April 17, 2010
On campus in Nashville, Tenn. – After a pair of disappointing scrimmages in recent weeks, the Commodore offense finished off Vanderbilt’s spring drills in style Saturday by scoring three quick touchdowns in the team’s final practice.
The offensive fireworks came in the Commodores’ 15th spring session, an abbreviated scrimmage held Saturday morning in Vanderbilt Stadium.
After failing to reach the end zone last weekend in the featured Black & Gold Scrimmage, the offense enjoyed plenty of success Saturday, scoring on its first three drives during the abbreviated 41-play scrimmage.
Afterward, Head Coach Bobby Johnson said his entire Commodore squad improved during the team’s five-week spring drills. He also liked seeing the offensive success Saturday.
“Overall, I think we got better as a football team, especially over the last week to 10 days,” Johnson said. “Offensively, we’re starting to move the football, and see some positive results from the work we’re putting in.
“I feel good about our intensity level and effort the entire spring. We’re been able take a close look at several younger players, guys that I definitely think can help us this season. We think this team enters the summer with a lot of optimism and feeling pretty good about itself,” Johnson added.
The touchdowns Saturday came on a 11-yard pass from Larry Smith to tight end Brandon Barden, a 2-yard rush by tailback Zac Stacy, and a 19-yard hookup between Jared Funk and receiver Tray Herndon.
A brief drive summary follows:
Series I
– Junior quarterback Larry Smith guides the offense 65 yards for a touchdown, the unit’s first opening drive score in three spring scrimmages. Smith was 5-of-6 for 43 yards on the drive, hitting John Cole for 13 yards, Norman twice for 10 yards and Barden twice for 18 yards. Starting from the 35-yard line, Smith opens the drive by completions to wide receiver John Cole, tailback Warren Norman and tight end Brandon Barden. After a 25-yard rush by Zac Stacy moves the ball inside the 15-yard line, Smith connects with Barden four plays later on a 11-yard touchdown. The drive is aided by a pass interference on 3rd-and-14 that resulted in first down inside the 15-yard line.
Series II
– The offense, behind redshirt freshman Charlie Goro, again goes 65 yards for a score. The big plays were Goro completions to Reeves for 21 yards and Cole for 11 yards. After three Reeves rushes for 12 yards, the offense tallies on Zac Stacy’s 2-yard inside rush.
Series III
– Senior signal caller Jared Funk directs a third straight offensive touchdown. Starting from midfield, Funk finds wide receiver Udom Umoh for 16 yards over the middle. After a 15-yard roughing penalty, Funk quickly caps the drive, connecting with wideout Tray Herndon for 19 yards in the corner of the end zone.
Series IV
– Just as a fourth offensive score looks imminent, the defense stiffens near its goalline, keeping the offense off the board on a fourth-down tackle of Reeves by tackle Colt Nichter and end Johnell Thomas at the 1-yard line. Quarterback Jordan Rodgers guided the offense quickly down the field, hitting Reeves for 13 yards and 20 yards to tight end Mason Johnston. With 1st-and-goal at the 2-yard line, the offense failed to score on four straight inside rushes by Reeves and Stacy.
Series V
– The defense forces its first three-and-out by the offense. Coming off the big fourth-down stop in previous possession, Nichter opens the drive by tackling Norman for a loss of two yards. On third-and-long, cornerback Casey Hayward stops a screen pass to Norman for just three yards, forcing a punt.
Series VI
– This red-zone possession ends in a field goal attempt after Goro misses an open Herndon in the end zone on third down. The drive includes a 10-yard carry by Reeves.
Series VII
Hayward deflects a Funk pass to Herndon deep in the end zone to force another field goal attempt in this red-zone possession. The offense did not produce a first down in the drive.
Statistics for Vanderbilt’s final scrimmage, April 17
OFFENSIVE STATISTICS
Passing: Larry Smith, 6-8-44-1TD, Jared Funk 3-4-35-1TD, Charlie Goro 2-6-32, Jordan Rodgers 3-5-39
Rushing: Zac Stacy 3-28- 1TD, C. Goro 3-18, Kennard Reeves 5-13, J. Funk 1-8; L. Smith 1-2, Udom Umoh 1-4, Warren Norman 2-0
Receiving: Brandon Barden 2-18-1TD, Reeves 2-34, John Cole 2-24, Mason Johnston 1-20, Tray Herndon 1-19-1TD, Umoh 1-15, Norman 3-13, Turner Wimberly 1-6, Akeem Dunham 1-0
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS
Tackles: Sean Richardson 5, Josh Jelesky 3, Kenny Ladler 3, Blake Southerland 3, Eddie Foster 2, Jamie Graham 2, Rob Lohr 2, Colt Nichter 2, Johnell Thomas 2, Dexter Daniels 1, Jay Fullam 1, DeAndre Jones 1, Theron Kadri 1, Al Owens 1, Eric Samuels 1, John Stokes 1
Tackles for Loss: Colt Nichter 1-(-2)
Defended Passes: Casey Hayward 1, Javon Marshall 1, Micah Powell 1, Samuels 1
