Sept. 2, 2017
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Vanderbilt — Middle Tennessee Postgame Notes
Sept. 2, 20167
Floyd Stadium
Pregame Notes
– Vanderbilt is in its 128th year of organized football.
– The Commodores wore all white in the season opener, donning white helmets, uniforms and pants. VU wore all white for the second straight year in the season-opener.
– Middle Tennessee won the toss and elected to defer with Vanderbilt receiving the ball and defend the south end zone.
– Attendance was 26,717
– Vanderbilt captains for the game were Trent Sherfield, Kyle Shurmur, Oren Burks, Tre Herndon.
Team Notes
-Vanderbilt opened the season on the road for the first time since 2008 when the team started the year at Miami, Ohio with a 34-13 win.
-For the first time since 2011, the Commodores started the season on a Saturday after opening the year on Thursdays each of the last five years.
-The Commodores 21-0 halftime lead marked the first time Vanderbilt has held an opponent scoreless in the first half since the 2016 season opener against South Carolina when they held a 10-0 halftime lead.
-The win marks the first season-opening win for the Commodores since the 2011 season when they defeated Elon.
-Vanderbilt moves to 15-3 against Middle Tennessee and 4-0 in games played in Murfreesboro.
-The win was the third consecutive win for the Commodores over Middle Tennessee
-Vanderbilt now has 596 wins program wins.
Individual Notes
– Vanderbilt players making their first career starts in todays game: Devin Cochran (OT), Jared Southers (OG), Joejuan Williams (CB), Charles Wright (OLB), Dallas Rivers (FB).
– Vanderbilt first time contributors: Jaire George (FB), Cody Markel (TE), Zaire Jones (S), Devin Cochran (OT), Tae Daley (safety), Elijah Hamilton (CB), Cameron Tidd (DL), Dayo Odeyingbo (DL), Andrew Rector (S), Andre Mintze (OLB), Scott Sypniewski (SN), Jamauri Wakefield (RB), Jalen Pinkney (DL), Josiah Sa’o (DL).
– Ralph Webb made his 38th consecutive start in tonight’s contest.
– Tre Herndon made his 26th consecutive start in tonight’s contest.
– Bryce Lewis’ interception in the first quarter was his first career interception.
– Ralph Webb’s 73-yard third quarter reception was a career long.
– Ralph Webb’s first quarter TD was the 26th TD of his career and ties him for second all-time with Dean Davidson.
– Wide receiver Trey Ellis posted his first career reception in the first quarter.
– Kalija Lipscomb posted his first career two-touchdown game.
– With 49 rushing yards, Ralph Webb moves into 19th place on the SEC’s all-time rushing list, moving past Joe Cribbs from Auburn.
– Kyle Shurmur’s three TD’s ties his single game career high — a mark set against Tennessee on Nov. 28, 2015.
– Ralph Webb posted his first career 100-yard receiving game and Vanderbilt’s first for a running back since Rodney Williams in 2001.
Offensive Notes
– Vanderbilt’s 14 first-quarter points are more than the Commodores scored in the first quarter the entire 2016 season and the first time scoring 14 in the first quarter since a 48-34 loss to South Carolina on Sept. 20, 2014.
-Vanderbilt’s 7:43 scoring drive of 13 plays for 76 yards in the second quarer surpassed the longest scoring drive the entire 2016 season.
-Vanderbilt was 6-of-8 in third downs in the first half.
-Vanderbilt’s TD on the opening drive of the game and third quarter opening drive marks the first time Vanderbilt has scored TD’s on those drives since Tennessee State on October 22, 2016.
Defensive Notes
– Vanderbilt held Middle Tennessee to 0-12 on third down conversions and a combined 0-14 on third and fourth down conversions.
-Vanderbilt held Middle Tennessee to 72 total yards in the first half.
-Vanderbilt forced three, three-and-outs in the first half.
Special Teams Notes
-Nifae Lealao blocked PAT was first for Vanderbilt since Adam Butler blocked one Oct. 4, 2014 at Georgia.
