LEXINGTON, VA - No miracle fourth quarter comeback this time around. Despite 10 trips into VMI territory, the Charleston Southern Buccaneers were unable to put enough points on the board, falling to the Keydets, 34-12, on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Memorial Field. The victory avenged last year's loss at CSU when the Buccaneers scored 23 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and won, 25-24.

VMI improves to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in Big South play while Charleston Southern drops to 2-4 on the season, 0-1 in the Big South Conference.

Freshman Brian Royster rushed for a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns and backfield mate Nat Jackson added 96 yards and two scores as the Keydets rolled up 429 total yards, including 285 yards on the ground. Junior quarterback Jonathan Wilson was efficient in the passing game, completing 13-of-22 passes for 144 yards and rushing for 56 yards.

"We certainly had our chances today, no question about it," said CSU head coach Jay Mills. "We put ourselves in a few situations to score some points and came away empty. It's frustrating for us right now but we're not discouraged. We are so close to breaking over the hump. It's not a matter of if for us, it's a matter of when. Unfortunately, everyone wants it now and we just have to keep working at it."

CSU trailed 15-0 at the half but looked in great shape after Tavares Shorter returned the second-half kickoff to the VMI 22-yard line. A completed pass from Collin Drafts to Bryant Burch would have given the Bucs a first-and-goal at the six but Burch fumbled the ball and the Keydets recovered at the seven.

Royster's one-yard with 6:35 left in the third quarter capped an 11-play, 69-yard drive and gave VMI a 22-0 lead. CSU answered with their first scoring drive of the game, an 11-play drive covering 67 yards with Drafts scoring on a three-yard run with 1:36 left in the third.

CSU again threatened late in the third, reaching the VMI 20 before Todd Baldwin intercepted a Drafts pass, ending the threat. CSU managed one more score, an eight-yard pass from Drafts to freshman Markus Murry with 6:22 remaining in the game.

Drafts finished the game with 219 yards passing, completing 21-of-35 but tossing a pair of interceptions. Maurice Price had seven receptions for 84 yards and Andre Copeland led the rushing attack with 45 yards. Junior linebacker Jada Ross, the leading tackler in the Big South Conference, tallied 17 tackles, including nine solo hits and a tackle for loss.

VMI broke out of the gate quickly, taking the opening kickoff and marching 76 yards on nine plays with Jackson scoring on a four-yard run with 11:34 remaining in the opening quarter.

CSU answered with a nice drive, covering 50 yards before Nick Ellis' 42-yard field goal was blocked with 7:30 left in the quarter.

Late in the first quarter, VMI downed a punt at the CSU one-yard line and on the Buccaneers' second play, Andre Copeland was tackled in the endzone for a safety on the first play of the second quarter.

Leading 8-0, VMI took the free kick and marched 69 yards on nine plays with Jackson scoring on an 18-yard scamper for a 15-0 lead with 10:27 left in the first half.

Charleston Southern reached VMI territory on five possessions in the first half but failed to come away with points. One scoring drive for the Bucs ended at the VMI eight-yard line when safety Robert Mason intercepted a long pass from Drafts late in the second quarter.

"I thought we weathered the storm early and settled into the game pretty well but a mistake here and there set us back," said Mills. "We had a lot of positives today. I think our offensive line continues to improve everyday and we were able to run the football with some consistency at times today. We just have to prepare ourselves this week for another big game and see if we can't take the next step."

Charleston Southern returns to action next week at home, hosting West Virginia Wesleyan at 1:30 pm.