LEXINGTON, Va. – Coming of its bye week, the VMI Football Team opened Southern Conference play against Chattanooga on Saturday afternoon at Foster Stadium, outscoring the Mocs in the second half but coming up short 21-14.
Keeping the game a one-score contest down the stretch, VMI would get the ball back with 56 seconds left with an opportunity to tie, but was unable to move the ball down field.
"I think that our guys competed, and we gave ourselves a chance late in the game," said VMI Head Coach
Danny Rocco. "That's progress, but the most disappointing thing for me is that in the biggest moments of the game, we were not our best. They (Chattanooga) were the better football team in those moments and that's why they won the game."
What's Next
The Keydets now drop to 1-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while Chattanooga moves to 2-4 and 1-1 in the league. VMI will visit ETSU next week with kickoff slated for 3:30 p.m.
Key Stats
-
Collin Shannon throws for 177 yards, one interception
-
Noah Grevious has career-high 11 receptions, 123 yards;
Owen Sweeney leaves game with injury
- Chattanooga runs for 223 yards led by Durant's 144, VMI totals 45
- Total offense is 346-263 in favor of the Mocs
-
Luke Schalow has 16 yards rushing, 27 receiving
-
Stephen Dean III records career-high 15.0 tackles;
Amaje Parker and
Kouri Crump each have 10.0
-
Ben Shrewsbury punts four times for an average 53.5 yards per kick including two kicks inside the 20 and one inside the one-yard line; goes 2-for-3 on field goal attempts
Rocco's Remarks
On the Passing Game Success
"I give Collin credit. Collin has a good awareness of what we are trying to do out there. Owen Sweney went down. We lost him in the first quarter I think. Between Owen and
Noah Grevious, they are making a lot of plays out there and Collin is comfortable getting them the ball."
On ETSU
"I know they are good, I know they have a talented quarterback. This is a good league. So we'll start our film study tomorrow and start focusing on ETSU."
How it Happened
First Half
- The teams traded possessions to open the game, with Chattanooga striking first early in the second quarter (7-0, 14:52 2
nd quarter)
- The Keydets would answer with a 14-play, 59-yard drive capped by a 37-yard field goal from Shrewsbury (3-7, 8:10 in the 2
nd)
- After Shrewsbury pinned Chattanooga inside the one, Justus Durant ripped off a 52-yard rush, ultimately setting up an 8-yard score from Ryan Ingram (14-3, half)
Second Half
- After an interception by Shannon,
Anthony Allen picked off Camden Orth and took it 75-yards to the house, followed by a two-point conversion by
Leo Boehling (11-14, 6:14 3
rd quarter)
- Chattanooga answered on its next drive, jumping in front by 10 before Shrewsbury made it a one-score game at the 6:30 mark in the 4
th (14-21)
- VMI's defense held strong, getting the offense the ball back with 4:34 and :56 to play, but the Keydets could not take advantage
