NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt made sure yet another installment of its midstate matchup with Middle Tennessee finished in its favor.
The Dores used a surging second half to pull away during a tight game and top the Blue Raiders, 35-7, on Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium. With the win, Vanderbilt opened the season 1-0 with its fourth straight win over MTSU.
Here’s how it went down:
WHAT HAPPENED: Vanderbilt set the tone early with a 30-yard touchdown run by Khari Blasingame to take a 7-0 lead. Middle Tennessee responded at the end of the first quarter with a 15-play drive capped by a Brent Stockstill touchdown pass to C.J. Windham. But the Dores took a 14-7 lead into halftime by virtue of a Dayo Odeyingbo fumble recovery for a touchdown in the second quarter. The second half was all Vanderbilt, however, as the Dores emerged from the locker room with renewed energy. They scored 21 second-half points and kept MTSU out of the end zone the rest of the way.
TURNING POINT: Leading 14-7, Vanderbilt’s defense opened the third quarter with a huge stop of Middle Tennessee’s offense. The Commodores needed a big offensive series on the ensuing possession, and they responded. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur found Chris Pierce in the end zone to cap a 92-yard drive, which included 49-yard bomb to Donaven Tennyson to set up the touchdown. That pushed Vanderbilt ahead 21-7, and it never looked back.
HELMET STICKERS:
DL Dayo Odeyingbo (Vanderbilt)
Odeyingbo’s scoop-and-score in the second quarter made the difference in a slow start for Vanderbilt’s offense. It gave the Commodores the lead for good with a halftime edge of 14-7. That momentum carried into halftime and the second half.
WR Kalija Lipscomb (Vanderbilt)
The headliner of Vanderbilt’s receiving corps hauled in four passes for a team-leading 60 yards. He showed off his hands with a clutch over-the-shoulder touchdown catch from 28 yards out in the fourth quarter, which gave Vanderbilt a commanding 28-7 lead.
LB Jordan Griffin (Vanderbilt)
The redshirt senior was a leader on an aggressive night for Vanderbilt’s defense. He led the Commodores with eight total tackles (five solo) with a pair of tackles for loss and a sack.
GIVE ME THE NUMBERS
6
Sacks by Vanderbilt’s defense. The Commodores were extra aggressive against Middle Tennessee’s front, recording six sacks and nine tackles for loss. Kenny Hebert led the Dores with two sacks.
257
Vanderbilt’s total yards of offense after halftime. In the first two quarters, the Commodores managed just 89 total yards, and they amassed 58 of those on their opening drive. It was a different story after intermission as Shurmur and the running game found their groove against MTSU’s defense.
145
Combined rushing yards for Vanderbilt running backs Khari Blasingame, Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Jamauri Wakefield. That trio looked stellar as a committee of rushers with 145 yards on 28 carries for 5.2 yards per carry and two touchdowns.
WORTH NOTING: Kyle Shurmur’s two touchdown passes moved him to sole possession of second place on Vanderbilt’s career touchdown list with 42. He only trials Vanderbilt legend Jay Cutler, who finished his career with 59 touchdown passes.
WHAT’S NEXT: Vanderbilt returns home next week with an 11 a.m. CT kickoff against Nevada.
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.
