2024 VMI Keydets football team

2024 VMI Keydets football
Conference	Southern Conference
Record	1–11 (1–7 SoCon)
Head coach	Danny Rocco (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Patrick Ashford (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Rich Yahner (2nd season)
Home stadium	Alumni Memorial Field
Seasons ←  2023 2025 →

2024 Southern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 8 Mercer $^		7	–	1					11	–	3
Western Carolina		6	–	2					7	–	5
Chattanooga		5	–	3					7	–	5
East Tennessee State		5	–	3					7	–	5
Samford		3	–	4					4	–	7
The Citadel		3	–	5					5	–	7
Wofford		3	–	5					5	–	7
Furman		2	–	5					3	–	8
VMI		1	–	7					1	–	11
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2024 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Keydets were coached by second-year head coach Danny Rocco and played at Alumni Memorial Field in Lexington, Virginia.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 29	7:00 p.m.	at No. 15 William & Mary *	Zable Stadium Williamsburg, VA (rivalry)	FloSports	L 7–41	8,096
September 7	1:30 p.m.	Bucknell *	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	ESPN+	L 28–35	6,295
September 14	3:30 p.m.	at Georgia Tech *	Bobby Dodd Stadium Atlanta, GA	ACCNX/ESPN+	L 7–59	31,729
September 21	1:30 p.m.	Norfolk State *	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	ESPN+	L 10–32	3,108
October 5	3:00 p.m.	at Samford	Pete Hanna Stadium Homewood, AL	ESPN+	L 3–27	3,617
October 12	1:30 p.m.	at Wofford	Gibbs Stadium Spartanburg, SC	ESPN+	L 16–31	4,248
October 19	1:30 p.m.	The Citadel	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA (Military Classic of the South)	ESPN+	L 10–13	8,277
October 26	4:00 p.m.	at No. 19 Chattanooga	Finley Stadium Chattanooga, TN	ESPN+	L 10–31	8,071
November 2	1:30 p.m.	Furman	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	ESPN+	W 21–17	4,012
November 9	1:30 p.m.	No. 10 Mercer	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	ESPN+	L 0–34	3,580
November 16	1:00 p.m.	at Western Carolina	Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium Cullowhee, NC	ESPN+	L 28–58	13,022
November 23	12:00 p.m.	East Tennessee State	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	ESPN+	L 9–16	3,825
*Non-conference game Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^{[1] [2]}

Game summaries

at No. 15 William & Mary (rivalry)

See also: 2024 William & Mary Tribe football team and VMI-William & Mary football rivalry

Game One – VMI Keydets (0–0) at No. 15 William & Mary Tribe (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Keydets	0	7	0	0	7
No. 15 Tribe	14	14	13	0	41

at Zable Stadium • Williamsburg, VA

• Date: Thursday August 29, 2024
• Game time: 7:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny, 86 °F (30 °C)
• Game attendance: 8,096
• Referee: Todd Bowman
• TV announcers (FloSports): TBD

Game information

First quarter (10:00) W&M – Bronson Yoder 1-yard run, Eric Bernstein kick (Drive: 11 plays, 69 yards, 5:00; William & Mary 7–0) (3:00) W&M – Malachi Imoh 1-yard run, Eric Bernstein kick (Drive: 6 plays, 66 yards, 2:46; William & Mary 14–0) Second quarter (7:25) W&M – Clayton Dobler 18-yard punt return, Eric Bernstein kick (William & Mary 21–0) (2:16) VMI – Hunter Rice 12-yard run, Caden Beck kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 5:09; William & Mary 21–7) (0:14) W&M – Hollis Mathis 4-yard run, Eric Bernstein kick (Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 2:02; William & Mary 28–7) Third quarter (9:55) W&M – Hollis Mathis 26-yard pass from Darius Wilson, Eric Bernstein kick (Drive: 5 plays, 61 yards, 2:35; William & Mary 35–7) (2:59) W&M – Sean McElwain 1-yard pass from Darius Wilson (Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 5:20; William & Mary 41–7) Fourth quarter No scoring

Statistics	VMI	W&M
First downs	14	21
Total yards	241	446
Rushing yards	145	205
Passing yards	96	241
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	12–25–2	15–20–0
Time of possession	32:04	27:56

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
VMI	Passing	Collin Shannon	8/19, 62 yards, INT
	Rushing	Hunter Rice	17 carries, 81 yards, TD
	Receiving	Hunter Rice	1 reception, 29 yards
William & Mary	Passing	Darius Wilson	11/15, 190 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Bronson Yoder	10 carries, 54 yards, TD
	Receiving	Hollis Mathis	2 receptions, 71 yards, TD

vs. Bucknell

See also: 2024 Bucknell Bison football team

Game Two – Bucknell Bison (0–1) vs VMI Keydets (0–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	7	7	14	7	35
Keydets	7	7	0	14	28

at Alumni Memorial Field, Lexington, Virginia

• Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
• Game time: 1:30 PM
• Game weather: Sunny, 73 °F (23 °C)
• Game attendance: 6,295
• Referee: Brian Hilpisch
• TV: ESPN+

