Oct. 6, 2012
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Russell’s Photos 
| AP Photos
Vanderbilt-Missouri Postgame Notes
October 6, 2012 Faurot Field – Columbia, Mo.
Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 123rd year of organized football.
– The Commodores wore white helmets, pants and jerseys; marking the second time the team has worn the combination this season (Northwestern).
– Vanderbilt won the toss and elected to defer to the second half with Missouri receiving the ball in the first half.
– Attendance was 66,250.
Team Notes
– Vanderbilt recorded the team’s first safety of the season when the snap on a punt went through the hands of Mizzou punter Trey Barrow in the first quarter. The safety was the first for the Dores since the Ole Miss game last season.
– Missouri led 6-2 at the end of the first quarter, the third time this season the Dores trailed after the first quarter.
– Vanderbilt led at the half for the third time this season (Northwestern, Presbyterian) with a 9-6 advantage.
– The SEC road win is the first for Vanderbilt since winning at Ole Miss in 2010.
Individual Notes
– Jared Morse earned his first career start, getting the nod at defensive tackle.
– Jake Sealand became the fourth true freshman to see action this season, making his debut on the kickoff return team in the first quarter.
– Larry Franklin recovered his first career fumble in the first quarter setting the VU offense up at the Missouri 34-yard line.
– Josh Gregory received his first career action at the end of the first quarter on the punt return team.
– Zac Stacy’s five-yard TD run in the second quarter gave VU the lead and gave Stacy 22 for his career, tying him for the third-most in school history with Charley Horton (1952-55).
– Andre Hal’s three pass break-ups in the first half set a new career-high.
– Jordan Rodgers’ interception in the third quarter snapped a streak of 69 attempts without a pick going back to the South Carolina game, his only other interception of the season.
– Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd each extended their streaks with at least one catch to 13 games with catches in the first quarter.
– Zac Stacy’s 29 carries set a career-best and season-best and was his sixth career game with over 20 carries.
– Stacy’s second TD-run of the night put him in sole possession of third place on the all-time list at Vandy and marked his fifth career multiple touchdown game.
– Kris Kentera made his first career reception in the fourth quarter with a four-yard gain.
– Jordan Matthews matched his career-best with nine catches with an 11-yard grab in the fourth quarter. The junior wide receiver has 35 catches in five games this year after hauling in 41 passes in 13 games last season.
– Carey Spear nailed his ninth field goal of the season with a 21-yarder in the fourth quarter, improving to 9-for-11 on the season and 6-for-6 on kicks between 1-29 yards.
– Kenny Ladler and Javon Marshall each had eight tackles to lead the Commodores.
– Chase Garnham registered the Dores’ lone sack of the night with an 11-yard loss in the fourth quarter.
Offensive Notes
– Vanderbilt’s 76-yard scoring drive in the second quarter was the Commodores’ longest since Zac Stacy’s 86-yard TD run to open the game against Presbyterian.
– The offense converted five third downs and scored on all three red zone trips.
– The Commodores ran the football a season-high 43 times in the win.
Defensive Notes
– After Missouri’s first two drives the Commodores’ defense allowed only 50 yards and three first downs the rest of the first half.
– The defense held Tigers’ QB Corbin Berkstresser to 9-of-30 passing.
Special Team Notes
– With Missouri’s first two field goals of the night, Vanderbilt’s opponents moved to 6-for-6 on the season.
– Carey Spear notched his first career put with a 33-yarder in the first quarter that rolled to a stop at the two-yard line.
– Richard Kent was a weapon for the Dores booting two 50-plus yard punts, including a 59-yarder, and two inside the 20-yard line.
– Jordan Matthews returned a kick a career-best 32 yards after the Missouri safety in the first quarter.