Sept. 14, 2013
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Vanderbilt – South Carolina Postgame Notes
September 14, 2013
Williams-Brice Stadium
Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 124th year of organized football.
– The Commodores wore black helmets and pants with white jerseys for the first time this year. It marks the first time since the Florida game in 2011 that the Dores wore that uniform combination.
– South Carolina won the toss and deferred to the second half with Vanderbilt electing to receive in the first half.
– Attendance was 81,371 – a sellout at Williams-Brice Stadium.
– Vanderbilt captains for the game were Jordan Matthews, Wesley Johnson, Andrew East and Walker May.
Team Notes
– Vanderbilt is now 4-19 against South Carolina all-time.
– The Commodores have now lost two straight SEC games after winning four straight.
Individual Notes
– Jerron Seymour earned his first career start, getting the nod at running back.
– Jake Bernstein started his first game of the season getting the call at guard.
– Freshman Jordan Cunningham made his first career start for the Dores.
– With his catch on the Dores’ first drive Jordan Matthews now has at least one reception in 23 straight games.
– Taylor Hudson’s 75-yard punt in the second quarter was a career-best and the longest punt by a Commodore since 2003 when Abtin Iranmanesh booted one 80 yards vs. Georgia.
– Steven Clarke’s interception in the second quarter was the first of his career and the first for the Dores’ this season. The 69-yard return was the longest for VU since Trey Wilson’s 100-yard return for a score against Presbyterian.
– Jerron Seymour scored his team-best third rushing TD of the season on a 1-yard run in the second quarter.
– Carey Spear’s 54-yard field goal at the end of the first half set a new career-best and matches Johnny Clark’s 54-yard kick vs. Auburn in 1987 for the third longest in school history.
– Caleb Azubike made a tackle for loss for the second straight game.
– Adam Butler made his first career tackle for loss with a stop in the third quarter.
– Kris Kentera made his first catch of the year with a seven-yard catch on fourth down in the third quarter.
– Darreon Herring made a career-best nine tackles, including a career-high five solo stops.
– Wesley Tate’s 19-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter was his first receiving TD of the year and the second of his career.
– Kenny Ladler led Vandy with a career-high 14 tackles, including a career-best 10 solo stops. Ladler’s 14 total tackles and 10 solo tackles are the most by a Commodore this season.
– Jordan Matthews topped 100 yards receiving for the third straight game this season and 13th time in his career, catching eight passes for 106 yards.
– Adam Butler made a career-best six tackles after entering the game with one in his career.
– Wesley Tate’s 71 yards rushing are the most by a Commodore this season.
Offensive Notes
– Vanderbilt’s 10-play, 49-yard scoring drive in the second half marked the Dores’ fourth scoring drive this season of 10 plays or more.
– The Commodores’ one-play scoring drive in the fourth quarter was VU’s third one-play scoring drive of the year with the other two coming on pass plays to Jordan Matthews.
– Vanderbilt’s 25 points are the most scored vs. South Carolina since 2005.
Defensive Notes
– The Commodores went with the same starting lineup as the team did vs. Austin Peay.
– Steven Clarke’s interception in the second quarter was the first of his career and the first for the Dores’ this season. The 69-yard return was the longest for VU since Trey Wilson’s 100-yard return for a score against Presbyterian.
– Vanderbilt forced a season-high three turnovers in the game (interception, 2 fumbles).
Special Teams Notes
– Taylor Hudson’s 75-yard punt in the second quarter was a career-best and the longest punt by a Commodore since 2003 when Abtin Iranmanesh booted one 80 yards vs. Georgia.
– Carey Spear’s 54-yard field goal at the end of the first half set a new career-best and matches Johny Clark’s 54-yard kick vs. Auburn in 1987 for the third-longest in school history.
– Darrius Sims had five kick returns for 128 yards for an average of 26 yards. Sims’ 34-yard return matches his team-best 34-yard return from the Ole Miss game.