The Point After: Tennessee

NASHVILLE – For the third season in a row, Vanderbilt declared that Tennessee is “our state”—and the Dores’ season is far from over.
 
The Commodores build an early 17-0 lead over the visiting Volunteers and held on for a 38-13 victory over rival Tennessee on Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium. Vanderbilt, which has now beaten the Vols three straight times for the first time since 1926, became bowl eligible with the win.
 
Here’s how it went down.
 
WHAT HAPPENED: Vanderbilt struck first on Kyle Shurmur scoring pass to Jared Pinkney to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. The Dores then opened the second period with a 10-play, 66-yard drive capped by a Kalija Lipscomb touchdown run. A Ryley Guay field goal pushed Vanderbilt’s edge to 17-0 at half. After UT found the end zone early in the third quarter, Vanderbilt poured on two fourth-quarter touchdown to secure victory for the home team.
 
TURNING POINT: Tennessee opened the third quarter with a touchdown to cut Vanderbilt’s lead to 17-7, but the Commodores took control in the fourth quarter. After the Dores got the ball at midfield, receiver Amir Abdur-Rahman hauled in a circus catch from Shurmur in the end zone to push Vanderbilt ahead 24-7. That all but silenced the Volunteers’ comeback bid.
 
HELMET STICKERS
QB Kyle Shurmur
Shurmur continued his career dominance of Tennessee in epic fashion. The senior closed his final regular season game at Vanderbilt Stadium completing 31-of-35 passes for a season-high 367 yards and three touchdowns. Shurmur became the first Vanderbilt quarterback to win three games against Tennessee since the 1920s.
 
WR Kalija Lipscomb
The junior secured eight catches for 86 yards on the night, including an acrobatic grab in the fourth quarter that led to a Vanderbilt touchdown. Lipscomb also notched his first-career rushing score in the second quarter.
 
LB Josh Smith
Smith was a leader for Vanderbilt’s defense in limiting Tennessee to zero first-half points. The senior notched three tackles with two pass breakups, a tackle for loss and a sack against the Vols.
 
GIVE ME THE NUMBERS
467
Yards of offense for Vanderbilt against Tennessee. The Dores recorded 467 total yards and averaged 6.0 yards per play versus the Vols’ defense.
 
9
Number of receivers who caught a pass from Shurmur. The senior quarterback spread the wealth all night, hitting nine different pass-catchers and tossing three touchdown passes to three different players.
 
2015
The year of Tennessee’s last win over Vanderbilt. The Commodores have now won three straight over the rival Vols, as well as five of their last seven.
 
WORTH NOTING: Derek Mason becomes the first Vanderbilt coach to notch three wins over Tennessee since Dan McGugin – the school’s all-time winningest coach – did so in the 1920s.
 
WHAT’S NEXT: Vanderbilt’s regular season is over, but it awaits its bowl destination.
 
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.