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| Mountaineers welcome Keydets, push
ahead towards SoCon Playoffs |
Josh
Dernosek
Sports Beat |
The Keydets of Virginia
Military Institute march to Boone Saturday looking for a piece of
the running action that Georgia Southern University and Wofford
College had before them.
The Mountaineers (6-3, 4-2 SoCon) come off a mediocre win over winless
University of Chattanooga last Saturday 20-17, while the Keydets
(5-5, 2-4 SoCon) are getting over another loss, this time handed
to them by Western Carolina University 35-23.
Appalachian is hoping last weeks’ win will provide the momentum
needed to begin a two-game winning streak before traveling to Cullowhee
for the rivalry game against WCU, the last game of the regular season.
“Our backs have been to the wall ever since the Wofford game,”
said head football coach Jerry Moore. “Now we are just trying
to get into the playoffs with wins this week and [in Cullowhee].”
If Appalachian plays it smart, look for the Mountaineers to jump
to an early lead by putting up good numbers in the first two quarters.
VMI has been outscored by opponents 196-138 in the first half of
ball games so far this season.
“We are going to do what we perceive we can do,” Moore
said. “But we know that we have a guy who can throw and a few
guys to catch the ball, we will be prepared to throw and run.”
The Keydet assault is as well-balanced as any assault the Mountaineers
have seen all season, averaging 224.7 yards in the air per game,
mainly by starting quarterback Joey Gibson, who has all 16 of VMI’s
aerial touchdowns. By way of ground, they are averaging 169.6 yards
with four players averaging over 30 yards and have accrued 19 touchdowns.
“They are a pretty balanced team, I think they are more 60-40
pass and they have a good quarterback in Joey Gibson,” Moore
said. “[Gibson] is a senior and he can do some things, VMI
could very well be the most improved team in the conference.”
The Mountaineer defense will have to be ready to play Saturday to
stop the versatile offense they will see from the Keydets. If Gibson
is on his game and the VMI backfield produces as well as they have
in games past it could be a long day in Boone.
“A lot of it has to do with their formations, we are going
to have to defend the whole game, they are pretty versatile,”
Moore said.
“It’s not like we are going to be able to go out and blitz
every down”
Come support the Mountaineers in the last home game of the regular
season, donning your black and gold.
Game time is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday in Kidd Brewer Stadium.
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