Oct. 20, 2007
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | AP Action Photos 
General Notes:
– With the win, Vanderbilt goes to 4-3 overall, and 2-3 in Southeastern Conference play. The Commodores have never beaten a team ranked higher than No. 6 by the Associated Press. The victory over No. 6 South Carolina matches a feat accomplished Oct. 26, 1937 when the Commodores defeated No. 6 LSU 7-6 in Nashville.
– It also represents Vanderbilt’s second win ever against an Associated Press Top 10 opponent away from Nashville. The Commodores defeated No. 8 Auburn 25-13 in the 1955 Gator Bowl (Dec. 31) in Jacksonville, Fla. Today’s win marked Vanderbilt’s first true road victory over a Top 10 opponent.
– The victory is Vanderbilt’s first against a ranked opponent since the Commodores defeated No. 16-ranked Georgia 24-22 in Athens on Oct. 14, 2006.
– Vanderbilt held South Carolina to six points, the lowest total since Vanderbilt limited Tennessee-Chattanooga to six points on Sept. 6, 2003. The last time VU held an SEC and Division I opponent to six points or less was a 24-6 win over Kentucky on Nov. 5, 1994.
– The win at South Carolina snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Gamecocks and marked Vanderbilt’s first victory against South Carolina since earning an 11-10 win in Columbia on Oct. 23, 1999.
– The win marked Vanderbilt’s first against a Steve Spurrier coached team. Spurrier was 14-0 against the Commodores entering today’s contest.
– The Commodores have become a solid road opponent, having captured SEC wins over Arkansas (28-24, Sept. 10, 2005), Tennessee (28-24, Nov. 19, 2005), Georgia (24-22, Oct. 14, 2006) and South Carolina since the start of the 2005 season. Vanderbilt is 6-8 on the road since 2005.
– The Commodores tied a school record with seven sacks against the Gamecocks. Vanderbilt also had seven sacks earlier this season against Ole Miss on Sept. 15. Previous to this season, VU also had seven sacks against Alabama on Sept. 10, 1994, and Virginia Tech on Nov. 4, 1989.
First Half Notes:
– Quarterback Mackenzi Adams (R-So.) earned his first career start, replacing Chris Nickson (R-Jr.) who entered the game with 18-consecutive starts. Jeff Jennings (R-Jr.) started at tailback for the first time since the Alabama game.
– D.J. Moore (So.) opened the game with a 43-yard kickoff return. On the Gamecocks’ first possession, Moore intercepted a Chris Smelley pass, giving the Commodores the ball at the USC 24-yard line. It was Moore’s third pick of the year. Bryant Hahnfeldt converted the possession with a 32-yard field goal.
– Patrick Benoist (So., LB) gave Vanderbilt another excellent offensive opportunity with 8:06 left in the first quarter, forcing a fumble by Boyd, recovered by Ryan Hamilton (R-So., safety). Three plays later, Adams hit George Smith (R-Jr.) with a 22-yard TD pass.
– Darlron Spead (R-So.) stopped USC’s third offensive possession with his first career sack.
– Brett Upson (So.) pinned the Gamecocks twice in the first quarter, putting punts inside the USC 5-yard line.
– Adams hit Justin Wheeler (R-So.) on a 20-yard TD pass to give Vanderbilt a 17-0 lead after the first quarter.
– Alex Washington’s 37-yard return with 14:04 gave Vanderbilt another opportunity in USC territory. Hahnfeldt’s field goal attempt from 35 yards was unsuccessful.
– Sacks by Theo Horrocks (Sr., DT) and Broderick Stewart (R-So., DE) ended Gamecock possessions in the second quarter.
– After a Vanderbilt interception, a sack by Benoist slowed a long Gamecock drive that eventually led to a USC field goal. It was the fourth quarterback sack of the first half for the Commodores.
– The Commodore defense played well in the opening half, holding the Gamecocks to seven first downs, 17 rushing yards and 128 total yards. The `Dore offense also owned an 18:02-11:58 advantage in time of possession. The Commodores did not have a penalty in the opening half.
– For the second straight week, Vanderbilt entered intermission with a lead against its SEC East opponent. The Commodores had a 17-7 advantage over Georgia last Saturday, only to drop a 20-17 decision.
– Vanderbilt enjoyed a huge advantage in field possession during the opening half. Five of the Commodores’ first six possessions started in Gamecock territory, with the average Vanderbilt drive starting at the USC 40-yard line.
Second Half Notes:
– The Vanderbilt defense started well in the second half, holding USC to a three-and-out on its opening possession.
– Moore made a huge defensive play for the Commodores with 7:40 left in the third quarter, intercepting his second pass. It was his second of the game – and fourth this year.
– The defense stopped another drive on the final play of the third quarter when pressure forced the South Carolina quarterback to throw an incompletion of fourth and 7 from the Vanderbilt 39-yard line.
– The Vanderbilt offense got an important first down when Adams connected with Austin Monahan (Fr., TE) for a first down with 14:05 left in the fourth quarter. It was Monahan’s first career catch. When Vanderbilt was forced to punt, Nathan Campbell (R-Fr., LB) had a key tackle when the Carolina returner threw across the field on a trick play that looked wide open.
– Jonathan Goff made another key defensive play with 11:05 left by intercepting a USC pass inside Commodore territory. On the following Carolina drive, sacks by Broderick Stewart (R-So., DE) and Curtis Gatewood (R-Sr., DE) forced another Gamcock punt.
Commodore Team Superlatives:
– The Commodore defense was sensational, holding South Carolina to 282 yards of offense, while tying a school record with seven sacks. Vanderbilt also intercepted three passes and forced three fumbles, recovering one. At one point in the second quarter, Vanderbilt had out gained USC 169-35
– Mackenzi Adams finished the game 8-of-16 passing for 123 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the Commodores in rushing with 84 yards on 13 carries.
– Earl Bennett had two catches for 24 yards, and is one reception shy of the SEC all-time record of 208 held by former Kentucky standout Craig Yeast.
– Brett Upson continually pinned the Gamecocks deep in their own territory. On eight punt attempts, Upson pinned six inside USC’s 20. He averaged 40.1 yards on eight attempts.
– D.J. Moore had two interceptions, tying him for the lead in the SEC with five on the year. He also paced the defense with eight stops, and he averaged 34.0 yards on three kick returns.
The Commodores return to Nashville next Saturday to face non-conference foe Miami (Ohio). Kickoff is 1:00 p.m., CT.