Dec. 26, 2016
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Vanderbilt – NC State Postgame Notes
Dec. 26, 2016
Independence Stadium
Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 127th year of organized football.
– The Commodores wore an all black uniforms for the second time this year (Ole Miss).
– Vanderbilt won the toss and deferred with NC State receiving the opening kick.
– Attendance was 28,995.
– Vanderbilt captains for the game were Ralph Webb, Ryan White, Oren Burks and Zach Cunningham.
Team Notes
– Vanderbilt’s appearance in the Camping World Independence Bowl is the Commodores’ eighth bowl in the history of the program.
– The game against NC State is just the third meeting against the Wolfpack and the first since the 2012 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.
– Tommy Openshaw’s first quarter field goal gave Vanderbilt points in the first quarter in seven of the program’s eight bowl games.
– Vanderbilt led 3-0 at the end of the 1st quarter, marking the fifth straight bowl game VU led after the opening quarter.
– Vanderbilt fell to 4-3-1 all-time in bowls with the loss to NC State.
– Ralph Webb broke Vanderbilt’s single-season rushing record, passing Zac Stacy. Webb now holds the class rushing record for Vanderbilt freshmen, sophomores and juniors in addition to the career and single-season records.
Individual Notes
– Arnold Tarpley pounced on a fumble to end NC State’s opening drive and pick up his second fumble recovery of the year.
– Tommy Openshaw tied a career-best with a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter to set a new Independence Bowl record and put VU on the board first.
– Trent Sherfield’s 45-yard run in the second quarter is the longest run by a Commodore in a bowl game.
– Arnold Tarpley led VU with six tackles in the opening half, including a tackle for loss.
– Ralph Webb’s 30-yard touchdown run in the third quarter is Vanderbilt’s longest scoring play this year.
– Kalija Lipscomb’s 71-yard punt return set up a VU score in the fourth quarter and is the longest return since Jonathan Krause returned a punt for 83 yards against Wake Forest.
– Webb’s 111 yards rushing gave him his seventh 100-yard game this season and 13th of his career.
– Tarpley led the Commodores with a career-high 12 tackles, including eight solo stops.
– Adam Butler made a career-high seven tackles in the game.
– CJ Duncan caught a team-best six passes for 47 yards with Caleb Scott’s 49 yards on four catches next on the list.
– Joejuan Williams made a career-best four tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Offensive Notes
– Trent Sherfield’s 45-yard run in the second quarter is the longest run by a Commodore in a bowl game.
– Vanderbilt ran for 95 yards in the first half, led by Ralph Webb’s 47 yards.
– Caleb Scott caught three passes for 38 yards to lead VU in the first half.
– Seven different receivers caught passes in the game, led by CJ Duncan’s six receptions.
– The Commodores attempted a season-high 46 passes.
Defensive Notes
– The Dores forced a fumble on NC State’s first possession of the game and now have forced turnovers in 12-of-13 games this season.
– The Commodores’ red zone defense stuffed NC State from the one-yard line on fourth down in the first quarter.
– VU held NC State to 3-for-5 in the red zone.
Special Teams Notes
– Tommy Openshaw tied a career-best with a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter to set a new Independence Bowl record and put VU on the board first.
– Kalija Lipscomb’s 71-yard punt return set up a VU score in the fourth quarter and is the longest return since Jonathan Krause returned a punt for 83 yards against Wake Forest.
– Darrius Sims (82 KR) and Kalija Lipscomb (71 PR) combined for 153 return yards in the game.
