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VMI Gridders Earn First win
Searching for its first victory of the 2024 season, the Virginia Military Institute football Team took matters into its own hands against Southern Conference rival Furman on Saturday, using a blocked kick, a forced fumble and a game-sealing interception to catapult the Keydets to a 21-17 home victory at Foster Stadium in Lexington.
VMI (1-8 overall, 1-4 Southern Conference) went 3-for-3 in the red zone as the defense sacked Furman (2-6, 1-3) four times for 29 yards and the special teams unit blocked. a field goal.
Hunter Rice, who rushed for 52 yards and a TD for the Keydets, passed Sean Mizzer and Floyd Allen to move into second place all-time at VMI with 28 career rushing touchdowns.
VMI redshirt freshman quarterback Chandler Wilson went 9-for-16 with 135 yards and a TD in the start, finding Egypt Nelson for a career-long 51-yard reception. Also stepping up for VMI was Ethen Horne with four catches for 59 yards and a score.
For VMI’s defense, Shamus Jones recorded 13 tackles, one breakup and an interception with less than two minutes left that sealed the win. Kouri Crump had 13 tackles and two breakups.
Eric Rankin totaled 12 tackles for the Keydets and forced and recovered a Furman fumble to lead to the win.
Proud of his team, VMI head coach Danny Rocco said, "We're really excited. These guys have worked really hard. We've been through a lot of adversity. The team has really come together. Our senior leadership has been really good. They made a conscious decision that they were going to keep fighting and we found ourselves in a dogfight today…I'm just glad for our players that we can celebrate victory."
The Keydets will continue SoCon action on Saturday when they play host to Mercer (8-1, 5-1) at 1:30 p.m. at Foster Stadium. For the Keydets’ schedule and updates, visit www.vmikeydets.com.
SVU Women Win Conference XC Title
The Southern Virginia University women’s cross country team won the USA South Athletic Conference Championships, while the SVU men placed second of five teams on Saturday in Rocky Mount, N.C.
The SVU women, who placed second last year, tallied 29 points to place first of six teams. Pfeiffer placed second with 54 points, and Mary Baldwin (73) finished third. Rounding out the standings were Meredith (95), Brevard (128) and Methodist (139).
Mary Baldwin freshman Nicole Black, a 2024 Rockbridge County High School graduate, won the women’s race, completing the 6-kilometer course in 23 minutes, 17 seconds.
Senior Heidi Barton led SVU, placing second of 47 harriers in 23:21.4. Following her closely was sophomore teammate Bayleigh Redd (third, 23:29.4). Also in the top 10 for SVU were seniors Lilly Dalebout (sixth, 23:57.8) and Kamryn Bradshaw-Meyer (seventh, 23:59.5). Knights following Bradshaw-Meyer were sophomore McKenzie Ball (11th, 25:49.7), junior Emmalee Hale (13th, 26:05) and freshman Jasmine De Souza (14th, 26:07.1), a 2024 Parry McCluer High School graduate.
The SVU men, who won the title the last three years, tallied 42 points to trail Pfeiffer (42), which had seven runners in the top 10. Methodist (85) placed third, Brevard (103) finished fourth, and Mary Baldwin (137) came in fifth.
SVU sophomore Kaelen Ruder won the men’s race, completing the 8K course in 25:34.1, and Pfeiffer’s Sawyer Helms placed second of 45 harriers in 25:42.3.
The Knights’ second runner was senior Kedryn Chandler, a 2021 PM graduate, placing fourth in 26:18. Also cracking the top 10 was SVU freshman Tayson Farar (eighth, 27:20.3). Knights following Farar were senior Kenyon Kemp (16th, 28:12.5), freshman Garrett Rogers (17th, 28:16.7), junior Carter Johnson (18th, 28:21.8) and freshman Trey Meraz (29:20.8).
Guiding the Knights are head coach Kyle Chandler and assistant coach Jamie Chandler.
The Knights will next compete in the South Region Championships on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Choctaw Trails in Clinton, Miss.
For the Knights’ schedule and updates, visit knightathletics.com.
W&L Women Win ODAC XC Title
The No. 12-ranked Washington and Lee University women's cross country team claimed the 2024 Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship title at Green Hill Park in Salem on Saturday morning, reclaiming the top spot after a three-year reign by the University of Lynchburg. This victory marks the Generals' 20th championship in program history and the first championship win since 2019. The W&L men placed second of 11 teams.
Sophomore Olivia Warr led W&L with a standout performance, winning the individual title by finishing the 6K course in 21 minutes, 35.1 seconds, the first individual champion for W&L since Sara Stevenson's victory in 2019. There were 101 runners in the women’s race.
The Generals tallied 35 points, clearing the Hornets of Lynchburg by five points. Bridgewater (79) placed third of nine teams, Shenandoah (100) finished fourth, and Eastern Mennonite (132) came in fifth. This year's championship marks the first time since 2012 that different schools have won the men's and women's team titles with the Hornets claiming the men's title with 18 points. From 2013 to 2014, Bridgewater College secured both titles, while Washington and Lee dominated from 2015 to 2019.
The entire W&L scoring seven placed inside of the top 14 finishers for All-ODAC honors, with Warr, junior Sophia Breschi (sixth, 21:58.2) and senior Cassie Carr (seventh, 22:02.4) taking First Team All-ODAC laurels. Sophomore Lydia Harvey (10th, 22:22.1) and seniors Mimi Kemp (11th, 22:24.3), Emma Mitchell (12th, 22:31.4) and Kristen Clodgo (14th, 22:38.4) were named Second Team All-ODAC. The seven All-ODAC honorees tied the program record, which was last achieved in 2019.
The No. 12-ranked W&L men's team placed second with 40 points, only trailing No. 11 Lynchburg, which won with 18 points. Roanoke (105) placed a distant third, Shenandoah (105) finished fourth, and Bridgewater (161) came in fifth.
All seven W&L scorers placed in the top 20, with four earning All-ODAC honors.
Lynchburg’s Chasen Hunt won the race in 24:53.1, as the Hornets swept the top four places.
Senior Keaton Rush led the Generals, placing fifth of 117 harriers in 24:57.2, followed by senior Row Sterne (sixth, 25:06.9) and sophomore Robert Cooper (seventh, 25:08.4), all securing First Team All-ODAC honors.
W&L sophomore Thomas Franklin (ninth, 25:18) and junior Colin Verrett (15th, 25:33.7) completed W&L’s top five, with Franklin receiving Second Team All-ODAC recognition. The Generals’ sixth and seventh runners were sophomore Jackson Kodenski (16th, 25:34.9) and freshman Raja Mehendale (18th, 25:45.2).
The Generals will next compete at the NCAA South Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 16, in Jackson, Miss. For the Generals’ schedule and updates, visit www.generalssports.com
