Nov. 3, 2014
By David Dawson and Jerome Boettcher
Even though Vanderbilt’s 42-28 victory over Old Dominion was fueled by record-breaking individual performances, the credit — and the celebration — was wide-spread.
Yes, redshirt freshmen Johnny McCrary and Ralph Webb were the stars of the show on Saturday, but the supporting cast got great reviews, too.
“Tonight was a team win,” said head coach Derek Mason. “Individual records are great, but what I like is the continuity we are developing as a football team.”
McCrary set a school record for single-game passing yards by a freshmen, finishing with 281 while completing 20-of-29 attempts. McCrary also tied the school record for single-game touchdown passes with five, matching the mark set by Jay Cutler in 2005.
Webb did his part by establishing a new freshman single-game rushing record. He finished with 166 yards on 31 carries to surpass the old mark of 156 set by Rodney Williams against Western Michigan in 1998.
Webb also moved up the ladder on Vanderbilt’s single-season list for rushing yards by freshman. He now ranks No. 3 with 760 yards for the season, trailing only Warren Norman (who ran for 783 yards in 2009) and Kwame Doster (798 in 2002).
But for the moment, Webb isn’t especially interested in any of those numbers.
“I just go out there trying to win — and if (the record) comes, it comes,” he said.
To that end, he said Saturday’s victory was a reflection of hard work by the entire offensive unit. “The O-line was great,” he said. “Everyone stayed on their blocks. … We said (going into the game), that we were going to run the ball until they stopped us, and they never stopped us.”
Senior defensive end Kyle Woestmann said the emergence of Webb has come as no surprise: “We knew Webb would be a stud (back) in the spring,” he said.
Although the individual records were downplayed, the performances by Webb and McCrary — along with a host of other young players — certainly gained attention.
Mason said the Vanderbilt fans saw “the football team of the future” and said the team was “starting to find its identity.”
NOVEMBER RUN CONTINUES
With Saturday’s victory, the Commodores stretched their November winning streak to 10 straight.
Vanderbilt hasn’t lost in November since falling to Tennessee in overtime on Nov. 19, 2011. The following week, the Commodores defeated Wake Forest in their final regular-season game. Vanderbilt then went 4-0 in November during both the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
GO FOR IT
Fourth-down tries have been few this season and fourth-down conversions even fewer. Entering Saturday’s game, the Commodores were 1-for-6 on fourth downs, and hadn’t gone for it on fourth down since playing Georgia on Oct. 4.
Vanderbilt reversed course with a perfect 3-for-3 day on fourth downs on Saturday.
With the ball on Old Dominion’s seven-yard line and faced with a fourth-and-three on the opening drive of the game, Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason rolled the dice. He kept his offense on the field and they rewarded their coach’s decision. McCrary rolled out to his right and tossed a seven-yard touchdown to a wide-open Nathan Marcus in the back corner of the end zone.
The Commodores also converted two fourth-and-ones – two-yard runs by Dallas Rivers and Ralph Webb – to extend an 18-play drive that lasted nearly 10 minutes in the third quarter.
FEELING FRESH
Rivers, a true freshman, set new career highs for both carries (17) and rushing yards (74). Also, freshman Caleb Scott hauled in a 39-yard catch, his longest of the season. Their efforts, coupled with the performances of Webb and McCrary, were further proof that the young Commodores are coming of age.
“We have a lot of young talent,” said Webb, “and we have a bright future as long as we keep working hard.”