LEXINGTON, Va. - Presbyterian College racked up 490 yards of offense but were unable to contain VMI's rushing game as they dropped a 49-27 decision on Saturday afternoon in Lexington. The two teams combined for a Foster Stadium record of 1,130 offensive yards to end PC's 2008 season.
The Blue Hose tallied just two yards less than their season-high 492 yards of offense at Gardner-Webb on Oct. 15. Redshirt-freshman runningback Mario Carter (Columbia, S.C./Irmo) led PC's ground game with a career-tying performance of 15 rushes for 94 yards. Senior wideouts Brandon Clark (Duluth, Ga./Buford) and Terrance Butler (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Socastee) combined for 15 receptions and 187 yards in their final game in Blue and White.
After the Keydets scored an early touchdown in the first quarter, Butler scored on an 11-yard run to finish a 10-play 60-yard drive and tie the score at seven with 7:42 remaining in the first quarter. VMI scored four minutes later, taking a lead the Keydets would not relinquish for the remainder of the afternoon.
Down 35-14 with 45 seconds left in the first half, senior Chetyuane Reeder (Clinton, S.C./Clinton) blocked a punt by VMI's Cameron Murray to set up the Blue Hose on VMI's 26-yard line. Four plays later, sophomore wide receiver Jeremy Cole (Columbia, S.C./Ridgeview) pulled in a 14-yard pass from redshirt-freshman Brandon Miley (Wilmington, N.C./JT Hoggard) to cut the Keydets' lead, 35-21, at the half.
Both teams' offenses slowed in the second half as just three TDs were scored after the eight scored in the first half. Miley registered his second score of the afternoon in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter as his one-yard run converted a nine-play, 80-yard drive, ending the afternoon with a 49-27 loss for the Blue Hose. Miley went 32-56-1 on the day with one passing TD in addition to his fourth-quarter score.
VMI relied heavily on its rushing offense, gaining 497 of its 648 yards on the ground. Junior Tim Maypray led the Keydets with 235 yards and three touchdowns on 20 attempts. The Madisonville, Ky. native also led VMI in receptions, catching three passes for 97 yards and one score. His 75-yard catch from junior quarterback Kyle Hughes in the second quarter gave the Keydets a 35-14 lead and became the first player in Big South history to reach 1,000 yards each on the ground and through the air.
Senior cornerback Anthony McKnight (Sumter, S.C./Crestwood) tallied a team-high 12 tackles in his final collegiate game, including nine solo tackles. Freshman Justin Bethel (Blythewood, S.C./Blythewood) added a career-high eight tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception. Senior linebacker Antwan Thomas (Hawkinsville, Ga./Hawkinsville) made seven tackles and one sack to finish as the all-time school leader with 367 career tackles.
PC ended its 2008 season 1-4 in the Big South Conference and 4-8 overall.
