SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

Roanoke native and Patrick Henry High School grad Leroy Thomas scored both second half touchdowns for the Keydets.

The VMI Football team traveled Cullowhee for its SoCon-opening matchup with Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon, falling to the high-powered Catamounts offense 38-17.

Coach Scott Wachenheim felt good about how his team competed with FBS/ACC contender Wake Forest.

An official announcement is expected as early as this week.

Sophomore QB Seth Morgan is working at his craft this spring, with a big improvement on his agenda.

The springtime sure has been good to the VMI Keydets. This time last year, they were working towards a Southern Conference title.

The Keydets overcame a second half deficit to take a slim lead late.

Spartans used a 9-0 run in the second half on their way to a 72-56 victory under first-year coach Mike Jones.

The Keydets went on a 20-6 run that spanned over seven minutes in the second half.

The Terriers and Keydets combined for 394 yards rushing.

The Keydets are coming off that spring season SoCon title, and auto bid into the FCS playoffs.
VMI put four players onto the first team All-SoCon preseason team this fall.
First team honorees include senior receiver Jacob Herres, offensive lineman Marshall Gill, defensive back Ethan Caselberry, and Linebacker Stone Snyder. The Keydets are the defending champs but they are not the favorites to repeat, as the media has chosen them second and the coaches poll has them third.

This will be VMI's first appearance in the FCS Playoffs.

The 2020-21 Southern Conference Coach of the Year led the Keydets to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2003.

LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI basketball program finished the 2020-2021 season with a record of 13-12, reaching the Southern Conference semifinals. It was the most wins for the program since the 2013-2014 season and it was thanks in part to senior Greg Parham. Parham announced via Twitter he has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. I have entered the Transfer Portal due to not having a Grad program at VMI and looking for Grad Transfer opportunities. pic.twitter.com/LNph9ico7J — Spalden Alden ⛹ (@Alden_Ballinq) March 8, 2021VMI doesn’t offer a graduate program, so Parham is seeking an opportunity as a grad transfer.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Neftali Alvarez scored 23 points, making a trio of 3-pointers, and seventh-seeded Mercer defeated Southern Conference tournament upstart VMI 73-59 in the semifinal round. After upsetting second-seeded Wofford in the quarterfinals, Mercer (18-10) will meet top-seeded UNC Greensboro in Monday’s championship game. The Bears have reached the semifinals once before in 2015, but never the title game. Myles Lewis led the Keydets with 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting and also pulled down 14 rebounds. Mercer’s bench also proved to be a factor, tallying 20 points to VMI’s three points from the reserves.

LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI football team scored one of the biggest wins in program history Saturday with a 14-13 upset of #10-ranked Furman University from Foster Stadium. VMI took a 14-13 lead with 17 seconds left in the third quarter on a three-play, 86-yard touchdown drive. The VMI defense stopped three Paladin drives in the fourth quarter, one on a fourth-down stop, one on a punt and the last on a fumble with 47 seconds left with Furman threatening at the VMI 24. Furman got on the scoreboard first 3:53 into the contest on a Hamp Sisson to Wayne Anderson pass. VMI (1-0) travels to Western Carolina University next Saturday for a SoCon matchup at 1 p.m. in Cullowhee, N.C.

Staton-McCray registered 15 points and six rebounds as Samford got past VMI 84-71 in the Southern Conference opener for both teams. Preston Parks added 15 points for for Samford (5-3, 1-0 Southern Conference). Greg Parham had 18 points and seven rebounds for the Keydets (5-5, 0-1). Kamdyn Curfman added 17 points. Trey Bonham had 15 points.

GREENVILLE, S.C. - GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) - Devin Wynn rushed for 102 yards and scored five touchdowns as Furman routed VMI 60-21 on Saturday. Thomas Gordon had 10 receptions for 148 yards and Sisson was 17-of-22 passing for 277 yards and the two scores. Furman took an early 15-0 lead on two 1-yard runs by Wynn but VMI responded with Reece Udinski's 45-yard TD pass to Jakob Herres and Alex Ramsey's 49-yard run. Wynn scored on two more short runs and Furman led 32-21 at halftime before blanking the Keydets (4-6, 3-4) in the second half. Udinski was 23 of 34 for 213 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for VMI.

LEXINGTON, Va. - LEXINGTON, Va. (AP) - Tyrie Adams threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns, Donnavan Spencer rushed for 137 yards and two scores, and Western Carolina held off VMI 43-35 on Saturday. Now leading 37-35, Western Carolina ran out the final 3:10 on the clock. Adams and Spencer connected on a 78-yard TD pass and Adams also hit D.J. Thorpe for a 13-yard score for a 14-13 Western Carolina lead after one quarter and the Catamounts went on to lead 20-19 at halftime. Western Carolina had 539 total yards.