Twelth-ranked VMI fell behind 21-3 at the half to No. 1 James Madison, but as has done throughout the spring of the 2020-21 season, the Keydets never threw up the white flag, and in fact, would make things interesting before finally falling 31-24 in their first-ever playoff game Saturday afternoon at Bridgeforth Stadium.
With the win, the Dukes extend their season moving on to the FCS quarterfinals where it will host North Dakota at Bridgeforth Stadium next Saturday, while the Southern Conference champion Keydets conclude their 2020-21 campaign with a 6-2 overall record.
As heartbreaking as it might have been for VMI player's, fans and coaching staff, what was accomplished will live on in the annals of the Southern Conference history books as one of the more memorable league championship runs by anyone in league history. It was fitting that, in the SoCon first spring football season, the Keydets would end up breaking through and garnering its first-ever FCS national ranking, as well as being able to make its first-ever FCS playoff appearance.
With a healthy Reece Udinski--VMI's all-time leading passer and the NCAA record-holder for consecutive passes thrown without an INT--things might have been even more interesting in Harrisonburg on Saturday.
Still, while the loss stings and it brings the Southern Conference playoff season to an end after only one round for the second-straight playoff season, those wondering if the Keydets were champions of the SoCon because the perception of the league's overall strength has slipped in recent seasons, and as a result, led to VMI's first SoCon crown in 43 years couldn't have been further from the truth.
The Keydets proved to be worthy champions, and the SoCon wasn't quite as week as many wanted to believe it was, even though it's been a struggle to maintain the normal standard of excellence the league has enjoyed throughout its storied history over the past few seasons. The SoCon can be proud of how its champion and debutante FCS playoff participant acquitted itself on the road against a foe that has won two national titles (2004 and '16) and has won 15-straight home games in front of the home folks.
It should give the SoCon a good shot of momentum heading into the fall, and there is certainly a different feeling about the way VMI lost Saturday's contest against FCS juggernaut James Madison, than the feeling that seemingly lingered after the 2019 playoff run saw Wofford bow out of the tournament with opening round losses against foes from the Ohio Valley Conference and the Big South Conference, respectively.
The Dukes would end up out-gaining the Keydets 509-403 in total yards in the contest, as the Dukes racked up what was a 305-117 advantage and at the helm of that offensive effort was led by SoCon Freshman of the Year signal-caller Seth Morgan, who connected on 30-of-50 passes for 286 yards and a pair of touchdowns, as he passed for 200 or more yards for his fourth-straight game. Morgan also threw three interceptions in the contest, with one of those coming on VMI's opening drive of game, thwarting some early momentum.
The key play of that opening drive of the contest came on a reverse to Chance Knox, as he advanced the football deep into JMU territory following a 63-yard run on a reverse to get the ball all the way down to the JMU 11. After 7-yard completion from Morgan-to-Knox for another seven yards, the redshirt freshman quarterback from Pittsburgh, PA, saw his pass intercepted in the end zone by JMU cornerback Wesley McCormick to halt VMI's early momentum.
VMI forced a JMU three-and-out on the ensuing series, however, but VMI's offense could not move the football, and on a 4th-and-1 play from midfield, Morgan's 49-yard pooch punt was downed at the JMU 1. On the very first play of the ensuing Dukes drive, speedy Jawon Hamilton took a handoff from quarterback Cole Johnson off right tackle, finding a nice hole to run through, racing 99 yards to the end zone for the game's first score, giving the Dukes a 7-0 lead with 6:13 to olay in the opening quarter.
The Keydets would answer with their only points of the opening half, as VMI needed seven plays to drive 48 yards and get into Jerry Rice's field goal range. He would convert a 44-yard kick with 4:11 remaining in the first quarter, trimming the Dukes' lead to 7-3.
JMU would own the second quarter, however, putting 14 more points on the board to go into the locker room with a seemingly comfortable 18-point lead. Percy Agyei-Obese scored on a 2-yard run to give the Dukes a 14-3 lead with 10:54 remaining in the half.
Then another momentum shift came when Morgan was picked off for a second time of the afternoon, as his underthrown pass intended for Max Brimigion was intercepted by Dukes defensive back Taurus Carroll at the JMU 23. From there, the Dukes would put their final points on the board of the opening half of play, as former VMI wideout Kris Thornton hauled in a 10-yard scoring strike from Johnson to give the Dukes a 21-3 lead with 1:23 remaining in the half.
In the second half, the Keydets would get in the end zone for the first time in the contest midway through the third quarter, as a pair of 15-yard penalties against JMU would put the Keydets in good field position. Morgan then connected with his favorite target--Jakob Herres--for a 25-yard pass play and then a 12-yard hookup in quick succession. Morgan scored on a 1-yard plunge to give the Keydets some momentum, trimming the JMU to 11, at 21-10, with 6:29 remaining in the third.
However, that momentum was quickly eradicated when JMU picked up its second big scoring play of the afternoon, as Johnson went deep to wideout Antwane Wells Jr., who hauled in a 62-yard touchdown pass, putting the Dukes back up 18, at 28-10, with 3:20 remaining in the third.
The fourth quarter would see the Keydets put together their best quarter of the game offensively. It was Morgan and Herres once again that were the main attraction for the Keydets, and a puzzle that JMU was suddenly finding harder to solve. Morgan connected with Herres on three separate plays, including on a 4th-and-2 play, as well as an 11-yard connection, which resulted in another VMI six points, getting the Keydets to within 11 again, at 28-17, with 13:43 remaining.
From there, the team's would trade interceptions. The first came when Morgan was picked off by JMU's James Carpenter at the VMI 35 and return six yards to the 29. From there, the Dukes would go ahead by 14 points when Ethan Radke connected on a 32-yard field goal to make it a 31-17 game with 2:18 remaining in the game.
The Keydets wouldn't go away easily, however, as they would continue to make things interesting. VMI scored with nine seconds remaining, as Morgan hooked up with Max Brimigion on a 2-yard scoring pass to conclude a 12-play, 75-yard drive to make it a 31-24. However, the Keydets could not recover the on-sides kick, and the Dukes were able to close out the win in the opening round of the FCS playoffs.
Herres finished out the contest by putting on another outstanding performance, hauling in 13 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. Knox led the Keydets on the ground, with 63 of his 65 yards gained on the ground coming on one play, as he went 63 yards on a reverse on VMI's opening drive of the contest. Knox and Michael Jackson also caught four passes apiece, which totaled 34 and 32 yards, respectively.
On the defensive side of the ball, VMI had three players finish the contest with double-digit tackle totals, with Stone Snyder leading the way with 12 tackles, while Connor Riddle and A.J. Smith added 11 tackles apiece. The Keydet defense totaled four sacks, with Jordan Ward totaling four tackles and a pair of sacks.
VMI also got a pair of interceptions from Kyser Samuel and Ethan Castleberry. Castleberry also had nine tackles to go with his interception.
JMU was led offensively by Johnson, who completed 11-of-22 passes for 204 yards, with two TDs and two INTs. His favorite target was Antwane Wells Jr, who had four catches for 132 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Jawon Hamilton completed the contest with 171 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
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