|
Vanderbilt Falls To Navy 37-27 10/11/2003
Vanderbilt Falls To Navy 37-27 Despite a 227-yard passing effort that included a late-game 10-yard touchdown pass by sophomore quarterback Jay Cutler, the Commodores fell to Navy 37-27 Saturday afternoon in their Homecoming game. The Midshipmen opened the game with two touchdowns in the first quarter. Senior quarterback Craig Candeto ran two yards for Navy’s first touchdown. He also completed a 43-yard pass to junior wide receiver Amir Jenkins to put the Midshipmen up 14-0. The Commodores answered with a 25-yard field goal by sophomore place kicker Tolga Ertugrul, making the score 14-3 at the end of the first quarter. Vanderbilt propelled their momentum into the second quarter, as junior defensive end Robert Dinwiddie sacked Candeto. The Commodores’ ensuing possession resulted in an 80-yard drive, ignited by sophomore wide receiver Erik Davis’ 31-yard reception. The series was culminated by junior tailback Norval McKenzie’s three-yard touchdown run. Sophomore tailback Kwane Doster added a two-yard touchdown rush, which he set up with a season-high 38-yard run on a previous play. Doster’s touchdown put Vanderbilt up 17-14 at the half. Navy opened the third quarter with a 24-yard field goal by senior place kicker Eric Rolfs to tie the score, but the Commodores answered on their next possession. Ertugrul connected on his second field goal of the game, a 21-yard attempt that regained the lead for Vanderbilt at 20-17. Navy took over the game in the final quarter, opening with a three-yard touchdown run by Candeto. The Midshipmen then added another 36-yard field goal by Rolfs, and a final touchdown on a 16-yard pass from Candeto to freshman wide receiver Jason Tomlinson. Vanderbilt scored once more on Cutler’s 10-yard pass to Davis, but Navy closed it out with a 33-yard field goal with 24 seconds left in the game. The final score was Navy 37, Vanderbilt 27. Cutler finished the game with 221 yards, on 18-of-30 passing, for one touchdown. His numbers vaulted him into eighth place on Vanderbilt’s career total offensive chart, with 3,368 yards, and into second place in career passing yards by a sophomore, with 1,512 yards. McKenzie led the team in rushing with 77 yards, including one touchdown. It was his fifth touchdown of the season, a team-high. Doster finished with a season-high 72 yards on 10 rushes for one touchdown. He also contributed 52 yards on two kick returns. Junior wide receiver Brandon Smith added 77 yards on six catches, and Davis finished with 68 yards, including one touchdown reception. Freshman wide receiver Marlon White contributed 32 yards on two catches, and senior tight end Nick Getter added 27 yards on two catches. Ertugral also had a strong outing, completing a season-high two field goals and three PAT’s. The Commodores return to Southeastern Conference action next Saturday against Georgia. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT. |