Game information

First quarter (8:04) VMI – Asa Locks 48-yard interception, Caden Beck kick (VMI 7–0) (2:29) BUC – TJ Cadden 40-yard punt return, Matt Schearer kick (Tied 7–7) Second quarter (9:22) BUC – Paul Neel 2-yard run, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 6:04; Bucknell 14–7) (4:55) VMI – Hunter Rice 58-yard run, Caden Beck kick (Drive: 4 plays, 69 yards, 1:03; Tied 14–14) Third quarter (11:35) BUC – Josh Gary 10-yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 8 plays, 81 yards, 3:25; Bucknell 21–14) (6:35) BUC – Josh Gary 41-yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 5 plays, 61 yards, 2:20; Bucknell 28–14) Fourth quarter (12:14) BUC – TJ Cadden 35-yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 7 plays, 79 yards, 3:23; Bucknell 35–14) (8:13) VMI – Hunter Rice 2-yard run, Caden Beck kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:01; Bucknell 35–21) (0:29) VMI – Ryan von Brandt 17-yard pass from Chandler Wilson, Caden Beck kick (Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 2:25; Bucknell 35–28)

Statistics	BUCK	VMI
First downs	22	20
Total yards	451	378
Rushing yards	111	212
Passing yards	340	166
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	28–37–1	24–37–1
Time of possession	29:14	30:46

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bucknell	Passing	Ralph Rucker IV	28/37, 340 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Paul Neel	8 carries, 37 yards, TD
	Receiving	Eric Weatherly	9 receptions, 105 yards
VMI	Passing	Collin Shannon	21/32, 129 yards, INT
	Rushing	Hunter Rice	18 carries, 166 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Ivan Thorpe	6 receptions, 47 yards

at Georgia Tech (FBS)

See also: 2024 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

Game Three – VMI Keydets (0–2) vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (FBS) (2–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Keydets	0	0	0	7	7
Yellow Jackets (FBS)	17	21	14	7	59

at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

• Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
• Game time: 3:30 PM
• Game weather: Rain, 76 °F (24 °C)
• Game attendance: 31,729
• Referee: Tim Hedgepeth
• TV announcers (ACCNX): Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Forrest Conoly (analyst)

Game information

First quarter (7:39) GT − Aidan Birr 28-yard field goal ((Drive: 8 plays, 50 yards, 2:14; Georgia Tech 3-0) (4:52) GT – Malik Rutherford 35-yard pass from Haynes King, Aidan Birr kick (Drive: 2 plays, 50 yards, 0:41; Georgia Tech 10-0) (0:08) GT – Zach Pyron 1-yard run, Aidan Birr kick (Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 3:13; Georgia Tech 17-0) Second quarter (11:04) GT – Zach Pyron 1-yard run, Aidan Birr kick (Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 2:41; Georgia Tech 24-0) (1:49) GT – Eric Singleton Jr. 14-yard pass from Haynes King, Aidan Birr kick (Drive: 4 plays, 42 yards, 1:10; Georgia Tech 31-0) (0:30) GT – Avery Boyd 14-yard pass from Haynes King, Aidan Birr kick (Drive: 5 plays, 73 yards, 0:53; Georgia Tech 38-0) Third quarter (7:38) GT – Trelain Maddox 3-yard run, Aidan Birr kick (Drive: 5 plays, 60 yards, 2:17; Georgia Tech 45-0) (1:32) GT – Leo Blackburn 24-yard pass from Zach Pyron, Aidan Birr kick (Drive: 3 plays, 40 yards, 1:19; Georgia Tech 52-0) Fourth quarter (6:37) VMI – Ethen Horne 2-yard pass from Brady Hammonds, Caden Beck kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 9:55; Georgia Tech 52-7) (4:29) GT – Anthony Carrie 2-yard run, Aidan Birr kick (Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:05; Georgia Tech 59-7)

Statistics	VMI	GT
First downs	5	30
Total yards	104	572
Rushing yards	12	190
Passing yards	92	382
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	13-19-0	23-32-0
Time of possession	30:16	24:44

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
VMI	Passing	Chandler Wilson	10/15, 51 yards
	Rushing	JoJo Crump	5 rushes, 16 yards
	Receiving	Owen Sweeney	1 reception, 34 yards
Georgia Tech	Passing	Haynes King	17/22, 275 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Trelain Maddox	9 rushes, 53 yards, TD
	Receiving	Eric Singleton Jr.	5 receptions, 102 yards, TD

vs. Norfolk State

See also: 2024 Norfolk State Spartans football team

Game Four – Norfolk State Spartans (1–2) vs VMI Keydets (0–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	0	0	0	0	0
Keydets	0	0	0	0	0

at Alumni Memorial Field, Lexington, Virginia

• Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
• Game time: 1:30 PM
• TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NORF	VMI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Norfolk State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
VMI	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Samford

