Vanderbilt running back Jamauri Wakefield carries the ball past Tennessee defensive back Carlin Fils-aime in the first half of Saturday’s SEC East matchup in Nashville.SATURDAY’S STAR
Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur completed his first 15 passes and guided the Commodores to a 17-0 halftime lead. He finished with four incompletions in 35 attempts for a season-high 367 yards and three scores in the win.
SATURDAY’S STAT
In the meaningless stat category, the Volunteers had a 75-yard touchdown run by Ty Chandler to cut the lead to 17-7 early in the third quarter. Their next run gained 19 yards, by Tim Jordan on the next possession. The Vols’ other 12 carries netted 12 yards.
TURNING POINT
The Vols had just scored on Chandler’s long run to cut the lead to 17-7 and held Vanderbilt on its next possession. They’d shown some more life with a 19-yard run by Jordan, but the Vols then called three consecutive passing plays, resulting in a sack, a short completion and an incomplete pass. An opportunity to seize momentum was lost.
THE BIG PLAY
Vanderbilt wide receiver Amir Abdur-Rahim’s diving one-handed catch in the end zone with good coverage was an impressive play, but it was also a big play because it pushed the Commodores’ lead to 24-7. It was Abdur-Rahim’s second catch of the year.
WHAT IT MEANS
Tennessee had an opportunity to reach a bowl but came out flat and seemingly disinterested in playing in the first half. It’s going to lead to an interesting offseason centered around recruiting the talent and depth necessary to consistently compete with the Vanderbilts of the world at first, with eyes on the upper echelon down the road.
HOW THEY SCORED
FIRST QUARTER
VU – Jared Pinkney 17-yard pass from Kyle Shurmur (Ryley Guay kick), 1:38
Drive: 11 plays, 84 yards, 7:04
Key play: Shurmur was 8-for-8 for 84 yards on the drive, including a 7-yard completion to Kalija Lipscomb on third-and-6 on the play prior to the touchdown toss.
VANDERBILT 7, TENNESSEE 0
SECOND QUARTER
VU – Kalija Lipscomb 2-yard run (Guay kick), 10:33
Drive: 10 plays, 66 yards, 5:21
Key play: The Vols had a chance to stop the drive, but linebacker Daniel Bituli was unable to tackle Khari Blasingame on a screen pass on third-and-2 early in the possession. The missed tackle turned what would have been a short loss into a 6-yard gain.
VANDERBILT 14, TENNESSEE 0
VU – Guay 43-yard field goal, 0:51
Drive: 13 plays, 55 yards, 5:32
Key play: The Commodores bypassed a 48-yard field-goal attempt and converted on fourth-and-1 with a 3-yard run by Blasingame.
VANDERBILT 17, TENNESSEE 0
THIRD QUARTER
UT – Ty Chandler 75-yard run (Brent Cimaglia kick), 14:48
Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:12
Key play: Chandler found a gap in the right side of the defense and was untouched for his fourth rushing score of the year.
VANDERBILT 17, TENNESSEE 7
FOURTH QUARTER
VU – Amir Abdur-Rahman 26-yard pass from Shurmur (Guay kick), 14:29
Drive: 3 plays, 48 yards, 0:33
Key plays: The Commodores’ last two plays of the drive were huge. First it was a leaping 23-yard reception by Lipscomb despite pass interference, followed by a diving one-handed catch by Abdur-Rahman – his second catch of the season.
VANDERBILT 24, TENNESSEE 7
VU – Blasingame 1-yard run (Guay kick), 9:02
Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 4:25
Key play: Two plays prior to the touchdown, Blasingame shook off some tackles and sprinted 21 yards to the 1-yard line.
VANDERBILT 31, TENNESSEE 7
UT – Marquez Callaway 17-yard pass from Jarrett Guarantano (conversion failed), 8:31
Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:31
Key play: Guarantano found Jauan Jennings for a 43-yard catch-and-run. That, coupled with a 15-yard penalty due to a roughing-the-passer penalty on Vanderbilt, preceded the Callaway touchdown catch.
VANDERBILT 31, TENNESSEE 13
VU – Cody Markel 2-yard pass from Shurmur (Guay kick), 2:33
Drive: 10 plays, 49 yards, 5:58
Key play: The Commodores converted a fourth down to keep the drive alive with a 4-yard plunge by Shurmur, and a third down with a 12-yard completion from Shurmur to C.J. Bolar.
VANDERBILT 38, TENNESSEE 13