Oct. 25, 2008
Commodore Game Notes
Duke at Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tenn.
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
Attendance: 38,270
Pregame
Several notable alum of Vanderbilt athletics were in attendance, including current NFL players QB Jay Cutler (Denver), LB Hunter Hillenmeyer (Chicago), OT Chris Williams (Chicago), WR Earl Bennett (Chicago), DB Jimmy Williams (Houston) and DT Theo Horrocks (Jacksonville) and former NFL LB Matt Stewart.
Stewart, Bennett and former Commodore players Nate Morrow and Andrew Kerr served as homecoming parade grand marshals.
Other recent Vanderbilt student-athletes in attendance were pro tennis player Bobby Reynolds, Cleveland Indians’ hurler Jensen Lewis, 2008 MLB No. 2 draft pick Pedro Alvarez, and SEC track and field champion Josie Hahn.
First Half
– With 12:01 left in first quarter, Vanderbilt gave Duke excellent field possession after a pass interception by QB Mackenzi Adams, his fourth of the year… On second down, DE Steven Stone got his fourth QB sack of the season, matching a single-season career high. Two plays later, Duke fumbled a 52-yard FG snap, giving Vanderbilt the ball at its own 39-yard line… With 4:38 left in the initial quarter, D.J. Moore earned a 2-yard gain after lining up at QB… Bryant Hahnfeldt’s missed 34-yard FG at 14:23 of the second quarter marked just the second occasion this season that Vanderbilt failed to score on a possession inside the opponent’s 20-yard line… CB Myron Lewis contributed his fourth sack with 6:28 left in the second quarter, forcing a 4th & 20. Duke’s next play was a missed 50-yard FG… For the eighth consecutive game, Vanderbilt faced a deficit after Duke went 60 yards on eight plays for a touchdown just before halftime… With :28 left, after Duke blocked a Vanderbilt punt, DE Broderick Stewart contributed a QB sack and forced fumble, backing the Blue Devils out of the Commodore red zone. On fourth down, Duke missed a 43-yard FG.
Second Half
– DE Broderick Stewart’s sack and forced fumble at the 5:47 mark in the third quarter forced Duke to attempt a 42-yard field goal … LB Chris Marve’s sack and forced fumble with :01 left in the third quarter, ended a Duke scoring drive on the VU eight-yard line. DT T.J. Greenstone recovered the fumble, his first career recovery … QB Mackenzi Adams 79-yard touchdown pass to WR Sean Walker at the 13:20 mark in the fourth quarter was the longest pass and reception of both player’s careers. It was the longest pass play since QB Chris Nickson hit WR Earl Bennett for a 77-yard touchdown against Duke two years ago. The reception was tied for ninth longest in school history. It is the longest one since QB Jay Cutler threw an 80-yard completion to Brandon Smith against Tennessee in 2004. The catch completed a four-play 91-yard drive, the longest drive (yardage) for Vanderbilt this season. The previous long was 75 yards against Georgia last season … Sean Walker’s six-yard catch at the 10:12 point in the fourth quarter put him over the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career. It was a season high for Vanderbilt receivers, besting his 66-yard effort against Auburn on Oct. 4… LB Chris Marve stopped Duke’s third and 1 attempt short of the first down marker with minutes left in the game. It was his 12th tackle of the game.
Postgame
– WR Sean Walker finished with career highs with six catches for 138 yards and a touchdown. The receiving yardage was a season high for Vanderbilt receivers, besting his 66-yard effort against Auburn on Oct. 4
– QB Mackenzi Adams threw for a career best 210 yards. It was the first time a VU QB threw for over 200 yards this season. Richard Kovalcheck threw for 269 yards against Wake Forest in the season finale a year ago.
– LB Chris Marve finished with a career high 16 tackles, including 2.5 for loss. He had one forced fumble.
– DE Brandon Stewart finished with two sacks, and two forced fumbles.
– TE Brandon Barden recorded career highs with five catches and 53 yards.
– The loss was the first in four games at home this season.
