Sept. 4, 2008
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Commodore Game Notes
South Carolina at Vanderbilt
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008
Attendance: 36,850
The Commodores move to 2-0 with the decision. It was also their first game in Southeastern Conference play. It is Vanderbilt’s first 2-0 start since 2005, when the Commodores started 4-0.
Pregame Notes
– For the sixth straight year, first-year Vanderbilt students participated in the Freshmen Run to celebrate the start of football season. This year, more than 1,600 freshmen participated in the pre-game activity, which includes running the length of Dudley Field.
– The Commodores played their second consecutive Thursday night game with both games broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. It is the ninth contest broadcast on ESPN all-time.
First Half
– Midway through the first quarter, DT Greg Billinger earned his first career quarterback sack. The play put South Carolina in third-and-long situation, yet the Gamecocks still converted for points on a 19-yard Chris Smelley-to-Kenny McKinley touchdown pass.
– With 2:33 left in the first quarter and South Carolina driving in Vanderbilt territory, safety Reshard Langford intercepted a Smelley pass that was initially deflected by CB D.J. Moore. Langford had a career-high 33-yard yard return. It was Langford’s ninth career pick; the most among active Commodores.
– With 9:22 left in the second quarter, another South Carolina drive ended on an interception as Darlron Spead picked off Smelley. Spead returned it for a career high 41 yards. It was Spead’s fifth career pick. Nine plays later, PK Bryant Hahnfeldt put the Commodores on the scoreboard with a 19-yard FG. Hahnfeldt is 3-3 on field goal attempts this year.
– LB Patrick Benoist slowed a deep South Carolina possession late in the second quarter with a 6-yard sack of Smelley. The Gamecocks still added three points at the end of the half on a 41-yard FG by Ryan Succop.
Second Half
– With 10:21 left in the third quarter, Vanderbilt received a big play on special teams when Brett Upson’s punt hit a Gamecock defender at the USC 32-yard line. Safety Ryan Hamilton recovered the ball.
On the first play of Vanderbilt’s possession, Nickson hit TE Brandon Barden for a 31-yard TD over the middle. It was Barden’s first career touchdown reception. The ensuing extra point was Hahnfeldt’s 200th-career point. He is the second kicker in school history to reach the mark behind John Markham’s 209 career points from 1997-2000.
– With 5:33 left in the third quarter, Greg Billinger blocked Ryan Succop’s 42-yard field goal attempt. John Stokes caught the blocked kick in the air and returned it 18 yards.
– Sean Walker’s 29-yard gain on a reverse at the 4:45 mark, set Vanderbilt up at the South Carolina 13-yard line. Jared Hawkins followed with a 12-yard run on the very next play. Chris Nickson then capped the scoring drive off with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, his third rushing score of the year.
– Austin Monahan’s 18-yard reception at the 13:40 mark in the fourth quarter was a career-long reception.
– Jared Hawkins 13-yard touchdown run at the 9:28 mark in the fourth quarter capped off an eight play, 68-yard drive that took 4:12 off the clock.
– The Hawkins’ touchdown run was the third straight Commodore possession that culminated in a score and gave the team a 24-10 lead.
– Greg Billinger’s six-yard sack at the 3:21 mark in the fourth quarter was his second sack of the game. Steven Stone followed on the next play with a sack for a two-yard loss that forced South Carolina to punt with 2:34 left in the game.
– Jared Hawkins closed out the game with six straight rushes for 24 yards including two first down runs that iced the game.
Postgame
– The win was the Commodores first home win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 25 Ole Miss 31-9 on Sept. 19, 1992. It was the team’s third win in its last eight matchups against Top 25 teams.
– The win was the first win in an SEC opener since defeating Arkansas, 28-24 in the 2005 campaign. It was the first win in an SEC home opener since defeating LSU, 24-21, in the 1990 season.
– VU has won two straight over South Carolina for the first time since the 1998-99 seasons. It was also the second win all-time against the Gamecocks in Nashville snapping a four-game losing streak in Vanderbilt Stadium. The first win was a 17-14 decision in 1998.
– The win was Vanderbilt’s first ever on ESPN’s flagship station. They entered the game winless in eight opportunities.
– The Commodores picked up their third straight Thursday night win after defeating Miami (Ohio) last weekend and Wake Forest in 2005.
– After gaining just 50 yards on 26 plays in the first half, Vanderbilt totaled 175 yards on 28 plays in the second half, including 96 yards on 11 plays in the third quarter.
– Jared Hawkins had a career highs with 84 yards on 17 carries including a touchdown run that proved to be the difference in the game.
– Jamie Graham’s three receptions for 21 yards led the team and were both career highs.
– Patrick Benoist finished with a career best 15 tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss.
