VMI 31, Gardner-Webb 24

Published Nov. 19, 2011 7:44 p.m. ET

foxsports

Eric Kordenbrock threw for three touchdowns and Virginia Military Institute held off Gardner-Webb 31-24 Saturday in the season finale for both teams, marking the Keydets' first win over the Runnin' Bulldogs in nine tries.

VMI (2-9, 2-4 Big South Conference) led 31-10 with 5:24 left, but Gardner Webb (4-7, 2-4) scored twice in the next two minutes to make it close.

After J.J. Hubbard's 79-yard kickoff return, the Runnin' Bulldogs recovered the onside kick. Jordan Paul's 1-yard rush made it 31-24 with 3:16 left.

The Keydets managed only two yards on their next possession and punted deep into Gardner-Webb territory. Paul threw three incomplete passes, then a personal foul on the next play gave the Runnin' Bulldogs first down. Paul threw three more incompletions before Byron Allen picked him off with 1:22 left.

Kordenbrock's 278 yards passing included an 83-yarder to Aaron Lewis for VMI's longest play of the season.