See also: 2024 Samford Bulldogs football team

Game Five – VMI Keydets (0–4) vs Samford Bulldogs (1–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Keydets	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0

at Pete Hanna Stadium, Homewood, Alabama

• Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
• Game time: 3:00 PM
• TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	VMI	SAM
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
VMI	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Samford	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Wofford

See also: 2024 Wofford Terriers football team

Game Six – VMI Keydets (0–5) vs Wofford Terriers (2–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Keydets	0	0	0	0	0
Terriers	0	0	0	0	0

at Gibbs Stadium, Spartanburg, South Carolina

• Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
• Game time: 1:30 PM
• TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	VMI	WOF
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
VMI	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Wofford	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

The Citadel (Military Classic of the South)

See also: 2024 The Citadel Bulldogs football team and Military Classic of the South

Game Seven – The Citadel Bulldogs (0–0) at VMI Keydets (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0
Keydets	0	0	0	0	0

at Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA

• Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
• Game time: 1:30 p.m.
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	CIT	VMI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
The Citadel	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
VMI	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at No. 19 Chattanooga

See also: 2024 Chattanooga Mocs football team

Game Eight – VMI Keydets (0–7) at No. 19 Chattanooga Mocs (4–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Keydets	0	0	0	0	0
No. 19 Mocs	0	0	0	0	0

at Finley Stadium • Chattanooga, TN

• Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
• Game time: 4:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	VMI	UTC
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
VMI	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Chattanooga	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Furman

See also: 2024 Furman Paladins football team

Game Nine – Furman Paladins (2–5) vs VMI Keydets (0–8) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Paladins	7	3	7	0	17
Keydets	7	14	0	0	21

at Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA

• Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
• Game time: 1:30 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FUR	VMI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Furman	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
VMI	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

No. 10 Mercer

See also: 2024 Mercer Bears football team

Game Ten – No. 10 Mercer Bears (8–1) vs VMI Keydets (1–8) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 10 Bears	0	0	0	0	0
Keydets	0	0	0	0	0

at Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA

• Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
• Game time: 1:30 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MER	VMI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mercer	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
VMI	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Western Carolina

See also: 2024 Western Carolina Catamounts football team

Game Eleven – VMI Keydets (1–9) vs Western Carolina Catamounts (5–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Keydets	0	0	0	0	0
Catamounts	0	0	0	0	0

at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

• Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	VMI	WCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
VMI	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

East Tennessee State

See also: 2024 East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team

Game Twelve – East Tennessee State Buccaneers (6–5) vs VMI Keydets (1–10) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Buccaneers	3	10	3	0	16
Keydets	3	0	3	3	9

at Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA

• Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 51 °F (11 °C) • Wind: W 16 mph
• Game attendance: 3,825
• Referee: Brian Holland
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Wade Branner, Chip Tarkenton, Guerin Austin

Game information

First quarter (11:28) VMI - Caden Beck 32-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 3:27; VMI 3-0) (6:01) ETSU - Ewan Johnson 22-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 50 yards, 2:10; Tied 3-3) Second quarter (4:39) ETSU - Bryson Irby 1-yard run, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 6 plays, 17 yards, 2:26; East Tennessee State 10-3) (0:00) ETSU - Ewan Johnson 20-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 54 yards, 0:52; East Tennessee State 13-3) Third quarter (10:20) ETSU - Ewan Johnson 40-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 49 yards, 4:33; East Tennesse State 16-3) (4:15) VMI - Caden Beck 48-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 48 yards, 6:05; East Tennessee State 16-6) Fourth quarter (12:08) VMI - Caden Beck 48-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 36 yards, 4:20; East Tennessee State 16-9)

Statistics	ETSU	VMI
First downs	19	12
Total yards	314	264
Rushing yards	195	202
Passing yards	119	62
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15-25-1	12-28-0
Time of possession	29:21	30:39

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
East Tennessee State	Passing	Baylor Hayes	15-25, 119 yards, INT
	Rushing	Devontae Houston	18 carries, 104 yards
	Receiving	Karim Page	4 receptions, 104 yards
VMI	Passing	JoJo Crump	10-28, 62 yards
	Rushing	JoJo Crump	11 carries, 126 yards
	Receiving	Morgan McPhaul	2 receptions, 19 yards

References

1. "VMI Keydets 2024 football schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
2. "VMI announces 2024 Football Schedule". Virginia Military Institute Athletics. February 5, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.