Postgame Notes vs. Austin Peay

Commodores win eighth consecutive home game in front of sold-out crowd

Two football players in black and white uniforms tackle an opponent on the field during a game.Two football players in black and white uniforms tackle an opponent on the field during a game.

POSTGAME NOTES 

Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Austin Peay Governors | Nashville, Tenn. | Sept. 5, 2026 

RV/RV Vanderbilt 28, Austin Peay 9 

Game ended with 2:16 to play in the fourth quarter due to lightning 

TEAM NOTES 

  • Austin Peay won the toss and elected to defer 
  • With a sellout crowd of 35,000, Vandy has sold out five consecutive home games dating back to last season 
  • With the victory, Vanderbilt has won eight home games in a row for the first time since a nine-game stretch that spanned the 1954, 1955 and 1956 seasons
  • It's the fifth consecutive season-opening victory under head coach Clark Lea
  • Brock Taylor’s 32-yard FG capped the first drive of the season, the fourth consecutive year the Dores scored on their opening drive 
  • Ouattara blocked the PAT following the Governor’s first touchdown, the Dores’ first blocked PAT since Georgia State on Sept. 19, 2025, when they blocked a PAT, a field goal and a punt 
  • Martel Hight returned the blocked kick 88 yards for two points to make the score 6-5. It’s the first time Vandy has blocked a PAT and returned it for a score since Nov. 16, 2013, vs. Kentucky (Block: Adam Butler, Score: Steven Clarke, 75 yards) 
  • For the first time since 2010, the Dores opened a season with 100-plus rushing yards and 100-plus passing yards in the first half 
  • Vanderbilt had nine different pass-catchers, with Jayvontay Carter, Ja’Cory Thomas and Maurice Veney recording their first receptions as Commodores 

PLAYER NOTES 

  • Junior Sherill’s first catch of the night put him over 1,500 career receiving yards. The senior finished the night with four catches for 70 yards 
  • Issa Ouatarra’s two sacks are a career high in both sacks and TFLs for the graduate defensive lineman 
  • Blaze Berlowitz scored on the ground from seven yards out to give Vanderbilt a 15-6 lead 
  • It was his third career rushing touchdown and first since Sept. 20, 2025, vs. Georgia State 
  • Sedrick Alexander’s 18-yard touchdown run was the 22nd of his career, putting him alone in fourth place on Vanderbilt’s all-time rushing touchdown list 
  • Nick Rinaldi and Edwin Kolenge logged a half sack each to force a turnover on downs in the third quarter, bringing Rinaldi to 10 career sacks and marking the first career sack for Kolenge 
  • Taylor’s eight points give him exactly 200 for his career, sixth in Vanderbilt history (33 field goals, 101 PATs) 
  • Taylor has made 15 of his last 16 field goals dating back to last season and is now 33-of-37 in his career 
  • Josiah Broxton snagged a punt and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown, the first since Martel Hight’s on Sept. 7, 2024, vs. Alcorn State