Jerry Rice ’23 kicks a field goal during the game against Cornell Sept. 17. Rice now stands second behind Craig Jones ’80 in points attained as a kicker at VMI.—Photo courtesy VMI Keydets.
With just one game left to play, members of the Keydet football team are anxiously awaiting the season-capping Military Classic of the South, as the Keydets will face off against The Citadel at Foster Stadium Nov. 19. Kickoff is set for noon.
Though The Citadel leads the series 43-32-2, with a history dating to 1920, the Keydets were victorious against their archrival in fall 2019 and spring 2021. This month, the team will attempt to return the Silver Shako to its place of honor in Lejeune Hall.
This fall, the Keydets have been beset with injuries to key players—but the outstanding effort by those on the field has not gone unnoticed.
The Southern Conference announced its weekly football awards Nov. 7, with VMI football’s Jerry Rice ’23 earning SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Rice accounted for all 15 of VMI’s points at No. 10-ranked Samford Nov. 5. The Daleville, Virginia, native was a perfect 5-for-5 on the day, matching his own program record (which he shares with Craig Jones ’80) for made field goals in a game.
The All-American placekicker knocked down four field goals in the first half to give the Keydets a 12-7 lead over the Bulldogs at the break. In the third quarter, Rice’s fifth field goal of the day would put VMI in front 15-14 before Samford jumped in front one last time.
The five made field goals for Rice give him 189 career points—second most for a kicker at VMI (Craig Jones, 221)—and fifth all-time among all Keydet players.
Rice currently ranks third in the SoCon in field goals per game (1.0) and is 35th in the country with a field goal percentage of .750.
Editor’s Note: This article was first published on vmikeydets.com.
