LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI Football team concluded its 2025 season on Saturday afternoon at Foster Stadium, falling to Western Carolina
The Keydets wrap up the season 1-11 (0-8 SoCon) while Western Carolina finishes 7-5, (6-2 SoCon).
Key Stats
- Nana Utsey gets first career start, going 6-for-20 with 80 yards, an interception and 137 yards rushing
- Leo Boehling has 39 yards rushing, Luke Schalow totals 11 yards rushing
- Noah Grevious leads receivers with three catches, 58 yards
- Stephen Dean III leads tacklers with 15.0 stops, 1.0 TFL
- Amaje Parker, Kouri Crump finish with 8.0 tackles; Henry Berling collects 7.0
- Ben Shrewsbury hits a 57-yard punt, Jack Joyce connects on two field goals (2-for-3)
- Aslin Shipe has 60 yards returning
- Western Carolina totals 519 yards, VMI has 278 as teams combine for 17 penalties
- Taron Dickens has 330 yards, three touchdowns passing as six different players reach the end zone
Rocco's Remarks
On the Game
"Well, I mean, just big summarizing the game here a little bit, you know, offensively, we just could not sustain drives…It looked like early on we were going to hang in there and be able to move the football. Defensively, you know, we gave up a lot of yards. We didn't get beat deep. We did keep the ball in front of us. But I think we only had one possession where we didn't force a punt and we didn't maximize our offensive opportunities."
On the Season
"We're all very disappointed and frustrated with the record and the outcome of the season. But there's nothing to be ashamed of. I mean, these guys work so hard and we overcome so much. And no one really recognizes exactly the level of commitment it takes here and the effort that our players give…I think the big thing is to be thankful, be grateful as we head into this Thanksgiving holiday of the blessings that you do have. I think being part of this team is one of those things we all recognize as a blessing."
On the Seniors
"They impacted our culture and our connectivity to life on post and life of a cadet. They helped prioritize the importance of that relationship here at VMI. And I think that that was their biggest impact of leadership. It was a small group. There wasn't a whole lot of guys that, you know, played a lot and produced a lot other than the obvious names, so they couldn't really impact our performance on the field the way maybe a senior class might. But they certainly did in the culture of the program and in the DNA of our commitment to the mission of the Institute."
How it Happened
First Half
- Western Carolina opened up and worked inside the red zone, but the VMI defense held for a field goal before missing ensuing field goal attempt (0-3, 4:53 1st)
- The Catamounts bookended the first and second quarters with touchdowns to jump n front 17-0
- Utsey would lead VMI on an 18-play, 62-yard drive that ended with a field goal from Jack Joyce (3:32, 2nd)
- Western Carolina punched in one more score taking a 24-3 lead at the break
Second Half
- The two sides traded field goals early in the third, before a trick play led to a Catamount score (34-6, 3:49, 3rd)
- Utsey continued to pick up rushing yards, but Western Carolina added another score to take the game 48-6
