Vanderbilt - UAB postgame notes

Sept. 28, 2013

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Vanderbilt – UAB Postgame Notes

September 28, 2013

Vanderbilt Stadium


Pregame Notes

– Vanderbilt is in its 124th year of organized football.

– The Commodores wore black helmets and pants with gold jerseys for the first time this year.

– Vanderbilt won the toss for the first time this season and deferred to the second half with UAB electing to receive.

– Attendance was 32,467.

– Vanderbilt captains for the game were Jordan Matthews, Wesley Johnson, Andrew East and Walker May.

– Saturday’s game was only the second meeting between the Commodores and the Blazers.

Team Notes

– With the win, the Commodores are now 10-2 in their last 12 games.

– Vanderbilt is now 2-0 against UAB and 49-39-3 against Conference USA opponents.

– The victory extends Vanderbilt’s winning streak in non-SEC games to six games.

– Under James Franklin, the Commodores are 10-5 when playing at Vanderbilt Stadium.

Individual Notes

Wesley Johnson started his 43rd-straight game at tackle for the Commodores. He is the active leader in starts.

Kris Kentera was named a starter for the first time this year at HB.

Fitz Lassing picked up his first reception on the year on a five-yard grab.

Jonathan Krause has now had a reception of 33 or more yards in four of the last five games.

Jerron Seymour has rushed for one touchdown in each of the first five games this season. His two rushing TDs Saturday set a new career-high.

Jordan Matthews has now recorded at least one reception in his last 26 games.

– Matthews’ 45-yard catch at the end of the first quarter is his second-longest reception of the year (55 yards vs. Ole Miss).

Carey Spear’s 50-yard field goal in the second quarter marked the fourth of his career from 50-plus, making him the first Vanderbilt kicker with four career field goals of at least 50 yards.

Darrius Sims’ 42-yard kick return matches his career-high set last weekend against UMass.

Jerron Seymour’s 58-yard touchdown run was the longest rush of his career and longest rushing play for the Commodores this season.

Jerron Seymour finished the game with a career-high 107 yards rushing and 152 all-purpose yards.

Wesley Johnson was called for the first holding penalty of his career in the second quarter. Johnson had played 42-straight games without a holding call.

Barron Dixon picked up his first sack of the season and second of his career.

Kenny Ladler’s interception in the second quarter was his first of the season and fifth of his career.

Austyn Carta-Samuels picked up his fourth rushing touchdown of the season.

Adam Butler recorded two tackles for loss. He has now has a TFL in his last three games.

Larry Franklin picked up his first career sack early in the third quarter.

Jordan Matthews moved up the career reception chart with his eight receptions Saturday night. He now stands alone in third place with 190 career receptions.

Wesley Tate’s touchdown in the third quarter was his first since he scored two in the season opener against Ole Miss.

Jonathan Krause recorded his second-straight 100+ yard receiving game with 108 yards on four catches.

Austyn Carta-Samuels crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the season with a VU career-best 334 yards.

Austyn Carta-Samuels is the first Vandy QB since Jay Cutler in 2005 to have two or more 300+ yards passing games in a season.

Austyn Carta-Samuels has thrown at least one touchdown in every game this season and now has eight TD passes this year.

Fitz Lassing picked up his first touchdown of the season on a five-yard reception. It marks the second TD of his career and the first since 2011. Lassing also posted career-highs in receptions (3) and yards (18).

Jordan Matthews’ 115 receiving yards mark the 14th time in his career and fourth time this season with 100+ yards receiving.

Jordan Matthews’ touchdown in fourth quarter gave him 21 in his career, tying him for the school record with Dan Stricker (1999-2002).

Darreon Herring recorded his first career interception with a pick in the second half.

– Freshman Patton Robinette scored his first career TD with an eight-yard run in the fourth quarter.

– Two true freshmen saw action against UAB. Jordan Cunningham had two receptions for 12 yards. Darrius Simspicked up two tackles and made an impact on special teams with a 42-yard kick return.

Offensive Notes

– For the first time in school history the Commodores had a passer throw for over 300 yards (Austyn Carta-Samuels), a rusher over 100 yards (Jerron Seymour) and two receivers over 100 yards (Jordan Matthews and Jonathan Krause).

Jerron Seymour’s seven-yard rush in the first quarter for a score was just Vanderbilt’s second touchdown in the first quarter this season.

Jerron Seymour’s 58-yard rush marked the longest play from scrimmage for the Commodores this season.

– The 58-yard rush also marks the longest rushing play since Zac Stacy’s school-record 90-yard rush against Wake Forest last season.

Jerron Seymour’s career-best 107 yards marks the first time a Commodore has rushed for 100+ yards this season.

– The Vanderbilt offense has now scored at least 24 points in its last 11 games, dating back to last season. – Austyn Carta-Samuels completed passes to eight different receivers on the night, marking the most this season.

– Vandy’s 540 yards of total offense are the most this season and the first time the ‘Dores have gone above 500 yards since Presbyterian last season.

– With Jordan Matthews and Jonathan Krauseeach eclipsing 100 yards receiving it marked the first time since last year’s Georgia game that two Commodores went over 100 yards receiving.

– Vanderbilt’s 23 first downs matches a season-best (at UMass).

Defensive Notes

– The Vanderbilt starting lineup remained the same from a week ago against UMass, with the `Dores coming out in a 4-3.

– Ladler’s pick was the second of the season for the Commodores. Herring’s pick in the fourth quarter is the first multi-interception game since the Music City Bowl.

– Vanderbilt held UAB to 4-of-15 on third down.

Special Teams Notes

Carey Spear kicked his second 50-plus yard field goal of the season with a 50-yard boot in the first half.

Darrius Sims returned four kicks for 96 yards, including a 42-yard return that equaled a season-best.