2025 VMI Keydets football team

Last updated

2025 VMI Keydets football
VMI Keydets logo.svg
Conference Southern Conference
Record1–6 (0–3 SoCon)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorA. J. Hampton (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorRich Yahner (3rd season)
Home stadium Alumni Memorial Field
Seasons
  2024
2026 
2025 Southern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 20 Mercer  4 0   5 1  
Western Carolina  4 0   5 3  
Chattanooga  2 1   3 4  
The Citadel  2 2   3 4  
Furman  2 2   4 3  
Wofford  1 2   2 5  
East Tennessee State  1 3   3 5  
Samford  1 4   1 6  
VMI  0 3   1 6  
As of October 19, 2025
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 VMI Keydets football team represent the Virginia Military Institute as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Keydets are led by third-year head coach Danny Rocco and play at the Alumni Memorial Field in Lexington, Virginia.

Contents

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 3012:00 p.m.at Navy * CBSSN L 7–5230,014
September 61:30 p.m. Ferrum * ESPN+ W 42–74,924
September 133:30 p.m.at Bucknell *ESPN+L 28–352,058
September 202:00 p.m.at Richmond *ESPN+L 14–387,244
October 41:30 p.m. Chattanooga
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
ESPN+L 14–213,865
October 113:30 p.m.at East Tennessee State ESPN+L 10–457,953
October 181:30 p.m. Samford
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
ESPN+L 22–245,294
October 253:00 p.m.at Mercer ESPN+
November 12:00 p.m.at The Citadel ESPN+
November 81:30 p.m. Wofford
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
ESPN+
November 151:00 p.m.at Furman ESPN+
November 2212:00 p.m. Western Carolina
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
ESPN+

[1] [2]

Game summaries

at Navy (FBS)

VMI Keydets (0–0) at Navy Midshipmen (FBS) (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Keydets00707
Midshipmen (FBS)721101452

at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, Maryland

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EDT
  • Game attendance: 30,014
  • Referee: Matt Overton
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Chris Lewis (analyst), Randy Cross (play-by-play), and Brandon Baylor (sideline reporter)
Game information
First quarter
  • NAVY – Michael Barrow 7-yard run (Nathan Kirkwood kick), 6:00. Midshipmen 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 5:45.
Second quarter
  • NAVY – Eli Heidenreich 18-yard pass from Blake Horvath (Nathan Kirkwood kick), 11:07. Midshipmen 14–0. Drive: 4 plays, 35 yards, 1:51.
  • NAVY – Alex Tezca 6-yard run (Nathan Kirkwood kick), 5:17. Midshipmen 21–0. Drive: 6 plays, 43 yards, 2:31.
  • NAVY – Eli Heidenreich 4-yard run (Nathan Kirkwood kick), 0:48. Midshipmen 28–0. Drive: 6 plays, 78 yards, 1:38.
Third quarter
  • NAVY – Nathan Kirkwood 28-yard field goal, 7:22. Midshipmen 31–0. Drive: 15 plays, 66 yards, 7:33.
  • VMI – Owen Sweeney 75-yard pass from Collin Shannon (Ben Shrewsbury kick), 7:13. Midshipmen 31–7. Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:09.
  • NAVY – Braxton Woodson 74-yard run (Nathan Kirkwood kick), 0:50. Midshipmen 38–7. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:37.
Fourth quarter
  • NAVY – Braxton Woodson 68-yard run (Nathan Kirkwood kick), 9:39. Midshipmen 45–7. Drive: 4 plays, 94 yards, 1:54.
  • NAVY – Shane Reynolds 4-yard run (Nathan Kirkwood kick), 2:37. Midshipmen 52–7. Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 5:57.
StatisticsVMINAVY
First downs926
Plays–yards50–21268–560
Rushes–yards22–1554–468
Passing yards19792
Passing: comp–att–int16–28–09–14–0
Turnovers00
Time of possession24:3335:27
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VMIPassingCollin Shannon16/25, 197 yards, TD
RushingLeo Boehling8 carries, 21 yards
ReceivingOwen Sweeney5 receptions, 126 yards, TD
NavyPassing Blake Horvath 6/7, 66 yards, TD
RushingBraxton Woodson7 carries, 180 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingEli Heidenreich6 receptions, 65 yards, TD

Ferrum (DII)

