NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The RV/RV Vanderbilt football team picked up its second victory of the season Saturday evening, using a big second half to ride out a 35-26 win over Delaware in front of a sold-out FirstBank Stadium.
The Commodores scored in a variety of ways, running for three touchdowns, adding one in the air and recovering a blocked punt in the end zone. Vanderbilt is now 2-0 for the fifth consecutive season, marking the first such run since 1934-38. The Dores have also won 10 consecutive home nonconference games for the first time since 2015-19.
Freshman quarterback Jared Curtis led the way for Vandy, rushing for two touchdowns and finding Walter Taylor from 19 yards out for his first career passing touchdown. He’s the first Vanderbilt freshman to record three touchdowns since Sept. 17, 2022.
The passing game found its groove under the first-year signal-caller, who finished 14-of-22 for 210 yards and a touchdown. Jayvontay Conner hauled in a career-high six catches for 87 yards, and Junior Sherrill added five snags for 94 yards.
The Commodore defense was a mainstay in the Delaware backfield, with four players combining for six sacks. CJ Heard led the way with two sacks and two forced fumbles, the first time a Vandy player has forced multiple fumbles since Nov. 10, 2018. Miles Capers’ seven tackles included a career-high four TFLs.
The game swung the Dores’ way after halftime, when the Fightin’ Blue Hens (1-1) took a 17-14 lead into the break. The hosts went 70 yards in nine plays to retake the lead, and after Delaware went three-and-out, Austin Howard blocked a punt and fell on the loose ball in the end zone to make the score 28-17.
Curtis' touchdown toss to Taylor extended the lead to 18. The Hens cut the margin to nine before Cayden Daniels' first career interception sealed the win for the Dores.
Vanderbilt will conclude a three-game homestand next Saturday, hosting NC State at 11:45 a.m. in the final nonconference tilt of the season.
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