JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Nov. 4, 2023) – ETSU football took a 24-14 lead into the fourth quarter, but VMI scored 17 unanswered points to rally past the Buccaneers 31-24 in front of 10,215 fans on Saturday afternoon at Bank of Tennessee Field at William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium. 
 
Despite outgaining the Keydets by nearly 100 yards, the Bucs couldn't overcome three turnovers, nine penalties and being stopped at the goal line early in the third quarter. 
 
ETSU finished with 424 yards of total offense, including a season-high 286 rushing yards, while VMI finished with 330 yards (209 passing/121 rushing). The Keydets turned the Bucs' three turnovers into 10 points, while VMI capped off the comeback with a five-yard touchdown run by Hunter Rice with 1:45 remaining. 
 
Trailing by seven and with no timeouts left, the Bucs were able to drive down to the VMI 7-yard line. Unfortunately, with 23 seconds remaining, ETSU threw four incomplete passes and the Keydets hung on for the victory. 
 
With the setback, ETSU dipped to 2-7 overall and 1-5 in SoCon play, while VMI improved to 4-5, 3-3. 
 
After both teams were held scoreless in the first quarter, VMI scored the first points of the afternoon following the second Buccaneer turnover. Following a Trey Foster fumble, the Keydets took over on the ETSU 47-yard line. Rice capped off an 11-play drive when he went in from three yards out for the first of his three rushing touchdowns, putting the Keydets up 7-0 with 10:08 left in the half. 
 
The Bucs scored 17 unanswered to take a 17-7 led when Foster scored on a 32-yard run with 6:20 left in the third quarter. Foster finished with a career-high 172 yards rushing on 28 carries with the one touchdown. Foster also led the Bucs with five receptions for 45 yards. 
 
VMI responded with a scoring drive on its next drive when Rice scored from one yard out, making it 17-14 with 3:44 showing on the clock in the third quarter. The Keydets converted on two third downs during the drive and the big play came on a 32-yard pass play to Aidan Twombly. 
 
The scoring spree continued when the Bucs answered the challenge thanks to Torey Lambert ripping off a 64-yard run up the middle for his first collegiate score and ETSU led 24-14 with just under two minutes left in the third quarter.
 
The Buccaneer lead wasn't big enough and VMI rallied back for the win. 
 
The Keydets made it a second straight scoring drive when Collin Shannon found Ivan Thorpe for a 12-yard strike and ETSU's lead was cut back to three, 24-21, with 12:23 remaining. The Buccaneer defense looked to have been off the field when VMI was faced with 4th-and-2 from its own 33; however, ETSU jumped offside on the punt to keep the Keydets' drive alive. VMI converted on two more third downs following the Buccaneer penalty – including a 22-yard completion on 3rd-and-19 from the VMI 29-yard line. Then, on 3rd-and-6 from the ETSU 45-yard line, the Bucs were called for pass interference. Two plays later, the Keydets finished the 10-play drive with the pass play. 
 
ETSU turned the ball over on its ensuing possession and VMI took over on the Buccaneer 32-yard line. The Buccaneer defense limited the turnover to a field goal, but with a third straight scoring drive, VMI pulled even at 24-24 with just under 10 minutes left to play. 
 
After picking up a 14-yard run on its first play following the game-tying field goal, ETSU's drive stalled at its own 34-yard line and Nate Brackett was called upon to punt. Following a 45-yard kick, VMI took over on its own 21-yard line with 7:40 remaining. 
 
The Keydets held the ball for nearly six minutes and score the game-winning touchdown on a 3rd-and-4 run from the Buccaneer five-yard line to gain the 31-24 lead with 1:45 left. 
 
With one final drive left, ETSU battled and marched down to the seven-yard line, but the Bucs couldn't get any closer and VMI held on for the win. The Bucs converted on two third downs and one fourth, while a one-handed grab by Tim Stayskal resulted in a 30-yard gain, which put the ball inside the VMI 10-yard line. 
 
To go with Foster's career day, Lambert finished with 90 rushing yards on seven carries with the one touchdown. Foster finished with 217 all-purpose yards. 
 
William Riddle went 13-for-30 for 138 yards and one interception. 
 
Chris Hope led the Bucs with 11 tackles, while Sheldon Arnold II finished with six tackles, one interception and a forced fumble (recovery). 
 
VMI's Collin Shannon completed 21 of his 38 passes for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception. 
 
VMI went 4-for-4 in the red zone with four touchdowns, while the Keydets scored on their final four drives. 
 
ETSU heads to North Carolina to take on No. 16 Western Carolina next Saturday in the Blue Ridge Border Battle. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. 
 
For more information on ETSU football, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the football tab.