Collin Ironside directs game-winning drive as VMI defeats Davidson 12-7 in opener
LEXINGTON, Va. -- — Collin Ironside hit VJ Johnson with a last-minute touchdown pass and VMI rallied to defeat Davidson 12-7 on Saturday, giving Danny Rocco a dramatic victory in his debut as coach of the Keydets.
VMI took possession with 4:19 left in the game and Ironside led a 12-play, 85-yard drive that produced what would be the winning score. The drive included three third-down conversions, one a 28-yard pass to Aidan Twombly on third-and-20. Ironside hit Johnson with a 25-yard hookup with 51 seconds remaining. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Davidson's final drive gained only 12 yards and ended with an interception.
The game-winning drive came after the Keydets went three-and-out on their first three possessions of the second half and Caden Beck, who earlier missed a PAT, missed a 42-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter.
Davidson (0-1) managed only 184 yards on offense but took a 7-6 lead in the third quarter when Luke Durkin hit Christian Berry for a 24-yard touchdown pass.
Durkin was 6-of-12 passing for 83 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
For VMI, Ironside completed 17 of 27 passes for 239 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Rashad Raymond had 62 yards on the ground to lead the Keydets' 173-yard rushing effort. Grant Swinehart had a 14-yard touchdown run.
Rocco, the 33rd coach in VMI history, had previous head-coaching success at Liberty, Richmond, and Delaware. He served as a defensive analyst last season at Penn State, helping the Nittany Lions to a 10-2 regular-season record.
Davidson has made three consecutive FCS playoff appearances and has five straight winning seasons.
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Game Information
2024 Pioneer Football League Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Drake | 7-1 | 8-2 |
San Diego | 6-2 | 8-3 |
Butler | 5-3 | 9-3 |
Morehead State | 5-3 | 7-5 |
St. Thomas-Minnesota | 5-3 | 6-6 |
Dayton | 4-4 | 6-5 |
Davidson | 4-4 | 6-5 |
Presbyterian | 4-4 | 6-6 |
Valparaiso | 2-5 | 4-7 |
Marist | 1-7 | 1-10 |
Stetson | 0-7 | 2-9 |
2024 Southern Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Mercer | 7-1 | 10-2 |
Western Carolina | 6-2 | 7-5 |
Chattanooga | 5-3 | 7-5 |
East Tennessee State | 5-3 | 7-5 |
Samford | 3-4 | 4-7 |
The Citadel | 3-5 | 5-7 |
Wofford | 3-5 | 5-7 |
Furman | 2-5 | 3-8 |
VMI | 1-7 | 1-11 |