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Postgame Notes - Alabama A&M

Sept. 9, 2017

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Vanderbilt – Alabama A&M Postgame Notes
Sept. 9, 2017
Vanderbilt Stadium

Pregame Notes

  • Vanderbilt is in its 128th year of organized football.
  • The Commodores wore black helmets, gold jerseys and gold pants against Alabama A&M.
  • Alabama A&M won the toss and elected to defer with Vanderbilt receiving the ball and defending the south end zone.
  • Attendance was 25,802.
  • Vanderbilt captains for the game were Oren Burks, Trent Sherfield and Ryan White.

Team Notes

  • The Commodores claimed the win in their home opener for the first time since 2011 when they defeated Elon, 45-14.
  • Vanderbilt starts the season 2-0 for the first time since 2011 when they defeated Elon and Connecticut to open the year and for the first time in the Derek Mason era.
  • The Commodores 35-0 halftime lead marked the first time Vanderbilt has held an opponent scoreless in the first half for two consecutive games since Oct. 27-Nov. 2, 2012, against UMass and Kentucky.
  • The Commodores scored 35 points in the first half against Alabama A&M. It is the most first-half points since they scored 38 against Austin Peay on Sept. 7, 2013.
  • Vanderbilt’s 42-0 win was the largest margin of victory since they beat UMass 49-7 on Oct. 27, 2012.
  • Vanderbilt now has 597 wins program wins.

Individual Notes

  • Vanderbilt players making their first career starts in todays game: Caleb Peart (LB).
  • Vanderbilt first time contributors: Deuce Wallace (QB), Zaire Jones (CB), Jackson Winrow (WR), Sage Young (56), Sean McMore (OL), Cole Clemens (OL), and Shawn Stankavage (QB).
  • Ralph Webb made his 38th consecutive start in this afternoon’s contest.
  • Tre Herndon made his 26th consecutive start against the Bulldogs.
  • Ralph Webb’s first quarter touchdown was the 27th touchdown of his career and moves him into second place all-time in school history.
  • Ralph Webb’s touchdown marks his sixth consecutive game with a rushing touchdown dating back to last season.
  • Jared Pinkney hauled in his first touchdown of the season and the third of his career in the first quarter. Pinkney tallied his second touchdown of the game in the third quarter, which is a career high for touchdowns in a game.
  • Jared Pinkney also set a career high in yards with 51 and tied a career high with four receptions.
  • Kalija Lipscomb brought in a 45-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, which tied for the longest reception of his career.
  • Lipscomb’s touchdown was his third of the season, which is a new season high.
  • Kyle Shurmur scored his first career rushing touchdown on his one-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter.
  • Khari Blasingame set a career-long rush in the second quarter when he scampered for 31 yards on the Commodores fifth touchdown drive of the game.
  • Shurmur was a perfect 12-for-12 for 173 yards and three passing touchdowns along with one rushing TD in the first half.
  • Shurmur set career highs in passing touchdowns with four and total touchdowns with five against Alabama A&M.
  • Shurmur set a Vanderbilt record for completion percentage in a game. He went 15-for-18 (83.3%), which bested Hank Lesesne’s record of 81.8% set in 1961 vs. Georgia.
  • Oren Burks hauled in his fifth career interception in the third quarter and returned it nine yards.
  • Dayo Odeyingbo recorded his first career interception in the third quarter.
  • Emmanuel Smith set a career high in tackles for the second straight week as he had 10 against the Bulldogs.
  • Smith recorded his first career sack when he combined with Dare Odeyingbo for the take down.
  • Charles Wright set a career high in tackles for the second consecutive week with seven against the Bulldogs.
  • Donovan Sheffield had a career high five tackles in the win.
  • Redshirt freshman Zaire Jones made his first collegiate appearance and tallied his first career tackle in the second half.
  • Josiah Sa’o also recorded his first career tackle in the win.
  • Deuce Wallace had his first career completion to Jackson Winrow in the third quarter. It was the first career reception for Winrow.
  • Shawn Stankavage made his first career appearance and had his first career completion in the win.
  • With 54 rushing yards, Ralph Webb moves into 18th place on the SEC’s all-time rushing list, moving past Bobby Humphrey from Alabama.
  • Josh Smith recorded his first career solo sack. Smith combined for a sack last season.
  • Jamauri Wakefield got his first career rushing attempt in the win. He finished with 15 carries for 64 yards to lead the team.

Offensive Notes

  • The Commodores took the opening drive for a touchdown for the second consecutive game.
  • Vanderbilt scored 14 points in the first quarter for the second straight game. Prior to this season, the Commodores hadn’t scored 14 points in the first quarter since Sept. 20, 2014, against South Carolina.
  • The Commodores scored 35 points in the first half, which are the most since Sept. 7, 2013, when they scored 38 first-half points against Austin Peay.
  • Vanderbilt was 5-for-6 on third downs in the first half.
  • The Commodores tallied four passing touchdowns against Alabama A&M. It is the most since 2014 when they threw five touchdowns against Old Dominion.
  • The Commodores eclipsed the 40-point plateau Saturday afternoon for the first time this season. They had two games of 40 or more points last season.

Defensive Notes

  • Vanderbilt held Alabama A&M scoreless in the first quarter. It is the consecutive game, dating back to last season, in which the Commodores have held an opponent off the scoreboard in the opening quarter.
  • Vanderbilt opponents started the year 0-for-14 on third downs before the Bulldogs converted one in the first quarter.
  • Vanderbilt held Alabama A&M to 38 total yards in the first half.
  • The Bulldogs went three-and-out to start the second half. It was the second straight game the Commodores opponent went three-and-out to start the second half.
  • The Commodores intercepted two passes Saturday against the Bulldogs. It was the most in a game since they had two against Kentucky on Nov. 14, 2015.
  • This was the Commodores first shutout win since Nov 3, 2012 when they beat Kentucky 40-0.
  • Vanderbilt held Alabama A&M to 103 yards of offense. It is the fewest an opponent has had since Sept. 6, 2003, when they limited Chattanooga to 93 yards of offense.

Special Teams Notes

  • Andre Mintze blocked Alabama A&M’s punt in the first quarter. It is the first blocked punt since Andrew Rector has one against Kentucky on Nov. 14, 2015.
  • Andrew Rector blocked the second punt of his career in the second quarter against Alabama A&M.
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