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WCU quarterback Brian Gaither completed eight of 15 passes for 107 yards and a TD. Michael Banks had three receptions for 70 yards.
VMI's Gene Cauthen gained 61 yards in 19 carries. Joey Gibson completed six of 19 passes for 79 yards, and T.J. Snelling made four catches for 38 yards.
The Cats scored on their first three possessions of the second half to take control. The onslaught began with a 70-yard drive in seven plays. Walter Gary broke several tackles on a 33-yard run before Gaither's 17-yard scoring pass over the middle to Brian Rucker. Shon Rowser added the PAT for a 24-17 lead with 8:32 to go in the third period.
Western moved 80 yards in 13 plays following a VMI punt. Highlights included a 13-yard run by Boateng and an 11-yard pass from Gaither to Chris Lane. A 21-yard TD run by Boateng extended the lead to 30-17 with 2:12 remaining in the third stanza. Rowser's extra point was no good.
The Cats got the ball back two plays after the kickoff when B.J. Jessup picked off Gibson's pass at the Keydet 27. Gaither hit Banks for 26 yards to the 1. After a 5-yard loss, Boateng scored form the 4 on fourth down. Chris Vought booted the point after making it 37-17 with 14:10 left in the game.
VMI reached the WCU 2 with just over five minutes left, but Seth Hanssen recovered Cauthen's fumble at the 8.
Deshauteurs became the workhorse on the 92-yard drive by carrying on eight of nine plays. The only exception was a 25-yard run by quarterback Pat Cilento. Deshauteurs had runs of 17, 15, 12, and 18 yards in the march. He scored from the 3, and Vought added the PAT for the 44-17 final with 59 seconds on the clock.
Western opened the game with a 65-yard drive in seven plays. Boateng's 28-yard run and a 12-yard gain by Toren Gordon led to Gaither's 1-yard quarterback sneak with 12:02 remaining in the first quarter. Rowser kicked the PAT for a 7-0 advantage.
A mishandled snap on a punt attempt put WCU in business at the VMI 16. Boateng scored from a yard out, and Rowser's PAT put the Cats up 14-0 with 9:34 to go in the opening period.
Western's next possession ended when Michael Kirk picked off Gaither's pass at the 23. He returned the ball near the end zone before fumbling with WCU's Jason Jones recovering for a touchback.
Western gave the ball right back when Chris Walsh recovered Boateng's fumble at the 17. Matt Sharpe's 32-yard field goal cut the gap to 14-3 with 4:39 to go in the opening stanza.
Sam Brown's recovery of a Michael Banks fumble on a punt set the Keydets up at the Western 35. A 12-yard run by Cauthen was followed by Gibson's 23-yard TD pass to Pedro Garcia with 14:05 to go in the half. Sharpe's PAT brought VMI within 14-10.
Yet another WCU miscue allowed the Keydets to take the lead. Brenden Roy fumbled at the 7 after catching a pass from Gaither, and Derik Screen recovered the ball for a TD. Sharpe's PAT put his team up 17-14 with 7:36 on the clock.
The teams went to the dressing room tied 17-17 after Gaither's 23-yard field goal at the 1:48 mark. Key plays included Gaither passes to Banks of 11 and 33 yards.
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