Nov. 24, 2007
With the loss, Vanderbilt finishes the season with a 5-7 overall record, 2-6 in Southeastern Conference play. The Commodores closed the season with four consecutive losses.
First Half Notes:
– With 14:05 left in the first quarter, CB Darlron Spead gave Vanderbilt excellent field possession, recovering a WFU fumble forced by safety Ryan Hamilton. An ensuing 14-play, 39-yard Commodore drive ended in Bryant Hahnfeldt’s 24-yard field goal. It was the 13th FG this year for Hahnfeldt, a single season career high.
– With 2:02 left in the first quarter, CB Myron Lewis forced and recovered a Deacon fumble inside the Commodore 10-yard line. The turnover came on a WFU pass completion. Three plays later, a fumble by QB Mackenzi Adams gave WFU the ball at the Vandy 14-yard line. The Deacs took a 7-3 lead two plays later.
– Vanderbilt finished the first half with just 77 total yards, its lowest offensive output since producing only 66 total yards in a loss at Auburn (Oct. 6, 2007). The Commodores produced just one first down after its opening possession of the game.
Second Half Notes:
– WFU’s Kevin Marion opened the second half with an 81-yard kickoff return, the longest against Vanderbilt since Richmond’s Justin Rogers returned a Vanderbilt kick 93 yards on Sept. 1, 2007. The Deacons opened the margin to 21-3 two plays later.
– On Vanderbilt’s first offensive snap after intermission, an Adams-to-Cassen Jackson-Garrison pitch was fumbled, quickly resulting in another WFU touchdown.
– Three Commodore turnovers in the third quarter – a pair of fumbles and an interception – resulted in 10 Wake Forest points.
Team Superlatives:
– The five Vanderbilt offensive line starters vs. Wake Forest – OT Chris Williams, LF Josh Eames, center Hamilton Holliday, RG Merritt Kirchoffer and RT Brian Stamper – started every game for the Commodores. They have combined for 161 career starts.
– Earl Bennett (Jr., WR) concluded the season with 75 receptions, good for 830 yards. He becomes the first receiver in SEC history to catch at least 70 passes in three consecutive years. Though hampered by a back injury, Bennett played sparingly against Wake Forest, catching six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. Through three seasons, the SEC’s all-time leading receiver has 236 catches for 2,852 yards and 20 TDs. He has a reception in all 35 games he has played as a Commodore. Bennett moved to eighth in the SEC in all-time receiving yards. He finishes the year tied for second among Commodores with 20 career touchdown catches and third in career receiving yardage.
– The Vanderbilt defense finished with three quarterback sacks, giving it 30 for the season. It is the Commodores’ third highest single season total since 1984, ranking behind sack totals of 38 (1994) and 31 (1999).
– The Commodores had five turnovers, a season high, against the Demon Deacons. The `Dores previous high was four, all interceptions, versus Eastern Michigan (Sept. 29, 2007).
– Jonathan Goff topped the Commodores with 13 tackles, his third consecutive game with more than 12 total tackles. He concludes the season as the team leader in 113 tackles. He finishes his career with 11 games with 10 or more tackles, including six in 2007.
– The Vanderbilt offense produced a season-low 16 rushing yards on 28 total carries.
– Richard Kovalcheck (Sr., QB) enjoyed the most action of his Commodore career, completing 23 of 38 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. All of his numbers were career highs.
– The Commodores threw for 333 yards, the most since Chris Nickson passes for 446 yards in a 38-26 loss at Kentucky (Nov. 11, 2006).
– George Smith (R-Jr., WR) matched his career high in receptions with a team-high seven catches for 94 yards against Wake Forest. He previously had seven catches against Kentucky on Nov. 12, 2005.
– D.J. Moore (So., CB) notched his sixth interception of the season late in the fourth quarter. It ties David Malone (1964) for the fifth highest single season interception total.