Ferrum Panthers (DII) (0-1) vs. VMI Keydets (0-1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers (DII)07007
Keydets14721042

at Alumni Memorial FieldLexington, VA

  • Date: September 6
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 4,924
  • Referee: Brian Hilpisch
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
First Quarter
  • (9:07) VMI – Noah Grevious 78-yard run, Ben Shrewsbury kick (Drive: 3 plays, 78 yards, 0:27; VMI 7–0)
  • (7:02) VMI – Morgan McPhaul 5-yard pass from Collin Shannon, Ben Shrewsbury kick (Drive: 2 plays, 4 yards, 0:33; VMI 14–0)
Second Quarter
  • (7:25) VMI – Aslin Shipe 1-yard run, Ben Shrewsbury kick (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:27; VMI 21–0)
  • (1:56) FER – Eli Foutz 4-yard run, Jon Davis kick (Drive: 4 plays, 22 yards, 1:33; VMI 21–7)
Third Quarter
  • (13:23) VMI – Owen Sweeney 52-yard pass from Collin Shannon, Ben Shrewsbury kick (Drive: 1 play, 52 yards, 0:08; VMI 28–7)
  • (10:56) VMI – Anthony Allen 10-yard fumble recovery, Ben Shrewsbury kick (VMI 35–7)
  • (4:57) VMI – Malik McNeely 31-yard pass from Collin Shannon, Ben Shrewsbury kick (Drive: 6 plays, 60 yards, 2:24; VMI 42–7)
Fourth Quarter

No scoring plays

StatisticsFERVMI
First downs1219
Total yards188405
Rushing yards94179
Passing yards94226
Passing: Comp–Att–Int13–21–016–32–1
Time of possession34:0725:53
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
FerrumPassingEli Foutz9/15, 64 yards
RushingAiden Vaught16 carries, 42 yards
ReceivingOmarza Gray3 receptions, 32 yards
VMIPassingCollin Shannon15/27, 225 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingNoah Grevious1 carry, 78 yards, TD
ReceivingMalik McNeely4 receptions, 81 yards, TD

at Bucknell

VMI Keydets (1-1) vs. Bucknell Bison (1-1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Keydets7071428
Bison7147735

at Christy Mathewson–Memorial StadiumLewisburg, PA

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 2,058
  • Referee: Eric Lewis
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Doug Birdsong (play-by-play) and Charlie Fisher (analyst)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (8:46) BUC – Sam Milligan 45-yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 1 play, 45 yards, 0:08; Bucknell 7–0)
  • (3:16) VMI – Owen Sweeney 18-yard pass from Collin Shannon, Ben Shrewsbury kick (Drive: 12 plays, 69 yards, 5:23; Tied 7–7)
Second Quarter
  • (4:58) BUC – Sam Milligan 18-yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 15 plays, 94 yards, 8:03; Bucknell 14–7)
  • (0:15) BUC – Sam Milligan 34-yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 10 plays, 85 yards, 2:54; Bucknell 21–7)
Third Quarter
  • (8:37) VMI – Noah Grevious 73-yard pass from Collin Shannon, Ben Shrewsbury kick (Drive: 3 plays, 77 yards, 1:29; Bucknell 21–14)
  • (2:30) BUC – TJ Cadden 59-yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 3 plays, 63 yards, 1:13; Bucknell 28–14)
Fourth Quarter
  • (14:54) VMI – Nana Utsey 3-yard run, Ben Shrewsbury kick (Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 2:29; Bucknell 28–21)
  • (5:26) VMI – Owen Sweeney 14-yard pass from Collin Shannon, Ben Shrewsbury kick (Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 3:30; Tied 28–28)
  • (1:49) BUC – Sam Milligan 37-yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 8 plays, 88 yards, 3:37; Bucknell 35–28)
StatisticsVMIBUCK
First downs1818
Total yards421476
Rushing yards5971
Passing yards362405
Passing: Comp–Att–Int21–38–021–28–1
Time of possession30:2829:32
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VMIPassingCollin Shannon21/38, 362 yards, 3 TD
RushingLeo Boehling19 carries, 66 yards
ReceivingNoah Grevious6 receptions, 186 yards, TD
BucknellPassingRalph Rucker IV21/28, 405 yards, 5 TD, INT
RushingTariq Thomas14 carries, 25 yards
ReceivingSam Milligan7 receptions, 192 yards, 4 TD

at Richmond (rivalry)

