Western snaps road losing streak with victory at Virginia Military

The Catamounts (4-5, 3-4) last won a road game at VMI.

A crowd of 5,275 saw the Keydets (1-8, 0-6) lose their 31st consecutive conference game. They made a run at ending the streak and led late in the third quarter.

WCU quarterback David Rivers turned in another outstanding performance. He completed 29 of 46 passes for 394 yards and three touchdowns.

Lamont Seward caught 10 passes for 171 yards. Michael Banks' nine receptions totaled 95 yards.

Donnie Bryant was WCU's top rusher with 91 yards on 21 carries. Fred Boateng carried 15 times for 66 yards.

VMI was led by Gene Cauthen, who rushed for 119 yards in 17 carries.

Quarterback Joey Gibson completed just eight of 31 passes for 96 yards. Teray Frost caught three passes for 45 yards.

Western outgained the Keydets 619-232, but VMI stayed in contention on the strength of three special teams mistakes by the Cats.

One of those miscues came on the second half kickoff with Western leading 20-14. Banks fumbled the kickoff, and Michael Kirk recovered at the WCU 30.

The Keydets reached the 13 before settling for Matt Maxey's 30-yard field goal cutting the gap to 20-17 with 12:53 to go in the third period.

VMI went on top 24-20 with 5:30 left in the quarter on John Bell's five-yard run and Maxey's PAT. The TD came two plays after a 61-yard romp by Cauthen.

The Cats responded with a 72-yard drive in nine plays. Highlights were a pair of Rivers-to-Seward passes covering 20 and 21 yards. The payoff was a four-yard run by Boateng. Josh Jones, who was five-of-five on extra points, made it 27-24 with 1:34 to go in the third stanza.

Following a punt, Western marched 80 yards in 10 plays. Included were a 35-yard run by Boateng and a 24-yard pass from Rivers to Seward. Banks caught a five-yard scoring pass from Rivers with 11:12 remaining in the game for a 34-24 advantage.

The Rivers-to-Seward combination clicked on a 50-yard scoring strike for a 41-24 lead at the 4:14 mark.

The Keydets threatened but were turned away when Justin Fryer intercepted Gibson's pass in the end zone.

WCU gave the ball back on the next play when reserve quarterback Justin Cella fumbled and Adam Brankamp recovered at the 22. Three plays later, Gibson hit Cauthen for a 16-yard TD pass. Maxey's fourth extra point accounted for the 41-31 final with 2:31 on the clock.

The Cats recovered an onside kick to seal the win.

Western scored the game's first points on a 32-yard field goal by Jones with 11:26 to go in the opening period.

Quesuan Wigfall partially blocked Justin Kohler's punt setting up the Keydets at the WCU 32. Seven plays later, Gibson's 21-yard TD pass to Frost gave VMI a 7-3 lead with 6:22 left in the first quarter.

Western answered by going 66 yards in 10 plays. Bryant was the workhorse and capped the march with a 25-yard run for a 10-7 lead with 2:15 to go in the first quarter.

The Cats forced a punt and drove 80 yards in 13 plays. The key was a 15-yard pass from Kohler to Cedric Crudup on a fake punt. Banks caught a 19-yard TD pass from Rivers extending the margin to 17-7 with 10:03 remaining in the half.

Another blocked punt set up VMI's next score. Again it was Wigfall who blocked Kohler's kick giving the Keydets possession at the 19. Bell ran for 16 yards on the next play. Cauthen scored form the three cutting the gap to 17-14 with 6:14 on the clock.

A 54-yard pass from Rivers to Brian Rucker put the Cats in position for Jones' 19-yard field goal making it 20-14 at the 2:51 mark.

Western's defense was led by Ahmed Green, who had eight tackles.

The game's top tacklers were VMI's Richard Holland, Anthony Sturgill and Chris Walsh.

29

50-200

31-48-0

419

4-24.5

3-2

8-72

First Downs

Rushes-Yds.

Passing

Passing Yds.

Punts-Avg.

Fumbles-Lost

Penalties-Yds.

10

30-136

8-31-1

96

8-40.6

3-1

3-20

Back to Sports: 11/02/00.