Sept. 20, 2008
Season Stats | Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery (AP) 
Send a Message to the Football team – Click here
Commodore Game Notes
Vanderbilt at Ole Miss, Oxford, Miss.
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008
Attendance: 51,281
With the victory over Ole Miss, the Commodores move to 4-0 for the first time since the 2005 season … It is only the second time the team has accomplished the feat since the 1984 season … It also marks the first 2-0 start for Vanderbilt in Southeastern Conference play since 2004, and just the second time since 1956 for the Commodores to open league play with two straight wins … Vanderbilt notched its second straight victory over Ole Miss, and third in the last four meetings between the teams … It marks Vanderbilt’s first victory in Oxford, Miss. since defeating the Rebels 37-34 in overtime in 1999 … The Commodores are 3-3 in their last six SEC games dating back to 17-6 win over No. 6 South Carolina on Oct. 21, 2007… In its last 25 games, the Commodores are 13-12 overall with the victory over Ole Miss… The Commodores’ last 5-0 start to a season came during World War II (1943) … Vanderbilt is now 34-46-2 all-time against Ole Miss.
First Half
The first turnover this season by QB Chris Nickson resulted in a quick Ole Miss score… With 4:54 left in the first quarter, Nickson’s fumble was recovered by DT Peria Jerry, who ran 10 yards for a score… One play after the Ole Miss score, TB Jared Hawkins fumbled to give Ole Miss possession on the Vanderbilt 20-yard line… On Ole Miss’ second offensive play, Ryan Hamilton picked off Jevan Snead’s pass and went 79 yards for a touchdown… It was the longest interception return for a touchdown by the Commodores since John Gamble went 98 yards against The Citadel on Sept. 17, 1966… It was Hamilton’s second career INT, and the first returned for a touchdown since D.J. Moore went 24 yards against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 29, 2007… Trailing 17-7, Vanderbilt went 43 yards for a score, with Nickson hitting Hawkins on a 9-yard TD… With 4:38 left, Hamilton added his second big defensive play with his second interception… Senior PK Bryant Hahnfeldt capped the ensuing drive with a 34-yard field goal, his fifth straight field goal conversion this season.
Second Half
The Vanderbilt defense produced a huge play early in the fourth quarter when Hamilton and DT Theron Kadri stopped a fourth-down rush inside the Commodore 1-yard line. The fourth down was forced by an excellent open-field tackle by LB Chris Marve at the 1-yard line… Hamilton followed up the play by recovering an Ole Miss fumble on Brett Upson’s punt… Nickson left the game with 5:05 left in the third quarter with an injury… Replacing Nickson was junior Mackenzi Adams … Vanderbilt got its first lead of the game, 20-17, on Hahnfeldt’s 31-yard FG with 14:48 to play in the fourth quarter … Reshard Langford had his 10th-career interception and his second of the season with 6:57 to play in the fourth quarter … He is the team’s active leader with 10 interceptions (D.J. Moore, 9) … Chris Marve forced an Ole Miss fumble at the Vanderbilt goal line that was recovered by D.J. Moore with 2:40 to play in the game … Jared Hawkins 40-yard run with 1:53 to play was one-yard shy of tying a career long (41 yards) … Hahnfeldt tied a career-high with his third field goal (40 yards) of the game with 31 seconds to play, giving Vanderbilt a 23-17 lead … Ryan Hamilton intercepted his third pass of the game on the final play of the game.
Postgame
– Bryant Hahnfeldt connected on all three of his field goal attempts and is now 7-of-7 on the season.
– Linebacker Chris Marve set a career-high with 11 tackles.
– Ryan Hamilton had three interceptions and a fumble recovery on an Ole Miss punt return to go along with six tackles.
– Hamilton’s three interceptions tied a school record with four others. The last player to do so was Chris Donnelly, who had three picks against Memphis in 1989.
– Vanderbilt has now trailed in all four games in 2008.
– The Commodores trailed 17-7 in the first half before scoring 16 unanswered points.
– Vanderbilt has outscored opponents 51-10 (6-0 Ole Miss) in the second half this season.
– The four interceptions by Vanderbilt is the most by the team since the Commodores had five interceptions against Eastern Michigan in 2007.
– Vanderbilt forced a season-high six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumble recovery). The previous high was three in the season-opener at Miami (Ohio). It is the most turnovers Vanderbilt has forced since forcing six against Eastern Michigan in 2007.
– The first 31 points of the game were all scored within 57 seconds of each other.
– Punter Brett Upson averaged 44.1 yards on seven punts, four of which landed inside the 20-yard line.
– Vanderbilt was 3-of-3 in the red-zone, while Ole Miss was just 1-of-3.
– Steven Stone had his second sack of the season to go along with seven tackles, two of which were for losses. He now has 6.5 in his career.
