VMI football falls to Chattanooga 24-10 for ninth straight loss

The VMI Keydets lost 24-10 to the Chattanooga Mocs on Saturday at Finley Stadium, dropping to 0-9 on the season. The Mocs, now 6-3, got two second-quarter touchdowns and a late scoring drive to pull away.

First half

VMI took the early lead on a 29-yard field goal by Jack Joyce with 1:31 left in the first quarter. The drive covered 14 plays and 82 yards and took 7:40. Chattanooga's first possession had ended in an interception, with Robert Powell and Terry Dorsey each picking off Battle Alberson during the game.

The Mocs answered in the second quarter. Alberson ran 14 yards for a touchdown with 11:46 left to make it 7-3. VMI then put together a 16-play, 49-yard drive that lasted 9:52 but ended in a missed field goal. Alberson then hit Taylor Crumedy for a 66-yard touchdown with 2:00 left in the half, capping a three-play, 69-yard drive that took 46 seconds. The Keydets trailed 14-3 at the break.

Second half

VMI cut the deficit with the clock at 15:00 in the third quarter, when JoJo Crump threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Zion Trump and Joyce's extra point made it 10-14. The score capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive that took 4:32.

Chattanooga's next drive ended in another interception, but VMI turned the ball over on downs after four plays. Jude Kelley then kicked a 46-yard field goal with 1:16 left in the third for a 17-10 Mocs lead.

The Keydets punted on their first fourth-quarter drive, and Chattanooga went 80 yards in 10 plays. Journey Wyche scored on a 3-yard run with 5:18 left to make it 24-10. Crump was intercepted by Kam Baah-Slay on VMI's next drive. The Mocs then ran out the clock, kneeling inside the VMI 15.

By the numbers

Chattanooga outgained VMI 353 yards to 241 and had 22 first downs to the Keydets' 15. The Mocs ran for 218 yards on 47 carries, led by Kevin Lalin's 88 yards on 16 carries. Crumedy finished with four catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Alberson completed 5 of 8 passes for 135 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and added 35 rushing yards and a score.

VMI ran for 117 yards on 43 carries, 2.7 yards per attempt. Ian Reynolds completed 5 of 6 passes for 71 yards, while Crump went 3 of 6 for 53 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Leo Boehling led the Keydets with 40 yards on 14 carries. Trump's lone catch went for 40 yards and a score. VMI converted 5 of 11 third downs and 2 of 3 fourth downs.

On defense, Isaiah Grevious had 10 tackles and EJ Wilborne and Erick Roman each had six. Ethan Haston recorded a sack.

Next up

VMI visits the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. ET.