Nov. 3, 2017
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
Previewing Saturday’s game between Vanderbilt and Western Kentucky (11 a.m. CT on ESPNU):
History Lesson: Vanderbilt owns a 4-1 advantage in the series, but the teams have split the last two meetings. In 2016, the Commodores rallied from 14 points down to escape the Hilltoppers in overtime, 31-30, in Bowling Green.
Names to Watch (Western Kentucky)
QB Mike White
This week Derek Mason said the senior White is “as good as any quarterback in the country.” White is already one of the most prolific passers in Conference USA history, but he’s adding to that reputation in his senior campaign. The signal-caller averages 291 passing yards per game (7.1 per attempt) and has thrown 14 touchdowns against six interceptions.
LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
Western Kentucky’s leading tackler (63 stops), Iyiegbuniwe notched a career-high 14 tackles last week against FAU. The redshirt junior posted a career-high three tackles for loss in last season’s loss to Vanderbilt.
TE Deon Yelder
The Hilltoppers’ pass-happy offense uses its tight end with great success. Yelder is the team leader in catches (33), receiving yards (399) and receiving touchdowns (4). He also averages 12.1 yards per catch. Earlier this season against Charlotte, Yelder recorded a career-high 92 yards on nine grabs.
ELLIS: Dores not overlooking WKU after thrilling comeback in 2016
The Statistical
40.9
Pass attempts per game for WKU quarterback Mike White, fourth-most among FBS quarterbacks. The Hilltoppers make no bones about their offensive strategy, airing it out on every possible opportunity. That’s partly out of necessity: Western Kentucky ranks dead last in FBS in rushing offense at 2.56 yards per carry, or 83.25 yards per game.
9
Vanderbilt penalties in the first half of last week’s 34-27 loss at South Carolina. The Dores’ self-inflicted mistakes spelled doom early in Columbia and allow 90 penalty yards to the Gamecocks before halftime. Vanderbilt can’t allow its mistakes to dictate the game against Western Kentucky.
295
Rushing yards for Vanderbilt during its last two games. The Commodores struggled to run the ball during the season’s first half, but they gave quarterback Kyle Shurmur more help on the ground against Ole Miss and South Carolina. The Dores were also efficient in averaging 4.9 yards per carry during those two games.
The Big Question: Can Vanderbilt break out of its lull? The Commodores’ 3-0 start seems so long ago on the heels of a five-game skid against SEC opponents. But the Dores showed fight against South Carolina, rallying to make it a one-score game in the fourth quarter. Western Kentucky is a prime opportunity for Vanderbilt to regain its groove in front of a home crowd, just before it closes the season against three straight SEC foes.
Vanderbilt Needs To: Lock down WKU’s passing game. The Hilltoppers like to throw the ball, so Vanderbilt knows its primary objective on defense. But White is the kind of passer who can give the Commodores trouble; he completed 22 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown against the Dores last season. This time, Vanderbilt must pressure White into third-and-long situations and prevent the Hilltoppers from getting behind its secondary.
Did You Know? Western Kentucky’s five wins have come against teams with a combined 8-32 record.
He Said It: “I’m worried about getting a win. I’ve got to focus on here and now. I can’t tell my guys to be about the process and I’m being about something else.” Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason, on the importance of bowl eligibility at this point in the season
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics