VMI falls to Mercer 54–3 at Foster Stadium

VMI tied the game early but did not score again in a 54–3 football loss to Mercer on Saturday, October 3, at Foster Stadium.

Jack Joyce's 49-yard field goal made it 3–3 in the first quarter after an interception by Terry Dorsey. Mercer scored a touchdown on the final play of that quarter and built a 27–3 halftime lead.

The Bears finished with 658 total yards, including 402 rushing, while VMI managed 102 yards. Zahmari Palode-Gary rushed for 130 yards for Mercer, including a 64-yard touchdown.

Aslin Shipe led VMI with 37 rushing yards. Nic Land recorded 13 tackles, nine of them solo. The Keydets dropped to 0–6 overall and 0–2 in the Southern Conference; Mercer improved to 4–2 and 1–1.

Sources: Official report or box score.

Prepared with AI assistance using the linked sources. Visual: NSMT illustration; not a photograph of this game.