LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI Football Team had its home opener on Saturday, taking an early lead against Bucknell before falling to the Bison 35-28.
"Defensively we didn't play a very good game," said Head Coach Danny Rocco. "We gave them a lot of different looks and to their credit, Bucknell sorted things out. Their quarterback is a good player. He distributed the ball well, found the open man and we didn't really tackle well. And that was one of the biggest things defensively that was most frustrating, our inability to tackle."
Key Stats
- Hunter Rice rumbles for 166 yards and two touchdowns; 7th career multi-score game
- Bucknell outgains VMI 451-378, including 340 yards passing from Ralph Rucker IV
- TJ Cadden returns punt, records touchdown reception in win; Josh Gary has two receiving touchdowns
- Collin Shannon goes 21-for-32, 129 yards and an interception
- Nine Keydets record a reception, led by Ivan Thorpe's six catches for 47 yards
- Kouri Crump has a career-best 15.0 tackles; Asa Locks takes his first career interception to the house (5.0 tackles)
- Shamus Jones, Eric Rankin each total 9.0 stops
What's Next
The Keydets (0-2) have their annual game with an FBS opponent next week, visiting Georgia Tech. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
Rocco's Remarks
On how the Game Unfolded
"Our opportunities were early on. Asa Locks intercepts a pass for a touchdown. We got momentum, we feel good, we have confidence, but our offense couldn't move the ball. We moved the ball in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late."
On the Road Ahead
"The season is young. The interesting thing about our schedule is our four non-conference games are on the front end. Then there's a bye and we go to conference play. The reality is our conference schedule is out in front of us. We have this four-game season, then the opportunity to rev it back up once we get into conference play."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
Neither team could get into a rhythm early, but it was the VMI defense who made the first move, as rookie Asa Locks took an interception to the house to give VMI the lead.
Bucknell would tie the game up at the end of the first with a punt return for a touchdown. After the Bison jumped in front 14-7, Rice took a Wildcat handoff 58 yards for the score as the teams went into the break knotted up at 14 apiece.
Second Half
Bucknell stole the momentum right back to open the half with an 8-play, 81-yard drive. Later in the quarter, Rucker hit Josh Gary on 4th and 2 for his second touchdown of the afternoon to make the score 28-14. In the fourth, TJ Cadden, who returned a punt earlier for a touchdown, hauled in a 35-yarder as the Bison extended its advantage. The Keydets would fight back, however, as Shannon hit Thorpe for an 18-yard gain that would have a pass interference tacked on, setting up Rice's second score of the day. VMI would get the ball one last time with 2:54 to play, as Chandler Wilson came in for the injured Shannon, finding Ryan Von Brandt for his first career touchdown to make it a one-score game. The Keydets could not convert the ensuing onsides attempt, and the Bison ran the clock out for the win.
