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The Ashley Ingram era for the Virginia Military Institute began with a gritty first-half defensive effort, but the Keydets were ultimately overwhelmed by a massive third-quarter surge, falling 38-10 to the Idaho State Bengals at the ICCU Dome on Saturday afternoon.
The Bengals broke open what was a tight 10-0 game at halftime by exploding for 28 unanswered points in the third quarter, turning a competitive season opener into a lopsided victory.
For VMI, the game served as the debut of Ingram’s new option-based offense. While the Keydets found some success in the trenches—racking up 229 yards on the ground—they struggled significantly to generate a passing threat. Three VMI quarterbacks combined to go just 5-for-9 for a total of 11 passing yards.
Quarterback Chandler Wilson was the bright spot for the VMI offense, leading the rushing attack with 62 yards on seven carries. He also scored the Keydets' only touchdown of the day, breaking loose for a 31-yard run midway through the fourth quarter. Kicker Jack Joyce added a 23-yard field goal in the game's final minutes to round out the scoring.
On the other side of the ball, Idaho State’s aerial attack proved too much for the VMI defense as the game wore on. Bengals quarterback Jordan Cooke put on a clinic, throwing for 325 yards and four touchdowns. His performance was highlighted by explosive plays in the pivotal third quarter, including a 49-yard bomb to Chedon James and an 83-yard strike to Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio.
A blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Idaho State's Noa Calaycay early in the third quarter further shifted the momentum away from VMI, cementing the Bengals' dominance in the second half.
Despite the loss, the Keydets defense showed flashes of resilience early on. Safety Nic Land paced the unit with six solo tackles and hauled in an interception. Defensive back EJ Wilborne also picked off a pass in the fourth quarter to set up VMI in Bengal territory.
"I was very pleased with how our defense played in the first half. It was about as good as we could have played against a high-powered team," Ingram said following the game.
Acknowledging the team's struggles in the decisive third quarter, the first-year head coach remained optimistic about the foundation being laid. "I'm proud of the way we kept battling and kept fighting. This is the first step in a long, long process."
