CHATTANOOGA (Interstat) — Chattanooga defeated visiting Virginia Military Institute 24-10 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game Saturday at Finley Stadium. The Mocs improved to 6-3, while the Keydets fell to 0-9. A crowd of 5,554 watched Chattanooga rely on Battle Alberson’s two touchdowns and a balanced ground game to secure the home victory. VMI, which remained winless, was led by a pair of quarterbacks and a late scoring strike, but the Keydets could not keep pace after halftime. Chattanooga’s defense forced two interceptions and recorded a sack, while VMI’s defense also picked off two passes.

VMI opened the scoring on Jack Joyce’s 29-yard field goal in the first quarter, capping the game’s first scoring drive. Chattanooga responded through Alberson, who capped a drive with a 14-yard touchdown run to the right. Alberson later connected with Taylor Crumedy on a 66-yard touchdown pass down the middle to give the Mocs control. Joyce missed a 48-yard field goal attempt before halftime, leaving VMI unable to cut into the deficit at that point. The missed kick kept the Keydets from adding points on a drive that had moved into Chattanooga territory.

The Keydets found the end zone in the third quarter when JoJo Crump hit Zion Trump for a 40-yard touchdown. Chattanooga answered with Jude Kelley’s 46-yard field goal, and Journey Wyche sealed the result with a 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The Mocs defense limited VMI after the break and helped Chattanooga protect its advantage. VMI’s defense also created turnovers, but the Keydets could not turn those takeaways into enough points. Chattanooga finished with a balanced offensive effort and controlled the clock in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. VMI’s defense kept the game within reach by forcing two interceptions, but the Keydets managed only 10 points.

Alberson finished 5-of-8 passing for 135 yards and a touchdown and added seven carries for 35 yards and a score. Taylor Crumedy was his top target with four receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Lalin led Chattanooga’s rushing attack with 16 carries for 88 yards. Wyche added 15 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown, while Harrison Bey-Buie contributed six carries for 45 yards. John McIntyre caught one pass for 11 yards. The Mocs’ ground game produced enough balance to complement Alberson’s passing, and Chattanooga controlled possession in key stretches. The Mocs’ offense found a rhythm after halftime and kept VMI from mounting a sustained comeback in the second half.

VMI split time between Crump and Ian Reynolds. Crump was 3-of-6 passing for 53 yards and a touchdown and ran eight times for 13 yards. Reynolds completed 5 of 6 passes for 71 yards and added 10 carries for 15 yards. Trump caught one pass for 40 yards and a touchdown and had one carry for 13 yards. Traveion Slaughter had two receptions for 36 yards and four carries for 12 yards. Hayden Morris caught three passes for 35 yards, Brooks Martin had one catch for 8 yards, and Leo Boehling led the Keydets on the ground with 14 carries for 40 yards. Cole Varner ran four times for 22 yards and caught one pass for 5 yards. Trevin Simon added one carry for 2 yards, and Jack Joyce handled kicking duties.

Chattanooga’s Kristian Ozane recorded nine tackles. Kam Baah-Slay added eight tackles and an interception. Zion Rutledge and Montrell Henderson each made seven tackles, while Martez Cooksey Jr. had six. Keyshawn Jackson and Ryan Bell each finished with four tackles, and Orlando Daniels added two tackles and a quarterback hurry. Jestin Gilmore had three tackles for the Mocs. Ky Tayo added three tackles, while D.J. Adams, Landon Feggins, Jaden Nelson and Bryce Washington each had two. The Mocs’ defensive front consistently disrupted VMI’s rhythm and helped Chattanooga maintain field position.

VMI’s Isaiah Grevious led all defenders with 10 tackles. EJ Wilborne and Erick Roman each made six tackles. Ayden Babich and Jacob Moore had four tackles apiece, with Moore adding a quarterback hurry. Elijah Brooks recorded four tackles and a quarterback hurry. Terry Dorsey and Robert Powell each intercepted a pass. Ethan Haston had two tackles and a sack. Matthias Corbin and Carson Gue each added three tackles, while Steven Riveros, Rod Tasco and Terry Dorsey finished with two apiece. John Garbett, Robert Powell, Jack Joyce, Ashton Dixon, David Czapp, Ellis Daniels and Jabrahlyn Jones each had one tackle. Jack Joyce handled a field goal and recorded a tackle, while Ben Shrewsbury punted once for 39 yards.

The loss continued a difficult season for VMI, which has dropped all nine of its games. The Keydets previously fell to East Tennessee State, Wofford, Mercer, Samford, Davidson, Bucknell, Virginia Tech and Idaho State. VMI’s losses this season include a 38-0 setback to East Tennessee State, a 41-14 loss at Wofford, a 54-3 loss to Mercer, a 45-7 loss at Samford, a 27-24 loss at Davidson, a 14-3 loss to Bucknell, a 73-3 loss at Virginia Tech and a 38-10 loss at Idaho State. VMI will next travel to Tennessee Tech before hosting Citadel and Furman. Chattanooga, which has won six of nine, will host Mercer before playing at Furman and at Alabama. Chattanooga’s wins this season include Western Carolina, Samford, Citadel, Wofford and West Georgia, while its losses came against Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech and East Tennessee State. The Mocs beat Western Carolina 41-18, Samford 19-3, Citadel 27-8, Wofford 41-7 and West Georgia 24-10. Chattanooga’s losses were 22-17 at Eastern Kentucky, 24-9 to Tennessee Tech and 14-3 at East Tennessee State.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Chattanooga 59, Virginia Military Institute 12. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Chattanooga with a 98.9 percent probability to win.