Runnin' Bulldogs Rally Falls Short In 31-24 Loss At VMI
November 19, 2011 | Football
LEXINGTON, Va. - VMI jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and dodged a furious Gardner-Webb rally in the fourth quarter to hold on for a 31-24 win over the Runnin' Bulldogs.
The Keydets (2-9, 2-4 Big South) got a six-yard run to cap a 61-yard drive on its opening possession to go up 7-0, used a short field to go up 10-0 on a Jeff Sexton field goal with 6:08 to play in the first quarter and got a blocked punt to set up a 24-yard drive that pushed the lead to 17-0 on a 14-yard scoring pass from Eric Kordenbrock to Dexter Bridge with 2:38 to play in the quarter.
VMI snapped an eight-game losing streak in the series - which had been the longest active streak by a Big South member to another league school.
Gardner-Webb (4-7, 2-4 Big South) answered with a Trever Austin Field goal and 11-yard touchdown run from Kenny Little to cut the lead to 17-10 with 4:27 to play before halftime. GWU's defense forced a change of possession on fourth-and-2 from its own 36 with 3:47 to play - but the offense stalled just over midfield. A punt and accompanying penalty pinned VMI inside its own 10-yard line and on third-and-3 from its 14, Kordenbrock threw a short pass to Aaron Lewis on a quick slant - which Lewis turned into a momentum-grabbing, 83-yard gain to the Runnin' Bulldog three-yard line.
Two plays later, Kordenbrock hit Conner Mays on a short touchdown pass with 1:00 to play before the half, giving the Keydets a 24-10 edge at intermission.
A fumble stalled Gardner-Webb's first drive at midfield in the third quarter, and neither team could get its offense on track until the fourth quarter. The Runnin' Bulldogs halted a VMI drive with just under 11 minutes to play in the game, but disaster struck just before the punt. Gardner-Webb was flagged for having 12 men on the field on fourth-and-4, keeping that drive alive and creating major momentum for the Keydets - which turned into clock-chewing touchdown drive that was capped by Kordenbrock's three-yard score to Lewis for a 31-10 lead with just 5:24 left.
The Runnin' Bulldogs would not quit, as freshman running back J.J. Hubbard took the ensuing kickoff 79 yards to the house for a touchdown - with the extra point cutting VMI's lead back to a pair of touchdowns. Bo Lindsey executed a perfect onside kick that was recovered by Donald Buie III, and Jordan Paul capped a 56-yard drive with a one-yard sneak to pull GWU within 31-24 with 3:16 to play.
A second onside kick attempt was just out of the reach of a pair of GWU cover men, but the defense forced a quick three-and-out that gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the ball back on their own 13-yard line with 2:18 to play. A late hit on fourth down kept the drive alive, but Paul's fourth-down pass near midfield was picked off by Byron Allen 1:22 left - allowing the Keydets to run out the clock.
Gardner-Webb outgained the Keydets 333-326 on the day, but allowed five scores in five trips by VMI to the red zone (four touchdowns). GWU scored in each of its three trips inside the 20 (two touchdowns). The game marked the fifth time in five losses to FCS competition this season that the Runnin' Bulldogs had fallen behind by at least two touchdowns before scoring.
Kenny Little led the Runnin' Bulldogs on the ground, picking up 142 yards on 29 carries with a score - including 96 yards in the first half. Little also caught a pair of passes for 20 yards in the game. GWU rushed for 172 yards in the game.
Little (Flanders, N.J. / Mt. Olive HS) finished the season with 1,042 yards on 200 carries (5.2 ypc) and seven scores, and is the first Gardner-Webb back to top the 1,000-yard mark since Justin Richardson gained 1,110 yards in 2000. Little, a redshirt junior, is the seventh GWU back to top 1,000 yards in a season.
Chandler Browning completed 13-of-19 passes for 150 yards, finding Lyndon Leslie seven times for 62 yards and James Perry III three times for 44 yards. Paul came off the bench and saw his first extended action at quarterback, rushing for 34 yards on five carries with a touchdown and completing a pair of passes 11 yards.
Marty Patterson had 11 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack - finishing with 102 total stops for the season, his second season with at least 100 total tackles.
VMI was limited to just 48 yards on the ground, but Kordenbrock was strong passing the football. The sophomore completed his first seven passes of the game, and finished 24-of-38 for 278 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Lewis caught eight passes for 183 yards and a score and Tracy Hairston caught six passes for 79 yards.
A.J. Gross led the VMI defense with 12 total tackles (one solo).
Both teams' seasons are complete. The Big South All-Conference Team will be announced on Tuesday.
