HONOLULU (AP) — Mike Wright factored into four touchdowns and Vanderbilt used a 35-point third quarter to pull away from Hawaii 63-10 in its season opener on Saturday.
The Commodores rolled up 601 yards of total offense, including 404 rushing, to pick up their first win since Oct. 2, 2021.
Wright threw for 146 yards on 13-of-21 passing without an interception. Both of his touchdown passes went to Will Sheppard, covering 1 and 15 yards. Wright also ran for 163 yards and two scores, including an 87-yard touchdown, on only 13 carries.
Vanderbilt’s defense scored two touchdowns on fumble returns. Anfernee Orji snagged the first one out of the air after Maxwell Worship jarred it loose and returned it 28 yards to the end zone with 21 seconds left in the opening quarter. CJ Taylor scored from 14 yards out on a third-quarter scoop-and-score after Elijah McAllister forced the fumble.
“We’re obviously pleased with the result tonight. It feels like we have a team that came out and handled some early adversity and I thought we really played well as a team,” Lea said. “I thought we really battled back and the pain that we went through a year ago and having early setbacks there was a different feel on the field.”
Hawaii opened the game by driving 75 yards in eight plays, capped by Dedrick Parson’s 37-yard TD run to take an early lead.
Vanderbilt led 21-10 at halftime in the first match-up between the teams. It was the Commodores’ first win to open a season since 2018.
Hawaii had won its last seven home openers.
Vanderbilt moves to 1-0 on the campaign and returns to Nashville to host Elon on Sept. 3.
