The Keydets took an early lead against Bucknell University before falling to the Bison 35-28 at the home opener in Foster Stadium Sept. 8, 2024.—Photo courtesy VMI Athletics.
The VMI football team held its home opener Sept. 7, 2024, taking an early lead against Bucknell before falling to the Bison 35-28.
“Defensively, we didn’t play a very good game,” said Danny Rocco, head coach. “We gave them a lot of different looks and, to their credit, Bucknell sorted things out. Their quarterback is a good player. He distributed the ball well, found the open man, and we didn’t really tackle well. And that was one of the biggest things defensively that was most frustrating, our inability to tackle.”
“Our opportunities were early on. Asa Locks intercepts a pass for a touchdown. We got momentum, we feel good, we have confidence, but our offense couldn’t move the ball. We moved the ball in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.”
“The season is young. The interesting thing about our schedule is our four non-conference games are on the front end. Then there’s a bye and we go to conference play. The reality is our conference schedule is out in front of us. We have this four-game season, then the opportunity to rev it back up once we get into conference play.”
Neither team could get into a rhythm early, but it was the VMI defense who made the first move, as rookie Locks took an interception to the house to give VMI the lead.
Bucknell would tie the game up at the end of the first with a punt return for a touchdown. After the Bison jumped in front 14-7, Rice took a Wildcat handoff 58 yards for the score as the teams went into the break knotted up at 14 apiece.
Bucknell stole the momentum right back to open the half with an eight-play, 81-yard drive. Later in the quarter, Rucker hit Josh Gary on 4th and two for his second touchdown of the afternoon to make the score 28-14. In the fourth, T.J. Cadden, who returned a punt earlier for a touchdown, hauled in a 35-yarder as the Bison extended its advantage. The Keydets would fight back, however, as Shannon hit Thorpe for an 18-yard gain that would have a pass interference tacked on, setting up Rice’s second score of the day. VMI would get the ball one last time with 2:54 to play, as Chandler Wilson ’27 came in for the injured Shannon, finding Ryan VonBrandt ’26 for his first career touchdown to make it a one-score game. The Keydets could not convert the ensuing onside attempt, and the Bison ran the clock out for the win.
Editor’s Note: This article was first published at vmikeydets.com.
