The Lee-Jackson Classic game between Washington & Lee and VMI marks one of the longest rivalries in NCAA lacrosse, dating back to the 1988 season.

The game itself dated back to 1987, when the two schools battled on VMI’s parade ground. VMI, then in its fifth season with a varsity program, battled a W&L team ranked No. 1 in Division III into the fourth quarter before the Generals pulled away for a 15-9 win. 

“There were 1,200 to 1,500 people at the game and they had to stop it several times to move people off the end lines,” said former VMI head coach Doug Bartlett. “The atmosphere at the game was unbelievable and helped give birth to the Lee-Jackson Classic.” 

The inaugural game was played in 1988 on W&L’s Wilson Field, with VMI winning 15-9. The Generals then won 16 straight games from 1989 through 2004. The Keydets snapped the streak in 2005, winning the matchup 12-4 and have won three of the recent games played since, including a thrilling 15-13 win in 2009 at the new Wilson Field.

The featured honor of the annual event is the Worrell-Fallon Award, given to the most valuable player of each team. The trophy honors a pair of prominent community members in DeWitt (De) Worrell and Gary Fallon, who are credited in bridging the gap between the two institutions prior to their lives being tragically cut short.