VMI (2-3, 1-1), which utilized an option attack prior to this year, was held to just eight yards rushing on 22 carries. The Keydets passed for 184 yards, with 80 coming on one pass play.
"I'm certainly pleased with the win in a great atmosphere today," head coach Chuck Priore said. "I think the bye week helped us in preparation as well as just getting healthy."
Freshman Devonte Wheeler (Staten Island, N.Y.) and sophomore Dominick Reyes (Hesperia, Calif.) each recorded an interception. Senior Jonas Rousseau (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who totaled 2.5 sacks, and senior Julian Glenn (Uniondale, N.Y.) accounted for SBU's forced fumbles.
Sophomore Rich Vitale (Higganum, Conn.) recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
Offensively, junior quarterback Michael Coulter (Yorba Linda, Calif.) went 14-of-19 for 194 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Jordan Gush (Richardson, Texas) and junior Matt Brevi (Tampa, Fla.) finished with nine catches for 115 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 79 yards, respectively.
Junior Brock Jackolski (Shirley, N.Y.) ran for a 25-yard score, his fifth rushing touchdown and sixth overall.
Sophomore Wesley Skiffington (Brandon, Fla.) was 2-for-2 on field goals and 3-for-3 on PATs. His 44-yard field goal in the third quarter is a new career-high.
Trailing 3-0, Stony Brook drove 64 yards in 15 plays, tying the score at three after Skiffington's 24-yard field goal. The Seawolves, who held the ball for over 36 minutes of game action, used more than eight minutes up during the drive.
After forcing VMI to four-and-out, Stony Brook scored quickly, as is its M.O. On play action from the Stony Brook 46, Coulter hit Brevi for 48 yards, setting the Seawolves up with first-and-goal from the six. Two plays later, Coulter hit Gush in the flat for a five-yard touchdown.
Following Skiffington's 44-yard field goal, which gave Stony Brook a 13-3 lead, the Keydets started the ensuing drive on their own nine. Forced to punt after a four-and-out, the ball was snapped over Marc Ray's head. Glenn tackled Ray, who fumbled, then Vitale recovered the ball in the end zone for the touchdown. It was Vitale's second fumble recovery of the season.
VMI closed to within 11, 20-9, after an 80-yard touchdown pass from Eric Kordenbrock to Mario Scott.
Stony Brook is back on the road next week for a non-conference game at Lafayette. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. For more information on all Stony Brook sports, visit GoSeawolves.org.
