VMI Football Rolls to 42-7 Win Over Ferrum

The VMI Keydets football team registered its first win of the 2025 season, downing Ferrum College 42-7 at Foster Stadium Sept. 6, 2025.

The Keydets (1-1, 0-0 SoCon) scored the first 21 points before the Panthers struck, blanking Ferrum 21-0 in the second half.

“We always talk about building habits, sustaining habits,” said Danny Rocco, VMI head coach. “Well, you can’t sustain winning until you actually win. Today, we took that first step. Now, it’s up to us to continue the momentum.”

Key Stats

• The Keydets total 400 yards of offense and 176 rushing.
• Collin Shannon ’26 throws for 223 yards and three touchdowns.
• Owen Sweeney ’28 (63 yards) found the end zone for the second consecutive game, taking a 52-yarder to the house.
• Malik McNeely ’28 hauls in first career touchdown and totals 81 yards on four catches; Morgan McPhaul ’26 has five-yard score.
• Noah Grevious ’28 registers first career touchdown with 78-yard end-around.
• Isaiah Grevious ’27 forces a fumble, and Kouri Crump ’26 blocks a punt.
• Steven Riveros ’27 and Stephen Dean ’26 each record 5.0 stops.
• Donovan Burnett ’29 (5.0 tackles) forces a fumble and is picked up by Anthony Allen ’28 for a touchdown.
• Leo Boehling ’28 (41) and Aslin Shipe ’28 (40) set career-highs in rushing yards.
• Ben Shrewsbury ’27 punts four times for an average of 54.8 yards per kick.

Rocco’s Remarks

On Giving the Game Ball to Brig. Gen. Dallas B. Clark ’99, Acting Superintendent

“I just really appreciate the role that Brigadier General Dallas Clark [’99] has played here at VMI over the years. He spoke to our team over the summer. Told us how he played here, but he wasn’t really much of a ‘player.’ … It was just really neat, so to be able to have that moment after the game, with the team, it was special.”

On Looking Ahead to Bucknell

“We haven’t played well against them recently, and it’s going to be a test up there. We will need to have a good week of preparation.”

How it Happened

First Half

• After a stalled first drive, VMI struck on a run play in which Shipe flipped the ball back to Grevious for a 78-yard scamper.
• Minutes later, VMI marched down the field and found McPhaul for a 5-yard score (14-0, 7:02 1st).
• Midway through the second, Shipe capped off an 80-yard drive by punching in a one-yard run.
• Eli Foutz and Ferrum finally got on the board at the 1:56 mark in the second quarter before the teams went to break.

Second Half

• Shannon and Sweeney opened the scoring less than 2 minutes into the third to push in front 28-7.
• Two minutes later, Burnett’s hit on Jahylen Rush popped the ball loose, and Allen collected the scoop and score (35-7, 10:56 3rd quarter).
• With 5 minutes to play in the third, Shannon found McNeely for the final score of the game, leading the Keydets to the 35-point win.

Editor’s Note: This article was first published on vmikeydets.com.