VMI Keydets (1–2) vs. Richmond Spiders (1–2) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Keydets770014
Spiders14107738

at E. Claiborne Robins StadiumRichmond, VA

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 87 °F (31 °C) • Wind: NE at 3 miles per hour (4.8 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 7,244
  • Referee: Jeremy DeAngulo
  • TV announcers (ESPN+/MSN): Bob Black (play-by-play), Chris Anderson (analyst) and Chip Tarkenton (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (10:17) RICH - Aziz Foster-Powell 2-yard run, Jayden Alsheskie kick (Drive: 10 Plays, 75 yards, 4:43; RICH 7–0)
  • (10:04) VMI - Collin Shannon 75-yard pass to Owen Sweeney, Ben Shrewsbury kick (Drive: 1 Play, 75 yards, 0:13; TIED 7–7)
  • (9:18) RICH - Kyle Wickersham 67-yard pass to Isaiah Dawson, Jayden Alsheskie kick (Drive: 2 Plays, 75 yards, 0:46; RICH 14–7)
Second Quarter
  • (6:51) VMI - Collin Shannon 20-yard pass to Owen Sweeney, Ben Shrewsbury kick (Drive: 14 Plays, 80 yards, 6:36; TIED 14–14)
  • (3:50) RICH - Kyle Wickersham 13-yard pass to Isaiah Dawson, Jayden Alsheskie kick (Drive: 8 Plays, 75 yards, 3:01; RICH 21–14)
  • (1:35) RICH - Jayden Alsheskie 41-yard field goal (Drive: 5 Plays, 14 yards, 0:48; RICH 24–14)
Third Quarter
  • (6:17) RICH - Andrew King 83-yard run, Jayden Alsheskie kick (Drive: 4 Plays, 93 yards, 2:35; RICH 31–14)
Fourth Quarter
  • (13:51) RICH - Kyle Wickersham 8-yard run, Jayden Alsheskie kick (Drive: 6 Plays, 52 yards, 3:01; RICH 38–14)
StatisticsVMIRICH
First downs1322
Total yards229541
Rushing yards34353
Passing yards195188
Passing: Comp–Att–Int17–35–111–14–0
Time of possession26:2833:32
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VMIPassingCollin Shannon16/34, 198 yards, 2 TD
RushingLeo Boehling10 carries, 37 yards
ReceivingOwen Sweeney4 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD
RichmondPassingKyle Wickersham10/13, 166 yards, 2 TD
RushingJamaal Brown14 carries, 153 yards
ReceivingIsaiah Dawson4 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TD

Chattanooga

Chattanooga Mocs (1-4) vs. VMI Keydets (1-3) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Mocs0147021
Keydets038314

at Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C)
  • Game attendance: 3,865
  • Referee: Jason Graham
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Wade Branner (play-by-play) and Phil Marcello (analyst)
Game information
First Quarter

No scoring plays

Second Quarter
  • (14:54) UTC – Josh Williams 6-yard pass from Camden Orth, Jude Kelley kick (Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 5:59; Chattanooga 7–0)
  • (8:13) VMI – Ben Shrewsbury 37-yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 59 yards, 6:41; Chattanooga 7–3)
  • (0:23) UTC – Ryan Ingram 8-yard run, Jude Kelley kick (Drive: 9 plays, 99 yards, 2:50; Chattanooga 14–3)
Third Quarter
  • (6:14) VMI – Anthony Allen 75-yard interception, Leo Boehling pass (Chattanooga 14–11)
  • (2:10) UTC – Ryan Ingram 10-yard run, Jude Kelley kick (Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards, 4:04; Chattanooga 21–11)
Fourth Quarter
  • (6:30) VMI – Ben Shrewsbury 31-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 66 yards, 2:30; Chattanooga 21–14)
StatisticsUTCVMI
First downs1916
Total yards346263
Rushing yards22345
Passing yards123218
Passing: Comp–Att–Int14–23–118–37–1
Time of possession31:1528:45
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ChattanoogaPassingCamden Orth14/23, 123 yards, TD, INT
RushingJustus Durant20 carries, 144 yards
ReceivingJamarii Robinson4 receptions, 50 yards
VMIPassingCollin Shannon17/36, 177 yards, INT
RushingLuke Schalow5 carries, 16 yards
ReceivingNoah Grevious11 receptions, 123 yards

