Oct. 22, 2016
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
On campus in Nashville – After four road games in five weeks, Vanderbilt capped a return to West End with a stellar performance. The Commodores (4-4, 1-3 SEC) rallied from an early 14-7 deficit to top Tennessee State (5-2, 2-1 OVC) on homecoming weekend on Saturday night. Here are three thoughts from Vanderbilt’s victory:
1. Vanderbilt ran all over Tennessee State.
Vanderbilt’s offense has been defined by the running game for most of the season. But on Saturday, the Commodores steamrolled Tennessee State with an unusually workmanlike effort on the ground.
Vanderbilt finished the day with a whopping 358 rushing yards on 42 carries, good for an average of 8.5 yards-per-carry. It also ran for four touchdowns. By the first series of the second half, the Commodores had notched a season-high in rushing yards, which were the most by the program since it ran for 410 yards against Presbyterian on Sept. 15, 2012.
The key to the effort was solid offensive line play and a committee of rushers. Ralph Webb ran for 125 yards and Khari Blasingame went for 100, marking Vanderbilt’s first game with two 100-yard rushers since that 2012 win over Presbyterian. Darrius Sims (50 yards on five carries) and Josh Crawford (49 yards on six carries) also added to the final box score.
Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said the running game was key in avoiding an upset at home. “To have two running backs to go over 100 yards, and rush for right around 350, it’s pretty impressive, I don’t care who you’re playing,” Mason said.
2. A fourth-quarter fumble recovery was a late turning point.
The game was hardly over early in the fourth quarter as Tennessee State drove downfield trailing Vanderbilt, 28-17. Tigers’ quarterback Ronald Butler had been picking apart the Commodores’ defense on runs and passes during that series. Facing first-and-10 at the Vanderbilt 28, Butler ran right with his sights on Vanderbilt’s red zone and a chance to cut into the home team’s lead.
Instead, the ‘Dores stole back momentum. Safety Ryan White forced a fumble from Butler, and Dare Odeyingbo recovered to halt Tennessee State’s lengthy drive. Vanderbilt turned the turnover into a field goal and a 35-17 lead on the ensuing possession. The Tigers wouldn’t score again.
3. The ‘Dores avoided a major letdown heading into a bye week.
Following last week’s epic win at Georgia, the last thing Vanderbilt needed was to stub its toe against Tennessee State. But the Commodores avoid a slip-up against a talented Tennessee State team, and they now head into a bye week riding consecutive wins for the first time under Derek Mason.
Now Vanderbilt can set its sights on the rest of its SEC schedule. After next week’s bye, the program hits the road for games against Auburn (Nov. 5) and Missouri (Nov. 12) before closing the season at home against Ole Miss (Nov. 19) and Tennessee (Nov. 26). If the Commodores can turn two straight wins into necessary momentum, a bowl game remains a goal for this squad.
“This team’s got a lot of resiliency in them,” Mason said. “They’re going to fight, but the thing we’ve got to do down the stretch is play well.”