The biggest lesson the VMI football team took from its first preseason scrimmage on Thursday was that there are plenty more lessons to learn.

Tracy Hairston caught a 58-yard touchdown pass, and Michael Mey grabbed a 40-yard scoring pass with one hand in the lightning-shortened scrimmage at Foster Stadium.

“We don’t have any pads for lightning, so we surrendered,” coach Sparky Woods said.

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The Keydets, who went 3-8 last season with a 2-4 record in the Big South, open the season at home against Delaware State on Sept. 3.

They have one more scrimmage planned for Thursday, Aug. 25, but Woods said the Keydets likely would work some of their planned scrimmage plays into today’s practice.

“We learned we’re not ready to play right now,” Woods said. “We need to practice. … And we need to transfer practice into games. We looked better in practice than we did today.”

Quarterback Adam Morgan went 3for-3 for 78 yards, including the 58-yard score to Hairston, who ran 42 yards after the catch.

Eric Kordenbrock went 2for-7 for 16 yards and fumbled once.

Morgan and Kordenbrock are vying for the starting quarterback role. Woods said he hadn’t seen enough to make a choice.

Tyler Tolley completed a 40-yard touchdown pass that Mey brought down with one hand.

On defense, Byron Allen had two tackles and an assist.

Josh Sneed had two assists and broke up a pass, and Deon Watts had two assisted tackles.

Emmanuel Cooper had a solo tackle and a fumble recovery, and Emilio Calvin had a fumble recovery.

Woods said he told the team that it wouldn’t be long before the coaches would have to pick out their starting lineup.

“We’ll ask, ‘Can we win the Big South Conference with this guy?’ ” Woods said. “One guy we can win the Big South Conference with is [offensive lineman] Rob Bailey. He’s played well here, and he’s playing well now.”

By Katrina Waugh, Roanoke Times
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/college/wb/296568