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Vanderbilt Game Notes
10/1/2005
Middle Tennessee at Vanderbilt
Saturday, Oct. 1, 2005
Attendance: 37,257
Starting Lineup
Senior quarterback Jay Cutler earned the 39th start of his Commodore career, the most ever by a Vanderbilt signal caller. Entering the game, he shared the record for most career quarterback starts with Greg Zolman (1998-2001). Cutler also enjoyed his 33rd consecutive start, a feat shared by senior defensive end Herdley Harrison? Junior wide receiver Marlon White returned to the Commodore offensive starting unit after missing the Richmond game.
First Half Notes
Redshirt freshman Chris Nickson, who played quarterback against Richmond last week, saw action at wide receiver, catching a Jay Cutler pass for 10 yards on the opening possession? On the Commodores’ second possession, Nickson played quarterback while Cutler moved to wide receiver? Freshman Bryant Hahnfeldt gave Vanderbilt its first points with 31 seconds left in the first quarter by converting a 42-yard field goal? Junior defensive tackle Ray Brown saw his first action of the year when MTSU started its offensive possession at the 7:17 mark of the second quarter? Hahnfeldt added another field goal with 16 seconds left, capping an 11-play, 78-yard drive.
Second Half Notes
Hahnfeldt capped Vanderbilt’s third scoring drive with 2:47 left in the third quarter, hitting a 42-yard field goal? Hahnfeldt has converted on eight of 11 field goal attempts. Last year, the Commodores made just seven field goals on the season? Vanderbilt took their second lead of the game at 15-14 on a 16-yard touchdown connection between Cutler and senior Erik Davis with 12:55 left? In getting the lead, the Commodores overcame a deficit that reached 11 points (14-3). Middle Tennessee regained a 17-15 advantage on a 29-yard field goal at 3:18. That proved to be the winning margin as Vanderbilt’s 36-yard field goal attempt with three seconds remaining was blocked.
Davis Climbs onto Career Top 10 Lists for Receptions and Receiving Yardage
With an eight-yard catch from Cutler at the 5:24 mark of third quarter, senior wide receiver Erik Davis entered the Commodore all-time Top 10 in career receiving yardage, passing Allama Matthews (1,544 yards from 1979-82). On his next catch ?– a 16-yard touchdown from Cutler with 12:55 left in the game — Davis tied Wamon Buggs (1878-81) for 10th all-time with 111 receptions. Davis moved into sole possession for 10th during Vanderbilt’s last drive of the game. Davis ended the day with seven receptions for 92 yards and one touchdown, giving the senior 113 career receptions for 1, 593 career yards.
Jay Cutler Moves to Second on the Vanderbilt Career Completions List; Ranks 20th All-Time in SEC
Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler moved into second all-time on the school’s career completions list with 563 after connecting on 26-of-44 pass attempts against Middle Tennessee. Cutler moved past Whit Talyor (555) and trails only Greg Zolman’s 596 career completions? Cutler’s 563 career completions rank 20th all-time.
Notes on the Defense
Vanderbilt allowed a season-low 11 first downs, 147 yards passing and 209 yards of total offense to the opposition? Linebacker Moses Osemwegie registered a game-high 11 tackles against Middle Tennessee. It marked the second time this season Osemwegie has registered double-digit tackle totals. He also recorded 11 tackles against Ole Miss on Sept. 17? Defensive end Chris Booker recorded two sacks on the night for minus-14 yards? Andrew Pace tied a season-high with 10 tackles against Middle Tennessee. He also registered 10 tackles at Wake Forest in the season opener.
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