LEXINGTON, Va. – Closing out non-conference play, the VMI Football Team returns home after a month away as it hosts Chattanooga in its SoCon opener on Saturday. The Keydets most recently fell at Richmond (38-14) before having a September bye.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS/WHITE OUT
Saturday's game will be the Breast Cancer Awareness game, along with a "White Out." To commemorate, there will be a pink ribbon painted on the field, wristbands will be given away and the cadets will wear pins on their uniforms. Additionally, there will be an in-stadium tribute in the first quarter.
THE SERIES
- Chattanooga has historically owned the series with a record of 20-9-1 overall
- The Keydets have lost three straight, but nearly pulled an upset over the ranked Mocs in 2023 (L, 23-24)
- VMI's last win in the series came in 2021 at home (37-34, overtime)
LAST TIME OUT
- Richmond tops VMI 38-14 in weather-delayed game; game interrupted for nearly 3.5 hours before resumption
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Owen Sweeney records his second multi-touchdown game of the season, finds the end zone for the sixth time this season and fourth consecutive game (4 catches, 106 yards, 2 TDs)
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Collin Shannon goes 16-for-34, 198 yards, two touchdowns and an interception
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Malik McNeely has five catches for 44 yards
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EJ Wilborne collects career-high 13.0 tackles,
Stephen Dean III has 8.0 tackles and a TFL
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Kouri Crump has 3.0 tackles and a forced fumble
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Ben Shrewsbury punts nine times for an average of 46.1 yards per kick, hitting four 50-plus yarders
MOCS MINUTE
- Chattanooga was selected to finish second in the SoCon Preseason Poll and has faced stiff competition to start, losing at Memphis, at #17 Tennessee Tech and at #3 Tarleton State.
- The Mocs are coached by Rusty Wright who is in his seventh season at Chattanooga
- Chattanooga had its first SoCon matchup last weekend, falling to The Citadel 28-10
- The Citadel's rushing attack proved to be trouble for the Mocs, as the Bulldogs racked up 336 yards on the ground, had three rushing touchdowns and won the time of possession battle 36-24
- Teams have punished the Mocs when they get into the red zone, as they are ranked 105
th nationally in red zone defense, allowing 34.0 points per game
- Chattanooga is -1.0 in the turnover margin having lost seven thus far
- Quarterback Camden Orth has 775 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions this season
- Markell Quick and A.J. Little are factors in the kick return game, as Quick averages 28.7 yards per return and little has taken a punt to the house
- Defensively, Kam Baah-Slay leads the SoCon with 5.40 solo tackles per game (16
th in FCS)
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