VMI jumped out to a 20-0 lead and never looked back, en route to a 48-6 win over the Lock Haven Bald Eagles in the season opener for both teams, played Saturday afternoon at Foster Stadium in Lexington.
The Keydets (1-0) won their sixth consecutive season opener behind 304 yards passing between three different quarterbacks. The passing total was more than 100 yards better than any game of 2009’s best, 141 yards through the air against Richmond. Lock Haven (0-1) was held to 69 yards of total offense in the second half, and gained just five first downs over the last two quarters.
The Keydets got on the board on their opening drive, driving for a 38-yard field goal by Jeff Sexton. The 10-play drive covered just 39 yards, but ate up 4:56 as only one play gained over six yards, that play being a 16-yard third down pass from starting quarterback Cameron Jones to tight end Josh Favaro.
After VMI took the 3-0 lead, Lock Haven was able to gain a first down, but was forced to punt shortly thereafter. The snap went over the punter’s head and led to a turnover on downs, giving the Keydets possession at the LHU 30. Four plays later, Sexton booted through his second field goal of the opening quarter, a career-long 44-yard try, putting VMI up 6-0 with 3:29 left in the opening quarter. That remained the score at the conclusion of the period, a quarter marred by some nine penalties between the clubs.
VMI got off to a strong start in the second quarter, as quarterback Jones found Gabe Itoka for a 25-yard completion, giving the Keydets a first down at the visitors’ 30. From there, the Keydets would lose six yards and send Sexton out for a 52-yard try which came up short, giving the Bald Eagles solid field position. After picking up a first down on a personal foul, Lock Haven notched a 26-yard scamper down to the Keydet 10. The VMI defense stiffened and forced Lock Haven into a fourth-and-goal from the 27, which went for naught and the score remained 6-0, VMI.
On the resultant drive, the Keydets cashed in for their first touchdown of 2010. After Cameron Jones hooked up with Aaron Lewis for 20 yards, VMI took advantage of two Lock Haven penalties to grab another 25 yards. Four plays later, Julian Bowers rushed over the left side of the line for a four-yard touchdown. After Sexton tacked on the extra point, VMI had a 13-0 cushion.
After a three-and-out, VMI would add to its lead once again. With freshman Adam Morgan at quarterback, VMI went 51 yards in nine plays over just 1:53 on the game clock, and Morgan ended the drive with a fade pass to T.J. Talley in the back of the endzone. Talley went over the Bald Eagle defender and snared the pass, and the Keydets took a 20-0 lead. Lock Haven would respond in the final 1:33, going 61 yards in just 1:17 and getting on the board with a 20-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was blocked, but Lock Haven had cut the halftime deficit to 20-6 despite nine penalties.
A three-and-out on LHU’s opening drive of the second half gave VMI quality field position, and the Keydets cashed in with a quick five-play drive. Bowers capped the brief effort with his second touchdown of the game, a one-yard run up the middle, pushing VMI to a 27-6 advantage.
Moments later, Michael Rainey-Wiles took a Lock Haven punt 52 yards down the near sideline for a touchdown, giving the Keydets a 34-6 edge with 9:44 left in the third quarter. The special teams touchdown was VMI’s first since last season’s Gardner-Webb game, when Tim Maypray returned a punt a VMI-record 86 yards.
Once again, the VMI defense forced another three-and-out series, giving their team the ball at their own 49. On third down, Jones found Gabe Itoka to the quarterback’s right and hit him with a 19-yard pass. A 15-yard face mask penalty was tacked on at the end of the play, moving VMI to the Lock Haven 17. Two plays later, Jones found Trent White on a crossing pattern in the left corner of the end zone, and Sexton’s point after made it 41-6, VMI, just halfway through the third quarter.
Lock Haven came back with its longest drive of the day, a 12-play, 47-yard try that ate up 6:45 on the game clock, but the push stalled out at the VMI 25, giving the ball back to the Keydets once again.
After an exchange of punts, Morgan led the Keydets on a six-play, 62-yard drive that ended with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Itoka, capping the scoring with 8:49 to play in the contest. Freshman Eric Kordenbrock saw at quarterback for VMI late in the game, but neither squad could score the rest of the way.
VMI was led by several players on the day, as Jones threw for a career-high 156 yards while Morgan added 120. Nine different Keydets had receptions, and on the ground, Bowers had two touchdown runs. Defensively, Byron Allen had nine tackles to pace VMI, while Damiso Alexander had 2.5 tackles-for-loss, just missing his career high (3.0). Alexander’s 2.5 stops behind the line were part of a strong Keydet defensive effort, as VMI had 9.0 tackles-for-loss on the day, accounting for a loss of 60 yards for Lock Haven.
Jarryd Burkett completed 11 of 19 passes for 1001 yards and a touchdown for the Bald Eagles.
VMI football will return to action Saturday, Sept. 11, as the Keydets travel to Williamsburg, Va. to take on #4 William & Mary. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at [email protected].
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