Talk about complete domination. 63-16 is the final, and it was never really in question. Pretty much everyone had a good game.

Phillips was the main standout again, going 13/15 and picking up 242 yards with 3 TD’s. He did this all in the first half as he wasn’t needed in the second. It is safe to say Jimmye made the right choice, and if Jake continues to progress he could easily be a Payton candidate next year. Potts came in during the second half, and went 5/6 for 33 yards.

Courtland Marriner also continues to impress, going for 109 yards and a TD. He averaged over 8 yards per carry and looks to gain more carries. This kid is going to be special for the next 3.5 years. DeBrian Holmes also had a nice game, going for only 42 yards but getting 3 TD’s. He only played for about a half, but was very effective. Tony Viola and Thomas Schonder also played well, going for around 50, and each picking up a TD.

Two receivers stepped up with Nicholas and McAulay on the sidelines, and they were Elliot Mack and Cam Dohse. Dohse, in his first game with real play time, led the team with 77 yards and a TD. Mack added 73 with a TD and a long of 31. TE Rob Varno and WR RJ Archer both played well, finishing around 50 yards. No matter how many injuries, it doesn’t look like WR will be a problem.

The defense didn’t look spectacular, mainly the run D. VMI ran for just under 250 yards, the same as the Tribe. They had several more carries, but we should have known coming into the game they were going to pound it down our throats. The defense did, though, have a total of 8 TFL’s with 2 sacks, and David Caldwell led the team with 15 tackles. Robert Livingston also had a nice game with 9 tackles and made some plays in the secondary. The Tribe forced 2 fumbles, 1 by Caldwell and 1 by Ryan Jones, and those were the only 2 turnovers of the game.

Pretty much the typical VMI game. The defense still needs to improve, but the offense is going to win us some games this year. I am expecting a win next week, but it surely won’t be easy.

Go Tribe.

“Today(echo echo echo)…..I declare this(echo echo)…..the best day(day day day)….on the face of the earth”

Okay, a little editting. We play Georgetown in basketball at MCI at noon and then have JMU in football that night. Yes, I am going to both. Yes, I am very excited.

This is probably the first time in a while the Tribe faces an undefeated VMI team, after shutting out Lock Haven 20-0. No reason to panic, as the Tribe should still roll, but this game will say a lot about our team. Here we go.

Joey Robinson, a sophomore, took the starting job for the Keydets, completing both of the passes he attempted for a grand total of 7 yards. Robinson had 11 ground attempts, going for a net of 34 yards. Also possibly seeing some time at QB for the Keydets will be Kyle Hughes, a sophomore from Williamsburg’s own Lafayette High School. If the Tribe doesn’t put 8 in the box Saturday it will be a shame, as they attempted 5, count ‘em, 5 passes all game. They completed 4 for a total of 42 yards. Hughes was pretty good in his first career game last year, in Williamsburg, and has the tools to be a good QB. Unfortunately, he will never be able to show his skills in this offense.

The running game is where VMI makes their mark, and coincidentally is the Tribe’s defensive weakness. Sophomore Howard Abegesah was the star of the LHU game, running for 122 yards on 22 carries. He wasn’t the only one with a successful day on the ground, as Michael Rainey-Wiles also ran for 96 with a TD, and senior Nat Jackson went for 80 and a score.

This is the place I usually write about the opposing team’s wide receivers. However, nobody on VMI had more than 1 catch, and 2 of those players were RB’s. Timothy Maypray, a sophomore, caught one pass for 6 yards, and freshman Mario Scott caught one pass for 4 yards. Please, load up the box.

Timmy Lloyd was VMI’s standout on the D-Line, picking up 2.5 TFLs and a half a sack. The other end, Damaso Alexander, picked up the other half of that sack. Ben Brandt had a solid game at nose tackle with a TFL and a half a sack.

Linebacker Joe Taylor led the team in tackles at 8, and as a sophomore has a good amount of potential. Joe Rochester also had a good game, finishing with 4.5 tackles and one for a loss. Patrick McKinney, 6-3 220(big or what?), also had a nice game with 4 tackles.

The Keydets, have a nice, tall secondary(all around 6-0), and is probably the most experienced part of the D. Lock Haven’s QB completed over 50% of his passes against them, but only went for 82(on 14 completed). They did not get an INT, or any turnovers for that matter, but sophomore safety Levi Swindell broke up a pass and recorded 4.5 tackles.

The Keydets have some nice players, but you can’t be this one-dimensional and expect to beat teams that are better than you. The Tribe loads the box and Phillips lights it up, giving the Tribe a 3 TD win.

VMI-10
W&M-34