Sept. 15, 2014
By David Dawson
Freshman Ralph Webb showed again on Saturday what he can do with a football.
Apparently, he’s pretty good with a crystal ball, too.
In addition to rushing for a season-high 116 yards and scoring the winning touchdown, Webb also showed his psychic abilities during Vanderbilt’s 34-31 victory over UMass.
With less than two minutes to play, Webb told wide receiver C.J. Duncan that he needed to do something big. And sure enough, the next play, Duncan did just that, hauling in a 36-yard pass from Patton Robinette to set up Webb’s go-ahead four-yard touchdown run with 1:08 remaining in the game. Vanderbilt held on from there to earn its first win under first-year head coach Derek Mason.
“In the huddle, before that play, I told him, ‘C.J. I need a big play from you right now,’ and he made a great play,” said Webb with a smile. “I just had a feeling it was going to go to C.J., and I needed him to make a play for me — and he did.”
Vanderbilt was trailing 31-26 when Robinette lofted the deep pass for Duncan down the sideline. It initially appeared that UMass defensive back Randall Jette had pulled down an interception but Duncan wrestled the ball away from him as both players fell to the ground. The result was a first down for Vanderbilt at the UMass 4-yard line, and on the next play, Webb scored a touchdown to give Vanderbilt its first lead of the day.
UMass head coach Mark Whipple said he felt like the ball should have been intercepted: “The kid (Duncan) pulled it out,” he said. “Randall had it and the kid just beat him one-on-one. One-on-one match-ups is what it comes down to in football. … It’s always going to be a one-play game when we are playing these types of teams.”
The play actually started badly for the Commodores, when Robinette mishandled the snap.
“I didn’t even see the ball snapped, didn’t even feel it hit me,” he said. “I saw it on the ground next to me and thought that I should probably pick it up and try to make something happen.”
As for Webb, he continues to emerge as the workhorse for the Commodores.
He set the tone for his afternoon by gaining 22 yards on three carries on Vanderbilt’s second offensive series of the game, and he continued to pile up yardage the rest of the way. He then capped his effort with the go-ahead touchdown.
“I’d say it was a good day, but I have to give credit to the receivers and my offensive linemen,” said Webb.
Webb has now gained 281 yards on 58 carries (an average of 4.8 per attempt) in the Commodores’ first three games.
“I’m confident going into every game,” he said, “and I know my coaches are confident in me and our players. They surround me and support me. They just know what I can do, (and) I know what they can do, and what our offensive line is going to do.”
ROBINETTE TAKES CHARGE OF OFFENSE
It appears Vanderbilt’s quarterback competition might be over. With his strong performance Saturday, Robinette may have established himself at the top of the depth chart.
Robinette did not start Saturday’s game, but entered in the second quarter, replacing true freshman Wade Freebeck. Robinette showed poise and precision throughout the afternoon while completing 15-of-21 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.
“The game plan was to play both (Freebeck and Robinette) and use their skill-sets,” said Mason, “but you could tell that Patton had a look in his eye. He wanted this game and he wanted the opportunity. Once he got in and got on a roll, you could see his energy. It was contagious.”
Robinette isn’t ready to say that he has won the starting job just yet, however.
“You’ve got to go out and win the job every day,” he said after the game.
Vanderbilt has now used four quarterbacks this season — Robinette, Freebeck, Stephen Rivers and Johnny McCrary.
Robinette didn’t play in last week’s 41-3 loss to Ole Miss, when Rivers went the whole way for the Commodores. Robinette admitted that it has been a difficult stretch for him in recent days.
“The last couple weeks have been tough,” he said, ” … but we persevered. I persevered. I had great guys around me, keeping me in it. Coming out today and helping this team get a win was incredibly satisfying.”
STREAK IS ALIVE
With Saturday’s victory, Vanderbilt notched its eighth straight win against teams from the Mid-American. The Commodores haven’t lost to a MAC team since falling to Miami (Ohio) in the 2000 season opener.
Vanderbilt, which improved to 3-0 in the all-time series against UMass, is now 13-2 against MAC teams overall.
Dating back to the 2011 opener, the Commodores are 14-3 against non-conference foes, including winning nine of the past 10 games outside of SEC play.
SEYMOUR BACK IN ACTION
After missing the first two games of the season, Jerron Seymour — Vanderbilt’s leading rusher last year — returned to the field in a limited role on Saturday. Seymour compiled 15 yards on five carries in the win.