Chattanooga makes most of early lead, holds off VMI 24-23

Published Oct. 28, 2023 6:35 p.m. ET

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LEXINGTON, Va. (AP) — Gino Appleberry had 113 yards rushing, Chase Artopoeus threw for 184 yards with a touchdown, and Chattanooga held off VMI 24-23 on Saturday.

Jordan Walker's interception in the end zone, his fourth pick of the season, stopped one VMI drive in the fourth quarter and a missed extra point following Hunter Rice's 7-yard touchdown run for VMI left the score at 24-23 with 8:09 left in the game.

Rice also had touchdown runs of 4 and 67 yards for the Keydets. He had a career-high 208 yards rushing and his third consecutive 100-yard game.

VMI led in total yards 440-356, time of possession 36:22-23:38, and third-down conversions 10 of 18 to 3 of 10.

But it was the Mocs (7-2, 6-1 Southern Conference) who never trailed, taking a 14-0 first-quarter lead on a 45-yard run by Reggie Davis and an 11-yard run by Appleberry. Hunter tied it with two touchdown runs before Artopoeus hit Javin Whatley with an 18-yard touchdown pass and Chattanooga would go on to lead 21-17 at the half.

UTC managed only a 48-yard field goal from Clayton Crile late in the third quarter before Rice's third touchdown and the missed extra point by Caden Beck.

Neither team crossed midfield the rest of the game until Chattanooga reached the VMI 47 before taking a knee to end the game.

Artopoeus completed 9 of 17 passes for 184 yards.

Collin Ironside was 20-of-32 passing, also for 184 yards, for the Keydets (3-5, 2-3) but was intercepted twice.

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