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VMI hangs tough with #6 Chattanooga, falls 33-27

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vmi footballThe VMI Keydets nearly pulled off the upset, but the #6-ranked Chattanooga Mocs converted on a fourth down in the waning moments to seal a dramatic 33-27 win in SoCon football action Saturday afternoon at VMI’s Foster Stadium.

The Keydets (1-6, 0-3 SoCon) trailed by 12 as UTC (5-1, 3-0) capped a run of 23 unanswered points with a fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown. At the 6:14 mark, however, Al Cobb found Chad Jacob for a touchdown that got VMI within 33-27.

The Mocs then marched the ball to the VMI 33, where they faced a fourth and six with 1:45 remaining and the Keydets out of timeouts. Quarterback Jacob Huesman found wideout Alphonso Stewart for a 17-yard completion at the left hash mark, giving the visitors a first down and allowing UTC to run out the clock.

VMI stayed in the ball game despite trailing 38:07 to 21:53 in time of possession. The Keydets allowed 261 yards on the ground and were outgained 490-262, but three defensive stands inside the 15-yard line forced UTC field goals in the second and third quarters. In contrast, VMI scored touchdowns on each of its scoring drives.

Chattanooga, the highest-ranked team VMI had played in Lexington since 2011, jumped ahead on an early Henrique Ribeiro. It would be the first of four field goals for the UTC kicker, but VMI answered on its ensuing drive. An 11-play, 86-yard effort was capped with a Cobb to Sam Patterson two-yard fade pass to the back left corner of the endzone, putting the home team ahead, 7-3.

That was the score at the end of the first quarter, but the Mocs wrapped up a first quarter drive early in the second. A 19-yard Huesman to James Stovall connection gave the visitors a 10-7 lead just two plays in to the second period.

Once again, VMI came right back. A 69-yard Cobb to Dontae Mauck connection gave the Keydets the lead again, 14-10. The Mocs’ next play from scrimmage was picked off by Caleb Furlow and returned to the UTC 6, where Cobb ran it in for a touchdown and a 21-10 VMI advantage with 12:45 left in the half.

Chattanooga rallied yet again, however, as after an exchange of punts, Huesman ran the ball in from 18 yard out on a quarterbackkeeper to cut it to 21-17. Ribeiro added a field goal in the waning seconds to account for the halftime score, 21-20.

The UTC defense held VMI to just one yard from scrimmage in the third quarter, and another Ribeiro field goal gave the Mocs a 23-21 lead headed into the final period. He would add another early in the fourth, and VMI took over with 13:50 to go. Sema’je Kendall intercepted Cobb’s first pass of the drive and returned it 28 yards for a score, giving the Mocs a 33-21 lead and a 23-point swing in less than two quarters.

That set the stage for VMI’s final drive, an 11-play, 77-yard effort that Jacob capped with a touchdown grab, but Huesman’s fourth down conversion sealed the win.

Greg Sanders posted a career-high 13 tackles to lead the Keydet defense, while UTC, who entered the game with 17 sacks, posted five on the day. Cobb finished 15 of 25 for 190 yards and three scores, while Huesman was 21 of 33 for 219 yards and a single touchdown.

VMI football will return to action Saturday, taking on Mercer in Macon, Ga. Action in the SoCon matchup gets underway at 3 p.m.

QUOTES – VMI Head Coach Scott Wachenheim

“We fought hard and played a tough, four-quarter game. I’m very proud of the effort of our team. I thought third downs were the difference on offense. We didn’t convert, they did. They were able to have long possessions and keep our defense on the field. We were more hit and miss with big plays, but today was a great effort in offense, defense and the kicking game.”

“They went on a long drive to start the second half and kicked the field goal, but we went three and out and they were back out there again and the third quarter’s over before you even know it. But we still hung in there.”

“The pick-six was tough, but I was very proud of the way Al Cobb came back from that and took us down the field for a scoring drive and touchdown to make it a one-score game. With six minutes left to go, our defense was playing well. We decided to squib kick it and they ran the clock out on offense. They are a good football team and very well coached by Coach Huesman. Defensively, we didn’t give them anything easy and we made them work for every yard.”

“Derrick Ziglar played hard, ran hard and did a good job in pass protection.”

“I told the team we have four games left and let’s just take these last games as if we’re 0-0 each week, continue to work hard and improve.”

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