at East Tennessee State

VMI Keydets (1-4) vs. East Tennessee State Buccaneers (2-4) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Keydets007310
Buccaneers71714745

at William B. Greene Jr. StadiumJohnson City, TN

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 71 °F (22 °C) • Wind: NE at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 7,953
  • Referee: Bruce Austin
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Keith Brake (play-by-play), Mark Hutsell (analyst) and Kennedy Story (sideline)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (13:23) ETSU – Xavier Gaillardetz 80-yard punt return, Ewan Johnson kick (East Tennessee State 7–0)
Second Quarter
  • (14:54) ETSU – Devontae Houston 10-yard run, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 3 plays, 22 yards, 0:54; East Tennessee State 14–0)
  • (4:16) ETSU – Ewan Johnson 33-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:29; East Tennessee State 17–0)
  • (1:20) ETSU – Jeremiah Harrison 17-yard pass from Jake McNamara, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 3 plays, 40 yards, 0:49; East Tennessee State 24–0)
Third Quarter
  • (13:16) ETSU – Ephraim Floyd 12-yard pass from Jake McNamara, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:44; East Tennessee State 31–0)
  • (11:20) VMI – Robert Powell 10-yard interception, Ben Shrewsbury kick (East Tennessee State 31–7)
  • (9:23) ETSU – Jason Albritton 1-yard run, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:57; East Tennessee State 38–7)
Fourth Quarter
  • (5:35) VMI – Ben Shrewsbury 52-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 12 yards, 2:00; East Tennessee State 38–10)
  • (0:58) ETSU – Jackson Byrd 20-yard run, Ewan Johnson kick (Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 4:21; East Tennessee State 45–10)
StatisticsVMIETSU
First downs524
Total yards82509
Rushing yards13284
Passing yards69225
Passing: Comp–Att–Int11–30–116–26–1
Time of possession28:4731:13
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VMIPassingCollin Shannon7/16, 41 yards, INT
RushingLuke Schalow10 carries, 32 yards
ReceivingTraveion Slaughter2 receptions, 22 yards
East Tennessee StatePassingJake McNamara8/14, 176 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingDevontae Houston12 carries, 76 yards, TD
ReceivingJeremiah Harrison5 receptions, 71 yards, TD

Samford

Samford Bulldogs (0-6) vs. VMI Keydets (1-5) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bulldogs----0
Keydets----0

at Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 12:30 PM EDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Wade Branner (play-by-play) and Chip Tarkenton (analyst)
StatisticsSAMVMI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SamfordPassing
Rushing
Receiving
VMIPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Mercer

VMI Keydets (0-0) vs. Mercer Bears (5-1) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Keydets----0
Bears----0

at Five Star StadiumMacon, GA

  • Date: October 25
StatisticsVMIMER
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VMIPassing
Rushing
Receiving
MercerPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at The Citadel (Military Classic of the South)

VMI Keydets (0-0) vs. The Citadel Bulldogs (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Keydets----0
Bulldogs----0

at Johnson Hagood StadiumCharleston, SC

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
StatisticsVMICIT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VMIPassing
Rushing
Receiving
The CitadelPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Wofford

Wofford Terriers (0-0) vs. VMI Keydets (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Terriers----0
Keydets----0

at Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA

  • Date: November 8
StatisticsWOFVMI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
WoffordPassing
Rushing
Receiving
VMIPassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Furman

VMI Keydets (0-0) vs. Furman Paladins (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Keydets----0
Paladins----0

at Paladin StadiumGreenville, SC

  • Date: November 15
StatisticsVMIFUR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VMIPassing
Rushing
Receiving
FurmanPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Western Carolina

Western Carolina Catamounts (0-0) vs. VMI Keydets (0-0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Catamounts----0
Keydets----0

at Alumni Memorial Field • Lexington, VA

  • Date: November 22
StatisticsWCUVMI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western CarolinaPassing
Rushing
Receiving
VMIPassing
Rushing
Receiving

References

  1. Kelley, Kevin (December 19, 2024). "VMI announces 2025 football schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  2. Johnson, Eric (December 19, 2024). "VMI releases 2025 football schedule, promote Hampton as OC". WSLS-TV. Retrieved May 9, 2025.