outgains VMI 446-241 in total yards
- Tribe total three rushing touchdowns (Yoder, Imoh, Mathis), block a punt for a touchdown
- Hunter Rice leads the way with 126 total yards and a touchdown
- Luke Schalow totals eight rushes for 30 yards
- Collin Shannon goes 8-for-19, 62 yards and an interception, 10 Keydets record a catch
- Tahj Summey has 9.0 tackles and two break ups
- Shamus Jones (forced fumble), Stephen Dean III record 8.0 tackles; Noel Innocent, Kouri Crump record 7.0
What's Next
The Keydets (0-1) return home and hope to capitalize on a couple of extra days rest, hosting Bucknell next Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Catching up with Coach (Rocco)
On the Tribe
"I feel like this is a really good William & Mary Team. I think they are going to find themselves in a really good position here as they head into the heart of the season and the later months of November."
On the Extra Rest
"We'll see. On paper that feels good. Bucknell plays Navy Saturday. We'll have a chance to heal up a little bit and get ourselves a head start on the game plan. We're at home, so that's something that excites us. They beat us last year at their place and they played really well, so I think there are a lot of reasons for us to be highly motivated."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
William & Mary wasted no time getting on the board, taking the opening drive 69 yards for a score just five minutes in. The Keydets would move into Tribe territory on their first possession, but fail to convert a fourth-down try, leading to a six play, 66-yard scoring drive for William & Mary. Special Teams would come into play, as the Tribe would block a punt and run it in for the score.
VMI responded, as Shannon hit Rice on a screen pass that moved VMI into Tribe territory, as Rice punched in the first score of the season just a few plays later with a 12-yard touchdown run.
William & Mary would respond just before the half, as Darius Wilson found an open Damian Harris for a 45-yard gain, setting up another score just before the break (28-7).
Second Half
Rice would open the second with four consecutive runs as the Keydets went for it on fourth, but came up short. Much like the first half, William & Mary capitalized on the opportunity, registering another opening-drive touchdown (35-7). The Tribe would tack on one more score in the fourth before ultimately taking the contest 41-7.
